Snowbird Travel Resources
About this time each year comes the annual migration of millions of travelers to warmer destinations in America’s Sunbelt. Seasoned “Snowbirds” who have been making the journey for years already know what to expect, but to a first-timer, it’s a brand new adventure.
“Snowbirds” traveling south for the winter often use America’s Interstate highway system to make that journey. Travelers from the Northeast typically take I-95, which runs from Maine to Florida while those from the Midwest use I-75, which runs from Michigan to Florida.
Both seasoned travelers and first timers have some great resources on the Internet to help make their journey safer, less expensive and more enjoyable. The I-95 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide are two websites in particular that offer travelers a wealth information on two of the most heavily-traveled highways for those headed to warmer weather in America’s Sunbelt.
Both Exit Guide websites list the following exit-by-exit information for the entire length of Interstate:
- Food - chain and independently owned fast food, diners, restaurants and snack bars
- Gas – chain and independently owned gas stations
- Lodging - chain and independently owned hotels, motels, motor lodges and suite hotels
- Camping – public and privately owned camping areas and RV parks located within 10 miles
- Rest areas – rest areas, service plazas and welcome centers
- Shopping – shopping centers and malls, factory outlet centers, strip centers and other commercial areas.
The lodging feature for both websites also gives you the ability to research and book your hotel stay. The booking engine is easy to use and we’ve found some great deals on chain hotels when we did a sample search. In addition, both exit guides road construction and real-time traffic reports, gas prices and travel weather.
I would encourage anyone traveling these popular routes to visit these websites before your next trip or use their services while traveling!
Link to: The I-95 Exit Guide
Link to: The I-75 Exit Guide
Mackinaw City, Michigan Destination Guide
Mackinaw City makes an ideal vacation destination! It’s located on the shores of the Straits of Mackinac, where the Great Lakes Huron and Michigan meet. Mackinaw City is rich in history and has four state parks that preserve it’s heritage. The natural beauty of Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island is sure to keep you coming back. Downtown has unique shops and restaurants. Catch a ferry to Mackinac Island for the day and then return to Mackinaw City and discover parks, beaches, shopping, restaurants, golf, concerts, and nightly laser light shows!
more from the Mackinaw City Destination Guide…
Michigan DOT Predicting 2012 Wrap Up For Construction On I-75
The $18.5 million project is for general road and bridge rehabilitation, MDOT’s Anita Richardson said. Construction crews are finishing up
New Destination Guide Website With a Twist
“Travel guides for major tourist destinations are a dime a dozen on the Internet. We focus on the not-so-major destinations… the true undiscovered gems!” says the new website, 511Destinations.com.
511destinations.com is a different kind of travel guide. While most vacation guides on the Internet concentrate on the major tourist destinations, this new website presents smaller market and off the beaten path destinations… with a twist.
Rather than being bombarded with local information to sift thru, each 511destination is a snapshot. Where to stay, eat, go and how to get around are the basics, presented in a clean, well designed layout with eye-catching graphics and great functionality.
What’s more, users are encouraged to build their own destination guide simply by submitting a brief overview. Right now, there are no limits. You can be a proud resident that wants to tell the world about your town, a traveler that’s itching to share a destination they’ve discovered, or a business looking to promote themselves via a little local information.
It’s a great little website loaded with information that you often just can’t find anywhere else. 511destinations.com is also built to accommodate viewing on smartphones and mobile devices!
Experience Chocolate Making at Ann Arbor’s Mindo Chocolate
Roasted cacao beans
There’s no nirvana quite like the aroma of fresh cacao beans roasting during the chocolate making process. If you’ve never experienced this special treat, a visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Mindo Chocolate Makers is a requirement. These artisan chocolate makers process organic chocolate right from the cacao pod to handmade and dipped chocolate. This family-owned business operates a joint production in Mindo, Ecuador and Ann Arbor for a one-of-kind chocolate trip.
Mindo operates out of a house in Ann Arbor, where you can purchase delicacies including 77% pure chocolate bars dipped in sea salt or stuffed with Michigan cherries. Visitors can also take a hands on “Bean To Bar Chocolate Making Class” and participate in taking dried cacao beans and adding chocolate liquor, organic evaporated cane juice and cocoa butter to make hand crafted chocolate. Observing the cocoa nibs being grinded into cocoa liquor and watching the cocoa butter form is a fascinating episode. Tasting lots of chocolate samples is a popular part of the process as well as purchasing handfuls of bars to take home. You must make reservations for tours or chocolate making classes at mindochocolate.com.
Vinology
Extend your rarefied Ann Arbor culinary experience by dropping by Vinology wine bar and restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor. The stunning space is designed with stainless steel, cork and glass to evoke the wine making process. There are even custom-made boxes over each table filled with quirky wine-related elements like chalk soil from the Champagne region of France and colorful shards of wine glasses. The gourmet menu is coordinated with the extensive wine list for innovative pairings. Try the crispy duck wings, sweet potato samosas and slider trio.
Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
Michigan Weekend Construction Rolls Out
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Weekend Construction Rolls Out
WDIV Detroit Northbound and southbound I-75 ramps to eastbound M-59 will be closed from 5 am Saturday to 7 pm Sunday for ongoing construction on M-59. Detours will be posted. Westbound I-94 will be CLOSED from 8 Mile Road to Gratiot Ave from 10 pm Friday until 8 am … |
Michigan DOT Suspends Half Its Road Projects For Memorial Weekend
 WSJM |
MDOT Suspends Half Its Road Projects For Memorial Weekend
Patch.com M-39 down to one lane in both directions between M-5 and M-153 (Ford Road) for ongoing construction. Northline Road entrance ramp to northbound I-75 and the southbound I-75 exit ramp to Northline Road are closed and detoured. … MDOT Pauses Road Work For Holiday Weekend |
Busy Travel Weekend Sees Lower Gas Prices, Fewer Lane Closures
 Los Angeles Times |
Busy travel weekend sees lower gas prices, fewer lane closures
Midland Daily News Please wear your safety belt, put away your hand-held devices, and pay close attention, especially when traveling through construction zones." * I-75, Bay County, will have northbound traffic shifted to southbound lanes from Linwood to Pinconning roads … Price of fuel spikes for holiday travelers |
Big Construction Projects
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Big Construction Projects
UpNorthLive.com Switching gears to focus on Emmet and Cheboygan counties, construction to smooth out a 5.2 mile stretch of US-31 from Paradise trail to I-75 also starts Tuesday and lasts until July. Drivers can expect lane closures and traffic back-ups. … |
Michigan I-75 Miller Road Construction; Delays Expected
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I-75 Miller Road Construction; Delays Expected
WNEM Saginaw The Michigan Department of Transportation will be shifting traffic on Miller Road at Interstate 75 in Genesee County Tuesday. Traffic will be shifted to the north side of the bridge to allow the contractor to start work on the south half of the bridge, … |