Northern Michigan Maple Leaf Trip Travel Log

:📍 Departure: Cleveland, Ohio🗓 Duration: 4 days (2 days suffice to visit all attractions) Day 1 🚗 Set off from Cleveland. Stopped in Ann Arbor for lunch en route, then passed through the Tunnels of Trees to explore the tree-lined tunnel. Enjoyed the lakefront sunset 🌅, and stayed overnight in Mackinaw City. Day 2 🌊 Left Mackinaw City for the waterfalls and arrived around noon. Spent ~2 hours admiring Tahquamenon Falls 🍂. Afterward, rushed to the ferry—Pictured Rocks Cruises, LLC. (2-hour drive). Post-ferry, we headed to Houghton and stayed at a campsite further north. Ferry Tips: Buy tickets in advance via the official website linked above. There are several scenic cruise options; we chose the Sunset Spray Falls Cruise. If you’re catching the last ferry, definitely confirm the schedule beforehand! ⏰ (Little anecdote: We originally planned a clockwise route but switched to counterclockwise because we almost missed the last ferry!) For more details, check other travelers’ guides on Xiaohongshu. Here are my top valuable tips: ① Queue 1 hour early to grab a seat on the top deck, right side—most scenic spots are on the right during the ferry’s route. ② It’s windy on the lake! Bring a thin blanket, windbreaker, and hat 🧥—especially if you’re watching the sunset. Not recommended to drive right after the sunset waterfall tour—we had to due to tight schedules. Houghton is a great place to stay; we chose a spot further north to save time. Note: Download navigation in advance—no cell service! 📱 Day 3 🛣️ Admired maple-lined roads in the morning, visited Porcupine Mountains in the afternoon, and settled in Milwaukee for the night. Most roads up north are flanked by maple trees—no need to detour specially if you’re short on time. Unfortunately, the maple leaves on Porcupine Mountains had all fallen when we visited, leaving bare branches 😔. If you like hiking, it’s worth a visit: there are jungle trails leading to Mirror Lake. It’s not much to look at, but as someone who hates typical paths, I loved it! 🥾 Day 4 🏡 Passed through Chicago, had a meal, and headed home. 4 days feel a bit tight—adding one more day would make the trip much more relaxed! 😌 #DayTrip #Weekend #Travel #ChicagoLife #ChicagoFoodAndFun #MapleLeafViewing #TravelGuide #MapleLeaves #Beer#ChicagoWeekend #FallMapleViewing #ExploreChicago #ChicagoFun #ChinaLightShow #Milwaukee #MilwaukeeArea #AmericanLife #DescribeFallInOnePhoto