As you must have already guessed, Mackinaw has many options for restuarants and shops.

If you just want a 20 minute break, take the last exit before the bridge, turn left and drive 3 blocks down to the water at the foot of the bridge. There is a nice park where you can walk, view the bridge, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Island.

Other stops: Frankenmuth (10 mile drive), Hartwick Pines State Park, Gaylord, Indian RIver.

It depends on how far into the journey you want to stop...here are a few suggestions.

Exit 136-Birch Run...lots out outlet stores if you want to do some shopping...and lots of restaurants, gas stations. You'll find fast food, plus Appleby's, Bob Evans etc....I really like this sandwich/pizza place called Victor and Marek's right across from the main enterance to the outlet mall. Frankenmuth is also this exit, cute little town. Just go right instead of left...then you can drive up that main road and get back on 75 at exit 141 (instead of backtracking).

Exit 212-West Branch...a much smaller outlet mall, lots of restaurants and gas stations...think there's an Appleby's and a Big Boy, plus all the usual fast food joints.

Exit 282-Gaylord...once again, lots of gas stations and restuarants. There's a Ruby Tuesday's, I've always wanted to try the Big Buck Brewery but never got around to it...plus all the usual fast food.

Grayling looks like a good major centre, however I got off there once and there isn't an easy way to get back on to 75 going north. You have to drive up north for about 10 minutes to get back on the highway.

My sister lives in Petoskey, so I do this drive 3-4 times a year...in fact I just did it in reverse yesterday.

Someone mentioned Indian River, it's exit 310...buger king and mcd's for sure, plus gas.

More about Birch Run and Frankenmuth at exit 136 of I-75/US-23, approximately 100 miles from Detroit Metro:

There is a large outlet mall right beside the interstate highway at this exit, if this would interest you. There is also Tony's I-75 Restaurant, on Birch Run Road just west of the exit. This is not a fancy restaurnat, but the meals there are both good and plentiful -- I recently had their bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast at a cost of $6.49. The meal I received consisted of about a pound of bacon, a half dozen eggs, and three large slices of buttered toast with strawberry preserves.

My wife ordered a similar meal, but also included hash browns in addition to the meat, eggs, and toast for a price of $7.49. It took a while to find the eggs, since they were buried under a mound of meat and hash browns -- about a pound of hash browns. According to their menu, they serve over 1,000 pounds of hash browns each weekend.

I cannot speak from direct experience about the serving size of their other meals, but their menu does say that their BLT has a pound of bacon on it.

Frankenmuth is known for two things -- the chicken dinners at Zehnders and the Bavarian Inn, run by different branches of the same family, and Bronners Christmas Wonderland, a store where you can buy just about anything associated with Christmas.

I was just there this last weekend.

Also at Indian River exit 310, try Vivio's for an excellent casual "sit-down" meal. Great atmosphere.

Indian River's a great little pit stop, right between Michigan's third and fourth largest Inland Lakes (Burt and Mullett). The pace is a little slower, so it's a great week long or weekend destination, but there are a few things to see in an hour or so.

For a quick lunch, Burt's Market has great grinders...homemade buns, fresh meats & veggies...the Burt's Special is my favorite...by the way, they're HUGE...I'm a big guy and 1/2 is plenty for me...yum!!! Call ahead, they take about 15-20 minutes...231-238-2878 Vivio's is a great suggestion too...absolutely the best pizza ever, and pretty darn good Italian too, but they don't open until 5. I know someone else mentioned The Cross In The Woods, that's a great site to check out for a few minutes too. If you go the take out food route, swing down to DeVoe Beach on Burt Lake to eat...great views, sandy beach and good people watching. If you have a few extra minutes, check out some shops downtown. My favorite is McClutchey's, a kind of high end old fashioned department store...their slogan is "everything to wear". Service is key in this store, where the friendly ladies wait on you hand and foot. The Goldenrod is a nice little jewelry and knicknack shop and Drost's Chocolates has delicious chocolates, fudge and ice cream.

Have a Great Trip!

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