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Summer is officially around the corner and many of us have trips planned, vacation days requested and a complete seasonal itinerary set. Living in Michigan, we spend our weekends exploring our region, camping up north and visiting the many coastal towns along the shore. Overnight and multi-day trips are always ideal, however we can’t always get away for the entire weekend. A one-day road trip is sometimes the perfect opportunity to get out of town and get back in time to put the kids to bed. To help shed some light on your options we have compiled a short list of one-day trips. This list is by no means the ‘best’ road trips, but a short list of destinations easily accessible to West Michigan folk.

Saugatuck to Grand Haven, via Holland. Beginning with a local breakfast at Grow in Saugatuck, take a walk down the boardwalk and through Saugatuck to Uncommon Grounds for a perfectly roasted coffee. Hop back in the car and head up 64th St to Lake Macatawa. Hug the lake on South Shore and head into Holland for a Bloody Mary at New Holland Brewing Company and shopping on 8th St. After lunch at Hops head up the picturesque Lakeshore Dr into Grand Haven for a day of fun in the sun, tasty brews at Grand Armory Brewing and finally a dinner at The Kirby House.

Red Arrow Highway from New Buffalo to St. Joseph. Join the Red Arrow Highway along Lake Michigan and head north, driving through the great coastal towns of Union Pier, Lakeside and Harbert. A plethora of orchards and vineyards make up the landscape. Feel free to stop at the many wineries to stock your wine cellar for the summer. The beautiful Weko Beach is the perfect place to see the sunset before heading home.

Arcadia to Frankfurt via M-22. Many of us know about the stunning stretch of M-22 found north of Sleeping Bear Dunes. However starting south of Sleeping Bear Dunes in Arcadia is nothing to shake a stick at. Enjoy some tea on the beach in Arcadia, get your feet wet and then head north on M-22 to Frankfort. The view from the tops of the hills is awesome, and before you know it you have arrived. Enjoy a beer from Stormclound Brewing and take a walk to the lighthouse. There’s a turnout on M-22 just outside of Arcadia called High Point that offers a great view of Lake Michigan.

Empire to Leland, via Glen Arbor. Wake up before dawn and head towards Empire. Located on Lake Michigan, the soaring bluffs and breathtaking views are like no other. It’s the gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and the drive towards Leland is filled with hiking trails and beaches. Stop in Glen Arbor and grab a bite in town at Art’s Tavern and an afternoon latte at Leelanau Coffee, then head up to Leland. The drive is simply awesome. Once in Leland, park the car and go exploring in the legit fishing town. Watch the fresh catch come in, allow them to clean it and fill your cooler with the tastiest Lake Michigan salmon and trout you can find.

Again, this is a super-small list. There are so many quality day-trips we can go on for days, but we feel that this list is a must-do for us all. We would be remised not to mention the importance of new and safe tires for your trips. When it comes to your family and arriving at your destination safely, there is no alternative to new tires. If you feel that your tires have had better days, don’t take the chance. Check out the website and head into one of Wonderland Tire’s locations and have our technicians look them over. We will offer an honest answer and solution to get you rolling towards a Vacation Wonderland summer.