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Among the capitals I have yet to visit is Lansing in Michigan, 1 of only 5 states which I've never even traveled through. I've always wanted to visit Ann Arbor too. And I might be interested in visiting other sites in Michigan if I can afford the time and money, though perhaps not all on this same trip. I have lots of questions to anyone with answers:
(a) It looks like the best travel route for me would be to take the Lakeshore Ltd to Toledo and then a Thruway bus (apparently some line called Metrocars?) but to come back with a Michigan train to Chicago and then take the LSL (or perhaps Cap Ltd) home from there. OTOH, I could also go all the way to Chicago and take a train into Michigan as well as back; it's just that I may not have the time (and it costs more). Anyone know anything about this Metrocars bus service? And can anyone tell me which train is nicer, the Wolverine (home from Ann Arbor) or the Blue Water (home from E Lansing)? What's the story on possible curtailment of Michigan service? Is there a train that may soon be defunct that I should try to take now while it's still operating?
(b) I recall people here praising a museum in Dearborn; is that a nice city to visit? Where is the train station in relation to the museum? Might public transportation be usable to get from one to the other? Do you have any hotel recommendations for Dearborn?
(c) In Ann Arbor, do you know where the train station is in relation to the university? Do you have any hotel recommendations?
(d) In East Lansing, I think I'll probably stay right by the university. Would I have to take a taxi to the capitol, or is there public transportation?
(e) There seems to be an outfit called Michigan Flyer that runs buses to Ann Arbor and E Lansing, but they seem to leave from outside hotels, not bus stations. Anyone know anything about them?
MDRR Member # 2992
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The little info I can tell you is that the equipment will be the same on both AA and EL trains. Also the Wolverine is not threatened by funding issues, only the Blue Water and the Pere Marquette.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Sojourner -- as a former "Michigander," let me address your questions:
a) I suggest taking the train to Chicago, then catching either the Blue Water or Wolverine into Mich. I don't know anything about "Autocars."
b) You are thinking of Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn -- yes, it is DEFINITELY worth visiting. AMTRAK stops in Dearborn, which is only a couple miles from Greenfield Village, and you could take a taxi (the only AMTRAK service to Greenfield Village is for large groups, and you need to specifically reserve that in advance)
c) No hotel recs, but AMTRAK is in downtown Ann Arbor, only a few miles from the Univ. There is likely some kind of shuttle bus, or again, you can take a taxi.
d)In Lansing-East Lansing, there are public busses available. The East Lansing AMTRAK station is about halfway between the capitol bldg and Michigan State Univ.
e) Sorry, I don't know anything about Michigan Flyer.
Hope this helps.........
--Rich K
train lady Member # 3920
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If you get to Soo on the U S side and have a passport I strongly urge you to cross over to the Canadian side. There is an all day train trip (Agawa) into the wilderness of I think it's called Agawa Canyon. It is about 115 from the city on a really old fashioned train. There is a stopover in the canyon to allow time to explore and it is beautiful. We got a box lunch at the station and had a picnic as did others.There is a phone # which I looked up 1 800242 9287. Sorry I can't give you any more info now as I am getting ready to move in the next few months and my organizer has packed all my journals.
train lady Member # 3920
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I just reread the posting and realized I left out several comments. We drove all over the state and loved it,especially the UP. The last time we were in Ann Arbor to visit my s-i-l she took us to a wonderful museum actually called a childrens Museum and a great outdoor market.At that time the taxis were $1 for all seniors to any place in the city. Don't know if that would apply to you. Frankenmuth is another fun place. It's very tourist but in a nice way and has excllent restaurants and shops. Don't know about public transportation but you can check it out if you are interested.
DeeCT Member # 3241
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Sojourner -
The bus from Todedo to Detroit/Dearborn etc is similar to a Trailways or Peter Pan Bus. It is a huge (HUGE) timesaver as opposed to going all the way into Chicago and then taking train from there into Michigan.It is a designated bus scheduled and ticketed through Amtrak. Watched passengers from the LSL board that bus.I had met two Nuns from a convent in CT that were traveling to the main convent of their order in Dearborn and they were taking that bus. They said they make the trip once a year and commented that the bus trip is quite short and they would be in Dearborn before I would be in Chicago.
Greenfield Village is similar to Sturbridge Village located in MA -(a half hour drive for me and I have an annual membership). Greenfield Village is on my "Bucket List". Henry Ford Museum is also.
Dee
ehbowen Member # 4317
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The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village are definitely worth seeing, and worth any amount of time or trouble it takes to get there. Leave AT LEAST one FULL day to see Greenfield Village; the Museum will take most or all of a day for most visitors as well.
When we visited in 2004 we stayed at the Holiday Inn Fairlane in nearby Dearborn. It was a very nice hotel and I would stay there again but if they have a shuttle the hotel website doesn't mention it. OTOH the hotel is only about two miles from Greenfield Village and the Museum, so taxi fare should be tolerable.
The East Lansing station for the Blue Water is actually located on the campus of Michigan State University, about four miles from Lansing proper. I'd have to look up info for hotels in Lansing. I have stayed at the Kellogg Center on the campus of MSU and liked it but that was almost thirty years ago; if you can believe the website it has been kept up and renovated since then. Whether you stay in East Lansing or not do set aside a few hours to stroll the campus of MSU if you visit in the spring, summer or fall; they have some of the most beautifully tended and kept gardens that I have ever seen.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Well, I don't know when my finances will allow another state capital/capitol visit, but I'm having a grand old time planning a visit to Michigan using public transportation, even if I don't do it right away (I have yet to make my planned trips to OK City, Topeka-KC-Jeff City, St Paul (and the Dakotas), Lincoln/Cheyenne/Reno, Helena, Charleston WV & Columbus OH (and Cincinnati), and Baton Rouge, not to mention Tallahassee, though I probably will do the last of those this winter--I was so hoping the train would resume service there!). And thank you all for the tips to help me make decisions about the itinerary, accommodations, etc., for Michigan, which I think might be sooner than many of the others. . . .
As for Dearborn, that seems to be no problem; using Dee's info, I would go to Toledo westbound on the LSL and catch the bus that meets it, a short trip. The 2 hotels that I'm debating between, after some investigation, are the Hampton Inn, which is pretty close to the Henry Ford complex (though still about an 8 block walk to the entrance), and a Best Western in Allen Park (a couple of miles from the Henry Ford complex), which has a free shuttle that would (a) pick me and drop me off at the train station; (b) do the same to the Henry Ford complex; and (c) also take me to some shopping mall, if I wanted (it would not take me into downtown Dearborn to eat in some of the more interesting ethnic restaurants, I don't think). I have to nose around a bit more to find out about the 2 hotels' relative merits and locations (I'll check trip advisor) but the Bst Western is especially reasonably priced (which makes me think the location has some problem of which I'm not aware!)
Anyway, after a night there, I would catch the early evening Wolverine to Ann Arbor (that would give me almost 2 days at the Henry Ford, I think). I'd want to stay in one of the campus hotels, and they are pretty pricey, but I'd stay only one night, see something of Ann Arbor the next day, and catch a late afternoon shuttle (called the Michigan Flyer) to East Lansing. I looked into going from Ann Arbor to E Lansing by train, but that involves a full day of travel and a long layover in Battle Creek--is that a nice town worth visiting? (I know it has breakfast cereal associations, among other things) Also, I looked into taking the Amtrak bus that goes from Toledo to Dearborn to Ann Arbor to E Lansing, but that's no good, they won't let you board in Ann Arbor for E Lansing. Also, I lookd into the dreadful Greyhound, but that's dreadful Greyhound, so the Michigan Flyer seems a better idea.
The Kellogg is still in business and sounds good to me, including location, plus they have a free shuttle that would pick me up where the Michigan Flyer lets me off (at some Marriott) if I didn't want to walk with my luggage (I don't think it's far). I'd stay that night in E Lansing and another night as well, since it is much cheaper than Ann Arbor. I'd see the capitol on the full day I was there. I would also see the campus and maybe even something of downtown Lansing.
The morning of departure, I could then take the shuttle to the train station and catch the Blue Water into Chicago, have several hours of fun between trains, and catch the LSL home.
OR I could do something in the great Michigan north . . . since I've always wanted to see Mackinac Island (in spite of Train Lady's warnings) and the Sault Ste Marie locks. But that involves LONG bus rides and lotsa time and money, so I'll have to see. But see my other strand for all the fun of figuring out what I could do up there, and how to get around!
ehbowen Member # 4317
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One more point about Greenfield Village: There are a number of rides and attractions which are not included in the admission price. Not roller coasters, but things like the steam train and steamboat rides, the Model T Ford and Model A bus ride, and the carousel (beautifully maintained). These rides normally require tickets for each ride, but when you come through the gate you can purchase a wristband which lets you ride all of these attractions as many times as you want. Highly recommended.
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