Northern Michigan Fall Color Driving Tour in September!

[Patrick C]

Hi gang. I am putting together a Fall Driving Tour in Northern Michigan this year and have mentioned this to a few other Michigan owners who showed a definite interest.

No definite dates are set yet, but I am looking to do this on a weekend in Late September.

Events will include (in no particular order at this time):

-A drive on beautiful M-119, known as "The Tunnel of Trees", which features breathtaking scenery in the fall as the leaves change colors. This is a very curvy road along the coast and is an absolute blast to drive in a DeLorean and stop to take in all of the sights along the way.

https://roadtrippers.com/stories/tunnel-of-trees?lat=40.80972&lng=-96.67528&z=5

http://www.goodhartstore.com/Good_Hart_General_Store,_Tunnel_of_Trees_files/TofT2011_2.pdf

Here's a brief video showcasing just a bit of the drive:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx8DkGIveto&nohtml5=False

-A stop for lunch and beer and wine tasting at Pond Hill Farm:

http://www.pondhill.com/#your-local-farm

-Some time in Mackinaw City, including a stop at Historic Mill Creek as well as Colonial Michilimackinac.

http://www.mackinacparks.com/parks-and-attractions/colonial-michilimackinac/

http://www.mackinacparks.com/parks-and-attractions/historic-mill-creek-discovery-park/

-Depending on how many owners are interested in participating in this weekend, I may be able to line up a boat cruise under the Mackinac Bridge (no promises being made at this time):
http://www.arnoldline.com/ride-arnoldline/departures/sip-n-sail

Does this strike anyone's interest? If so, let me know as I will be putting details together over the next few months!

[RamblinDMC]

I'd be interested! However I'll be in the area for work and won't have my DeLorean with me.

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[Patrick C]

I'd be interested! However I'll be in the area for work and won't have my DeLorean with me.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

Sounds great! I am sure someone will have a passenger seat for you!

[ssdelorean]

Sound like fun. Very interested. It's been too long since we saw you live in person :-) Any suggestions on any B&Bs or hotels? Would like to make a long weekend out of it.

[DMCMW Dave]

Julee and I are looking for road trips - keep us posted.

[Kerichbe]

The wife and I would be interested, Haven't been up to that part of Michigan for a while :-)

[Patrick C]

Julee and I are looking for road trips - keep us posted.


The wife and I would be interested, Haven't been up to that part of Michigan for a while :-)

Great!!! More details and a date to come later this week so that we can all plan accordingly.

[MTDMC]

I would love to attend. Haven't been in northern Michigan in 15 years.

[Patrick C]

Dates are set! Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th. Rooms in Harbor Springs are available at the Best Western and will likely fill up fast as we get closer to the fall, as this is a very popular destination for tourists and other car and motorcycle clubs.

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/MI/Harbor-Springs-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-of-Harbor-Springs/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=23114&cm_mmc=BL-_-Google-_-GMB-_-23114

Other hotel options are located in nearby Petoskey, Michigan which is a 20 minute drive or so from the Best Western. At the time of this posting, the Best Western seems to have the most reasonable rates for these dates.

I hope to see many of you there!

[ssdelorean]

This is my official online RSVP (and bump to get this thread back in the view of others).
I'm in!

[Patrick C]

BUMP! Glad to have SSDelorean RSVP. Who else is in?

[Mark D]

This sounds like a fun trip. I'll take a closer look at my schedule and let you guys know if I can take part.

I spent 4 years in Houghton, MI going to school and another 2 years after that driving from Appleton, WI to Marquette, MI every weekend to see my (now) wife while she was finishing up school. I love the UP and the colors should be out by late Sept. I wouldn't mind a nice drive up and around across the bridge. Petoskey has some great snowboarding in the winter... in the fall I think a few of the lifts are open for scenic rides up to the top of Boyne mtn.

[Patrick C]

... in the fall I think a few of the lifts are open for scenic rides up to the top of Boyne mtn.

Yes they are at Boyne Highlands! This is also an activity I am thinking would be good for the driving tour weekend: http://www.boyne.com/boynehighlands/events/hops-n-highlands Would love to have you join!

[Patrick C]

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45926&d=1472167232

The itinerary will be as follows:

September 23rd: 7 PM Meet-up for dinner with whoever is in town (location to be determined.)

September 24th: The driving tour kicks off at 10 AM.

Driving tour will include:

-A drive on beautiful M-119, known as "The Tunnel of Trees", which features breathtaking scenery in the fall as the leaves change colors. This is a very curvy road along the coast of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay and is an absolute blast to drive in a DeLorean. There are lots of spots to stop, shop, and take photos along the way.

https://roadtrippers.com/trips/10398335?lat=40.80972&lng=-96.67528&z=5

http://www.goodhartstore.com/Good_Hart_General_Store,_Tunnel_of_Trees_files/TofT2011_2.pdf

Here's a brief video showcasing just a bit of the drive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx8DkGIveto

LUNCH: We will stop for lunch at the beautiful Pond Hill Farm:
http://www.pondhill.com/#your-local-farm

The conclusion of the driving tour will end at Boyne Highlands resort for their Hops 'n Highlands festival, including scenic chairlift rides, a zip-line, as well as sampling 44 Michigan Breweries and over 175 craft beers,

http://www.boyne.com/boynehighlands/events/hops-n-highlands

Dinner will follow at a nearby restaurant.

A local hotel with plenty of parking is the Best Western of Harbor Springs:

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/MI/Harbor-Springs-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-of-Harbor-Springs/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=23114&cm_mmc=BL-_-Google-_-GMB-_-23114

Please note, this is a busy time of the season for fall tourists and car clubs, and rooms will fill up fast. Make sure to book early to guarantee a room!

[DMCVegas]

Any DeLorean events that you want to raise awareness of, send the information over to [email protected] so that we can help you to get awareness out about your event.

Likewise, signing up for the mailing list would also help to discover more events near you in the future as well.

[Patrick C]

The driving tour is less than two weeks from today! Who is coming with their car? I would like to get a headcount together.

[Andrew]

I think that we will be there with 5052. Are there any events scheduled for Sunday as well?

Thanks

Andrew
4194
5052

[Patrick C]

I think that we will be there with 5052. Are there any events scheduled for Sunday as well?

Thanks

Andrew
4194
5052
Great! Looking forward to having you join us! Nothing major is planned for Sunday at this point other than brunch, but we can plan something for those who don't have to start heading downstate right away.

[Andrew]

I just wanted to thank Patrick for planning the Northern Michigan Driving Tour! It was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to view some amazing scenery and congregate with a great group of fellow DeLorean owners! Hopefully one of our more tech savvy attendees can post pictures / videos of the trip!

Happy motoring!

Andrew
4194
5052
Bricklin 177

[FABombjoy]

Yes, that was a lot of fun, and totally worth cleaning off all of the brake dust that M119 generated. I had no idea such roads existed in this state.

We had 5 cars and no real troubles which is great! Nothing a zip tie couldn't fix anyway.

Looking forward to next years trip for sure.

[ssdelorean]

Good Hart General Store called it the First Annual DeLorean Tour - looks like Patrick will be hosting this for years to come! :-)
https://www.facebook.com/goodhartstore/videos/1104490392921383/

Great time Patrick. Thank you!

[Patrick C]

I'm glad that everyone enjoyed the driving tour! We will definitely do this again next year!