Canoeing? Where?

Hi All, I know there are folks from EVERYWHERE in Michigan on this board. My son is coming home on military leave in August and we want to go on a canoeing weekend. Does anybody have any suggestions for the best places to go? I want to stay in the lower peninsula and would like to keep it no longer than a 4 hour drive from Detroit. Hotels, cottages, I am open to anything. Thank you for your suggestions inadvance. Carol

Hi Carol: The Pere Marequette River is a great canoeing river, and here are a couple of websites for renting in Baldwin: www.baldwincanoe.com www.ivanscanoe.com (I teach with the owner of this site, and they also have a very nice campground and cabins for rent) www.riverruncanoe.com (this is closer to me here in Ludington (Scottville) I've also heard that the White River is very scenic for canoeing, and the Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery, in Montague, is highly recommended. Those are all within four hours of Detroit. I've canoed the Rifle River before, up by Mio, and that was fun We just moved up to Ludington last August from SE Michigan and just love it over here! Julie in Ludington

Carol my son is also coming home in August from Ft. Bragg. Where is your son stationed?

Nancy, My son is on the USS Chafee a destroyer stationed right now in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. They leave tomorrow for a 5 week deployment, then they c ome home in August before they Deploy to the persian gulf for 6 months. I pray that you enjoy your time with your son, as I am planning on enjoying my visit. I am walking the 3 day 60 miles breast cancer walk, and I will see him for the first time when I cross the finish line. I CANNOT WAIT!!!

In Mount Pleasant, there is: http://www.chipoutfitters.com/ This gives you look around Michigan: http://www.gopaddle.com/html/michigan.html I did Chippewa River Outfitters with our station union two weeks ago and had a blast and it wasn't expensive at all. Lots of sights, turtles and even kayaks, tubing and fun! Hope you find one!!!! Stacey

First of all, I wanted to say GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS serving in the military! We truly appreciate their dedication and sacrifice, especially remembered on this Holiday! I live up in the Houghton Lake area, and there are lots of canoeing places, but to tell you the truth, I don't know the specifics on them...I just don't know personally. But many do go on the AuSable River up here. And I think there is the Muskegon as well. Whatever you decide, have a great time!!! Hugs, Theresa

Thank you for your good thoughts and information Theresa. I think I would have a good time, if we put a rubber raft in a bathtub. I just want to see my son!!! Carol

Hi Carol! I always canoed in Mio on the Aus Sauble River, but it's been quite a while. I just wanted to say HI!!! Hope you're doing well, and I'm so glad you are going to get to spend some time with your son! God Bless all our troops!!!!! I hope you enjoy him when he gets home!!! Blessings, Kim

Hi Carol, Here are some canoe Places you may want to check out. I love canoeing . We bought our own canoe this year. I don't know how experienced you and your son are, but Heavners is excellent for beginners, and offer a 25% discount to Military Personal, Police Officers, and Fire Fighters with proper I.D. http://www.heavnercanoe.com/ Good for beginners http://www.paddling.net/places/MI/ This offers descriptions of places to canoe in Michigan just click where you want to go http://www.penrodscanoe.com/ AuSable River Resort Grayling, Michigan Toll Free 888-467-4837 This is excellent for canoeing, and will accommodate most skill levels. http://www.thecanoeguys.homestead.com/photo4.html This will give you plenty of rivers to canoe in the lower peninsula, upper peninsula, and Canada. Has some pictures too. http://www.chipoutfitters.com/ Canoe the Pristine Chippewa River. I've heard this one is excellent too. I hope you enjoy the time you have with your son. I thank him (and all the other military personal ) that give their time to protect us from the threat of terrorism. May God be with them all and protect them. God bless you Carol, Annette

I might suggest that you look into Ohio for canoe trips . I know you asked for places in Michigan, but some of the nicest rivers I have canoed on or tubed were in Ohio. The area around Dayton Ohio has so many things to do...antiquing, art museums, entertainment, night life, camping, b & b's, nice hotels, and three major rivers run around the city that you can canoe, tube or kayak on. My daughter danced with the Dayton Ballet for 4 years so I spent alot of time in that area and can point you in the proper direction if you chose to make that 4 hour trip south rather than north. Jill