Family Travel

(This is a guest photo by Family Travel reader Nancy Sathre-Vogel from Family on Bikes. I’m traveling in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and Chicago this week.)

Look at the bottom of that huge cactus down in Baja, California — that’s part of the Vogel family.

Their triple bike is dwarfed by the size of that plant, isn’t it?

Says Mom Nancy:

“This photo was taken in Baja, California as we cycled the length of the peninsula with our 8-year-old twin boys. My husband and twins rode a bicycle build for three - an enormous bike - which was totally dwarfed by the majestic cardon cactus of the area.

Now we are getting ready to take off to ride our bikes from Alaska to Argentina - YIPPEE!!! Six more weeks til we hit the road!

Dreaming of dropping out of society to travel with your kids? Follow along as we do exactly that! www.familyonbikes.org“

Follow the Vogel family adventures on their blog as well - anyone up for sending them care packages?

An article of mine was just posted over at Education.com about must-sees in Michigan for family fun.

You’re invited to take a look (and please leave a comment there if I missed anything.)

There are all sorts of interesting places and events throughout the state, which is divided into the mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula and the more remote Upper Peninsula.

Here’s a sample:

• Celebrate cherries – The western side of the Michigan Lower Peninsula harvests about 250 million pounds of cherries each year, so they celebrate with the National Cherry Festival every July in Traverse City. You can also tour cherry orchards on Leelanau Peninsula or find unique cherry products at Michigan’s American Spoon Foods or Cherry Republic.
• Motown Historical Museum – Right here in Motor City (Detroit) is a museum dedicated to the groundbreaking musical artists of the Motown Record Corporation; names like Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5. Founder Berry Gordy envisioned a “hit factory” just like the Lincoln-Mercury assembly line where he worked, and his dream is a linchpin of Detroit and Michigan’s legacy.
• The Soo Locks – Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan and home to one of the most important maritime trade transit points in the world, the “Soo Locks” that move tons of shipping between Lake Superior and the rest of the Lakes. Ask at the Locks Visitor Center about boat tours.

For 15 other things to do with kids in Michigan, take a look at the Education.com article.

Many thanks to those who contributed from Twitter; folks like Queen of Spain, ScrapNancy, Tim Walker, Marina Feygelman, DeafMom, SoulTravelers3 and Elizabeth at Table4Five.

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