One more destination that might be interesting to HN readers is the Dark Sky Park at the Headlands: http://www.midarkskypark.org/ http://www.midarkskypark.org/.

One more destination that might be interesting to HN readers is the Dark Sky Park at the Headlands: http://www.midarkskypark.org/ http://www.midarkskypark.org/. If you're into telescopes or sky photography, there are few better places this side of the Rockies to visit. And in general, I find that while the places listed above (like Mackinac, Traverse, and Petoskey) where you can purchase large quantities of fudge do have delicious fudge, they're becoming more touristy. Find a spot that doesn't sell fudge, like the Headlands, if you want a more authentic/native/quiet experience. Also, while most Californians would probably enjoy Michigan more during the summer, the lakes and snow are a sight to behold during winter! Snowmobiling through hundreds of miles of snow-covered seasonal roads is a worthy experience too, if you don't mind the cold.