Planning a trip around Lake Michigan. Starting south west of Chicago. trying to avoid major highways as much as possible. any recomendations of roads to ride or avoid? or how about great stops?

 

one suggestion,,, once you get up in the northern LP, take 119 outside of Petosky, & make sure you stop at the Legs Inn in Cross Village

 

Did same ride counterclockwise a couple years ago. We hugged the lake on 31 going up Michigan. Lots of St. Parks along the way. Sleeping bear national dunes was nice. Petoskey was a nice town to visit. Stayed in Mackinow City and did a parasailing ride. Day trip to Maninac Island was a fun trip. Ride across the bridge into the UP. Tons of nice scenic roads all over the UP. Hugged the lake coming south thru Wisconsin. When we gon near Milwaukee, we headed west and took back roads to Housr on the Rock (abour 30 miles west of Madison. You can kill a day there, if you like strange stuff (and I do).

 

+1 on that,you never know who you'll meet at legs. just north of legs is lakeshore drive at the end of M119 a little traveled scenic road along a stretch of beach at the northern end of lake michigan, take that past wilderness park to Mackinaw City. US2 west of St Ignace isn't bad either.Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pierce Stocking Drive is a nice loop to see the sand dunes along Lake Michigan too.

 

Sounds like fun. Coming south from Milwaukee, you can go a few miles west and take 45 south. In the beginning, cows. But then you go through
Sturtevant:cabbage capital of the world. Further south you get to 50, go east and right at Interstate 94 there is the world famous Brat Stop. Have two. Continue east to Green Bay Road. Go South and see some of northern illinois towns. At Lake Cook Road go east a bit to Sheridan Road and go south.Take this all the way to Chicago city limits. On the way, you will see in Wilmette the Bahai Temple. Get off and walk around and it it. Just a bit further south (don't miss the turn a bit past the Bahai. ) you will go past Northwestern University. Continue south. (some turns at lights) You will enter chicago and go about 4 miles on a "city street" then you will end up turning left to get on Lake Shore Drive. Take that all the way to downtown chicago. Visit in town. (some surface lots available) Go back to LSD and go south. It ends and "joins up" with 12. Just a few miles of worrisome neighborhood, don't stop etc.) then Take 12 all the way to Spouth Bend (you can take 20 also) 12 has some scenic bypasses to go by the Lake.
Stop by Notre Dame. See the Dome and the Cathedral. Right behind the Cathedral is the Grotto. Have to sit, light a candle and say a prayer there (trust me, it is one of the most peaceful place on earth)
you can then go back to 12/20 . Then you can go up the lake into the michigan southern Peninsula

Places to eat: Chicago: Breakfast at Lou Mitchell's The traditional place to begin a route 66 breakfast. A chicago legend, double yolk eggs. It is on Jackson. On Ohio, Al's Italian Beef. get it lightly dipped with hot peppers on the side. Several Blackie's great burger and garbage salad and if the time is fried; fried smelt. A side trip in Evanston (take Central east from Sheridan road, where the lighthouse is) go 3 miles to and go to Sarkis' Worlds Greatest Omelette. A small place. Get the disaster and sausage and burp for the next 12 hours. In South Bend, just a few blocks south of campus is Rocco's A hidden treasure. great pizza and fettucine alfredo that melts in your mouth.