Trippin' abounds on Michigan's roadways

Not much going on this weekend? No classes on Friday? Pack up some clothes, grab some great CDs and hit the road.

Although many think Michigan is boring in comparison to other states, that is not entirely true. Michigan actually has a lot to experience, especially in the spring and summer. There are several places that students and faculty alike can enjoy for either the day, weekend, or week.

Before getting into the specifics about where to go, some general road trip rules must be laid down. First of all, the driver must be established. This sounds easier than it actually is. Most people are willing to go on a road trip, yet most would rather not drive.

Courtesy of AAA The Presque Isle lighthouse is one standout Michigan destination.

Sometimes the driver may be the only one with the car, but often times it comes down to a coin toss, rock-paper-scissors, or a bribe.

Bribes tend to be the best bet. For example, good bribes are offering to pay for the gas, a dinner or the first case of beer. As LSA sophomore Darryl Goldberg said, "Experienced drivers are the way to go. Forget about your friend who's gonna bitch the whole way, considering it's the first time their parents allowed them to leave the nest. Just find my man who's gonna deal with it as long as you pay for gas."

Once the driver is established, the music must be decided upon. A vast range of music is preferable, for two reasons. First of all, during the course of the drive everyone will fall into different musical feelings. Each person in the car can pick a tune so that no one person gets his/her way. Another very important reason why everyone should bring all their CDs, if possible, is that during the course of the trip everyone is bound to get in a quiet, reminiscent mood.

One person will play DJ and put on some '80s music, everyone will start singing for an hour or so, then get bored and take a nap, leaving the driver able to play his/her favorite music. Don't think it sounds crazy - it is an inevitable part of road trips.

A few quick things to be sure and remember to take along are a Swiss army knife, cellular phone and radar detector. Erica Viers, an AAA representative, also suggested getting a map or AAA Triptik "if you're not familiar with the roads."

Now that everything is packed and someone has offered to drive, we're off.

Our journey will take us through many stops and each stop can in itself be a final destination. Anyway, begin the journey by driving north on I-75, which is always a safe bet because Ohio is less than an hour to the south.

Most of the popular student destinations in Michigan are reachable by I-75. "There are the gambling casinos in Mt. Pleasant that seem to attract a certain number of students," said Dan Nolikowski of Regency Travel. He said that Traverse City is also a popular stop, because of its beaches, restaurants and the nearby Interlochen music camp. "And the UP's a nice destination if you like solitude," Nolikowski said.

The first top, Birch Run,is located about an hour and a half from Ann Arbor and about 30 minutes north of Flint, and can be a day trip in itself. It has one of the largest outlet malls in the country, although a larger outlet in Auburn Hills is in the works. The outlet includes Nike, J. Crew, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger and Esprit.

"Birch Run is a good place to stop even for nonserious shoppers. But sometimes you have to search for the bargains," said LSA sophomore Aubrey Kepes.

Now that the shopping is done, it is time to eat. This meal has to last the traveler until the next destination, so eating a large amount is a necessity. The place to do it is Tony's, a restaurant directly across the street from the Birch Run shops. Although it is a truck stop, the food is great. A club sandwich at Tony's consists of one pound of turkey, half a pound of bacon and condiments, all on what seems like a loaf of bread. If for some odd reason that is not enough, try the sundae, in a glass parfait dish that takes up about two feet of the table.

About two and a half hours further on, after getting off I-75 at Grayling, travelers reach Traverse City, the cherry capital of Michigan. Traverse City is a stopover for the night or a final destination.

Besides the usual beaches, small shops and jet-ski rentals, Traverse City also has casinos. Unlike those in Vegas or Windsor, these are small buildings with scattered tables, outside the heart of town.

While in Traverse City, a cheap lunch can be found at Stone Soup, in the heart of town. For dessert, Tom's Mom's Cookies is next door.

If someplace to sleep is necessary for a weary traveler, there are plenty of cheap motels around. But if the travelers are rolling high class and looking for outdoor activities, the Grand Traverse Resort is beautiful. It has a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, but this costs more than $100 per round.

Charlevoix is a bit north from Traverse City, about 40 minutes away. Along the side of the road to Charlevoix many cherry stands are present, and the farther from Traverse City, the lower the price gets. The usual price is about $4-$5 per pound, and the fresh cherries are usually worth every penny.

04-02-98