MI fall colors trip

I'd like to take a 4-5 day trip to central MI for a fall color shoot and romantic getaway (around Oct. 9-12th). Living in Indianapolis, I'd like to stay within an 8 hour drive. Looking for a small town, perhaps near the lake, nice fall colors, and plenty of wilderness (state park, lake shore, etc). I don't need any critter shots- just landscapes. Suggestions? Thanks in advance!!

Amy, I'm planning on heading to the UP around the 3rd. Just seeing the barest of hints of fall already here (Mid-Michigan). The lake - The Lake (Lake Michigan)? As Amy said, the possibilities are endless. Lighthouses, state parks, lighthouses in state parks. Head far enough north and the woods change from hardwoods to hardwood-pine mix. Hopefully the skeeters will be history by then. They have been horrendous this year. Pleanty of bed and breakfast establishments from Stevensville/St. Joseph to Macinac Island, particularly from Frankfort north. Might want to check out Michigan.org for brochures, one in particular that I try and get a copy of myself each year called "Michigan Travel Ideas - The Official State of Michigan Travel Guide" published in conjunction with Midwest Living. They also have brochures more specific to West Michigan/Lake Michigan. Then there is also a brochure specific to the UP called "Michigan's Upper Peninsula" published byMichigan's Upper Penissula Travel and Recreation Association. I generally pick up these resource/reference materials on my way up north at a Welcome Center, but you can order them online. Welcome to Michigan! Hope you are overwhelmed.

Amy....Knowing it's 4 hours from Indy to Spring Lake (going straight up US 31), and another 3-3.5 hours from here to Traverse City, right off hand, I'd suggest Ludington, Frankfort, or Glen Arbor. At Glen Arbor you'd be inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes SP, so there would be plenty of wilderness around, not to mention the lake shore and the dunes. Ludington has their beautiful state park as well, and Frankfort is a charming small town just south of Sleeping Bear. If you can go a little farther than Glen Arbor, or even as a day trip while in the vicinity, go see Fishtown...Leland, that is.

Fall colors in the areas mentioned are usually at peak during that time period, although this year colors may peak a little earlier than usual, from what I'm seeing around here.

Some beautiful sights and fall colors can be seen along the lake if you hop on M22 just north of Manistee, and take that up to Frankfort, Glen Arbor and beyond. If you do take that route, be sure to stop at Point Betsie lighthouse, which is near Crystal Lake.

As Cindy said...the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for the suggestions! If i were to visit the Manistee Nat'l Forest, would that be a good place for fall colors or is it more of an evergreen forest?

Manistee National Forest is mixed hardwoods and pines, with plenty of great fall color. There are some great canoeing rivers in the area as well. Ludington State Park has a lot of photo ops, as does the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. Here is a link to a gallery of images taken at Ludington SP a couple years ago in October:

http://web.me.com/vibrance22/Vibrance_Photography/GALLERIES/Pages/Ludington_State_Park,_MI__Oct.,.html

There are wineries, apple orchards and plenty of non-photography options as well. I also recommend the Pure Michigan site for more details, and the Michigan welcome rest area at exit 1 on I-94 has more info than you will need.

http://www.michigan.org/

Amy,
I'm in Sleeping Bear dunes right now, and am seeing the beginnings of fall color. Looks like it is early this year. I bet they will be quite colorful by Oct 9th
Kathy