The Grand Hotel, the "jewel" of Mackinac Island,

Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa

Michiganders brag about their home state for many reasons and they are proud to carry their state map with them wherever they go!  Ask a Michigander where he or she lives, and they will show you the palm of their hand and point to the area where their town lies (unless of course, they live in the Upper Peninsula, which takes the second hand).  Michiganders are lucky for other reasons also.....they live in a beautiful area surrounded by water.  Detroit, nicknamed the "Motor City" has become something of a Las Vegas in the Midwest in recent years.  With three large casinos in its downtown area, and even more across the Detroit River in Windsor, Canada, those with a penchant for the tables will enjoy the nightlife here.  Close by, is Greektown, where the smell of roasting lamb fills the air, and the bakery windows entice with greek pastries.  Greektown is a destination in itself!  Close by, in the suburb of Dearborn, the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is a not-to-miss walk through history. Spread over 90 acres, Greenfield Village has restored homes and buildings, including the Menlo Park laboratory of Thomas Edison, spanning the past 300 years. Demonstrations of period cooking and crafts, as well as a working 1880's farm, are all part of the experience.  On the grounds of the village, is the Henry Ford Museum, whose facade is a replica of Independence Hall.  Filled with antiquities and artifacts, it is a reflection of Ford's fascination with the machinary as well as the traditions of the country's past.  Further north, at the Tip of the Mitt, the "Mighty Mac", the Mackinac Bridge, just recently celebrated its 50th birthday.  Linking the lower peninsula to the upper, it is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.  Visitors to its southern end in Mackinaw City, can take a short ferry boat ride to one of the most enchanting islands in the United States...Mackinac Island.  Cars are forbidden here by law, and the preferred mode of transportation for visitors and natives alike is either a bicycle or a horse and carriage.  The jewel of Mackinac Island is truly, the Grand Hotel.  Built in 1887, the Grand was the site of the 1980's film "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Fans of the movie still come to the Grand every October for their "Somewhere in Time" weekend. Oh, and don't forget to take home some of Mackinac Island's famous fudge! Crossing over the Mighty Mac, the Upper Peninsula is home to the Tahquamenon Falls, one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi.  The Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses close to 40,000 acres, most of which is undeveloped woodland. Offering a variety of activities like camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing and photography, the park's beauty and solitude continue to attract visitors year round.