Leave Grove City, OH around 6:00 AM and take I-71 N to I-76 and then I-80/90 toward Holland, MI. With three kids, plan on about 5.5–6.5 hours of real travel time once you add snack stops, bathroom breaks, and a little wiggle room for traffic near Toledo and the Indiana tollway stretch. If you can get rolling before the day heats up, you’ll usually slide into Holland before the late-afternoon check-in rush, which makes the whole first night feel calmer. Parking is easy around town, but after a long drive you’ll want to keep the first stop simple and close to the main sights.
Start at Windmill Island Gardens for the gentlest possible landing spot: lots of open space, flowers, paths, and the iconic windmill everyone wants to see. It’s a good “we made it” stop for the whole family, especially after sitting in the car, and about 1.5 hours is enough unless the kids are really into wandering. From there, head over to Nelis’ Dutch Village, which is the better energy-burn stop for the 12- and 10-year-old, plus it still works for the 2-year-old because of the little rides, animals, and hands-on stuff. Expect around 2 hours here; it’s the kind of place where you don’t need to overthink the schedule, just let the kids run it off before dinner.
After that, stay close and walk Downtown Holland along 8th Street. This is the part of town where the evening feels easy: shops, an ice cream stop if everyone’s still got room, benches, and enough foot traffic to feel lively without being overwhelming. It’s a nice place to stretch your legs and keep dinner simple instead of getting back in the car. For dinner, pick a casual taco and tequila spot or another family-friendly sit-down place right downtown so you’re not hunting for parking again; budget roughly $15–$25 per adult and $8–$15 per child. If you arrive with a little daylight left, it’s worth lingering a bit on 8th Street before turning in early for tomorrow’s longer push north.
Leave Holland, MI around 7:00 AM and make this a “get there, don’t rush there” day. The drive to Munising is about 6.5–7.5 hours on the road once you factor in bathroom breaks and a lunch stop, so I’d expect you to roll into town in the early afternoon if you keep momentum. For a family of five, it helps to treat the morning as one long stretch with one fuel stop and one proper snack reset rather than lots of tiny detours. Once you get into Munising, head straight to the harbor area and check in for Pictured Rocks Cruises; parking around the dock area can tighten up on summer afternoons, so give yourself an extra 20–30 minutes to unload, use the restroom, and get everyone settled before boarding.
Pictured Rocks Cruises is the marquee experience here, and it’s absolutely the right first stop with kids because it gives everyone the dramatic cliff views without needing a long hike. Book the earliest available afternoon departure if you can; the standard tours run about 2.5–3 hours, and the earlier boats are usually a little smoother for younger kids who get tired later in the day. Bring light layers even in July—the wind off Lake Superior can feel chilly on the water—and keep cameras and snacks accessible. After you’re back on shore, a short drive over to Munising Falls Visitor Center makes for a perfect leg-stretcher. The waterfall walk is easy, well-marked, and only takes about 45 minutes total, so it’s ideal after sitting on a boat. It’s also one of the simplest “yes, we still did something” stops if the 2-year-old is done being patient.
For dinner, Tracey’s at Roam Inn is the kind of place that feels like a reward without being fussy. It’s a dependable sit-down option in town, with adult plates generally around $20–$35 and kids’ meals about $10–$18, and it works well for families who want a real meal after a long travel day. If everyone’s still in decent spirits afterward, end with a short stop at Sand Point Beach for sunset. It’s a relaxed spot where the kids can run around, throw stones, and burn off the last bit of road-trip energy while you get that first true Lake Superior evening. If the sky is clear, this is one of those simple Upper Peninsula moments that ends up being the memory.
If you’re coming from Munising, leave town after an easy breakfast and head straight to Miners Castle before the parking lot gets crowded. It’s only about a 15–20 minute drive from downtown on H-58, and in July the sweet spot is getting there by about 8:00–8:30 AM. The overlook is one of the signature views in the whole Pictured Rocks area, and it’s a low-effort, high-reward first stop for a family — short walk, big payoff, no one is tired yet. Bring water, sunscreen, and a layer for the bluff breeze; it can feel noticeably cooler up there than in town.
From Miners Castle, continue along H-58 to Miners Falls and plan on a relaxed 1.5-hour stop. The trail is manageable for kids, but it’s still a real woodland walk, so sturdy shoes are worth it — especially with a 2-year-old if you’re carrying them part of the way. The falls themselves are big and satisfying, and the viewing platform keeps everyone safely out of the spray. If you want to keep the day feeling smooth, do this as a no-rush stop rather than trying to push it fast; the woods here are half the experience.
After the falls, make your way to Chapel Beach Trailhead for a shorter out-and-back or viewpoint-style stop depending on energy levels. This is the place to read the room with the kids: if everyone’s doing well, you can stretch it a bit; if the youngest is fading, keep it light and use it as a scenic leg-stretcher instead of a full hike. The main thing is not to overcommit — the shoreline is beautiful, but July heat plus trail time can add up fast for a family. Then head back toward Munising harbor for Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours, which is a nice change of pace after yesterday’s cruise because it gives you a different water angle without repeating the exact same experience. Check the day’s departure times when you arrive or book ahead in peak season, since summer sailings can fill up, and budget around 1.5 hours from boarding to return.
For lunch, Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore is the right kind of Munising stop: casual, central, and easy with kids. Expect sandwiches, soups, coffee, and baked goods in the roughly $10–$20 per person range, and it’s a good place to sit down, cool off, and regroup before the last little stretch of the day. After that, keep the afternoon loose with a gentle downtown Munising stroll and a stop by Ebenezer Baptist Church — not a major “do” stop, but a nice way to round out the day with a little local texture and some unhurried walking. If anyone wants a snack, this is also the moment to grab ice cream or a treat in town and let the rest of the day stay flexible instead of overplanned.
Leave Munising around 7:00 AM and treat this as a real travel day, not a sprint. The route is M-28 to US-31, with a practical drive time of about 5.5–6.5 hours plus a lunch stop. With kids, the sweet spot is one solid breakfast, a couple of quick bathroom breaks, and a low-stress lunch somewhere on the way so you’re rolling into Petoskey in the mid-to-late afternoon. Parking is easiest if you head straight toward the waterfront first; downtown can get busy on summer holiday weekend traffic, so don’t overthink it. Once you arrive, give everyone a reset with a walk at Bayfront Park, where the shoreline path along Little Traverse Bay is perfect for getting the car legs out and letting the kids burn off some road-trip energy.
After Bayfront Park, head a short drive north to Petoskey State Park for the main mission of the day: looking for Petoskey stones. This is one of the best family-friendly places for it because the beach is easy to access, the water is shallow enough for supervised splashing, and the whole thing feels more like a treasure hunt than a formal hike. Expect to spend about 2 hours here, and bring a small bucket, water shoes, and a towel you don’t mind getting sandy. A park day pass is typically around $11–$13 for out-of-state vehicles, and in July the earlier you get there, the easier parking and beach space will be. If the kids get tired of hunting, just let them do a little digging and wading while the adults keep scanning the stones near the shoreline.
For dinner, Stafford’s Pier Restaurant is the right kind of vacation meal: relaxed, scenic, and easy with kids. It sits right on the waterfront, so you get the bay views without needing to over-plan the evening, and the menu usually works well for mixed ages and appetites. Budget roughly $18–$35 per adult and $10–$18 per child, plus drinks and dessert if everyone is still in a celebratory mood. After dinner, keep the night light with a wander through the Downtown Petoskey Gaslight District, where you can browse a few shops, grab a cone or a treat, and just enjoy the little summer-town energy before turning in. It’s the kind of downtown that doesn’t require an agenda — one easy loop, a few storefronts, and back to the hotel before the kids get completely wrung out.
Leave Petoskey early and treat this as a straightforward westward repositioning day so you’re at the park while parking lots are still manageable and the sand is cooler. By the time you roll into the Sleeping Bear area, you’ll be glad you didn’t linger—July crowds build fast, especially around Empire and Glen Arbor. If you need a quick stop en route, Traverse City has plenty of easy gas-and-coffee options right off US-31, but don’t overdo it; the goal is to arrive with enough energy for the dunes, not spend the morning in parking lots.
Start at the Dune Climb while the family still has fresh legs. The climb itself looks innocent from the bottom and turns into a real workout once you’re on the soft sand, so it’s perfectly fine to set a “far enough is far enough” rule for the 2-year-old and loop back early. Plan on about $25 per vehicle for the park entry unless you already have a national parks pass, and bring water, sunscreen, and a backup shirt or shorts because sand gets everywhere. If you’ve got a carrier for the little one, even better; strollers are basically useless here.
After the dune climb, use Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive as your low-effort scenic payoff. It’s one of the best family-friendly ways to see the lakeshore without committing to another big hike, and the overlooks are the kind you can enjoy in short bursts between kid resets. From there, head into Empire Beach for an easy cooling-off stretch—good sand, gentler water access, and enough room for the kids to dig, snack, and recover. When everyone is ready for a proper meal, swing into Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor for a classic no-fuss lunch or early dinner; expect roughly $12–$25 per person, and in summer it’s smart to go a little before or after the rush so you’re not waiting forever with tired kids.
Wrap the day with a slower stop at Glen Haven Historic Village, which is exactly the kind of place that feels better in the evening when the day-trippers thin out. It’s a nice low-key history break, and the waterfront setting is ideal if you want to catch a calmer sunset after a full sand-and-sun day. Take your time wandering, then head out before the youngest is completely done—this is the kind of day that works best when you leave a little margin instead of trying to squeeze in one more thing.
Leave Empire around 6:00 AM so you’re not fighting heat, traffic, or overtired kids later in the day. This is a long return stretch, and the best move is to treat the first few hours as your “quiet miles” block: snacks, audiobooks, chargers, and a bathroom stop before everyone gets cranky. If the weather is good and you want one quick leg-stretcher, Fort Gratiot Light Station near Port Huron is the kind of easy, low-effort stop that works well with kids — 30 to 45 minutes is enough for a photo, a look at the lighthouse grounds, and a reset before the long southbound push.
Plan one flexible roadside lunch stop in southeast Michigan or northern Ohio rather than trying to “do” a town. Good rule for a day like this: park close, eat fast, and get back on the highway. Expect about $12–$22 per person if you choose a casual diner, sandwich shop, or family chain, and aim for a stop that’s right off the exit so you’re not adding extra driving. This is also the best time to swap in a fuel stop, wipe out the car, and let the 2-year-old move around for a few minutes before the last stretch.
From your lunch stop, settle in for the final push on I-75 south to I-71, then into Grove City. If you kept the morning moving and didn’t linger too long at lunch, you should land in the late afternoon or early evening. Keep a couple of backup snacks in the front seat, and don’t wait until the tank is almost empty to fuel up — on a family day this long, that little bit of margin matters. Once you’re back, the best “activity” is honestly getting everyone inside, unloading the must-have bags first, and calling it a win.