Mindy on the Map

I'm currently living in Michigan, and sometimes there isn't time or enough vacation days left in the year to travel abroad - so instead I'll explore destinations closer to home. Just because they aren't far away doesn't make them any less special! I've taken family and friends to these locations when they've visited, and I think they are consistently as blown away by what Michigan has to offer as I am.  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Sleeping Bear Dunes is a National Lakeshore along the coast of Lake Michigan, and it's about a 4-hour drive from Detroit. If you're close enough to Sleeping Bear to drive there, it's a great option for camping. And, it's one of the few national parks that will allow dogs, so if you're looking for a vacation you can bring your furry best friend(s) on, it's a great option for that as well!  Personally, I'm not a camper, so I can't provide much advice on that front. But I have stayed in hotel...

The ease of getting around Switzerland makes taking a day trip from Zurich a no-brainer. Here are 4 amazing options that you'll want to add to your trip itinerary ASAP!  Side note: if you rent a car, be careful not to speed. There are radar speed enforcers all over the place. If you don't want to rent a car, you should still have no trouble getting around with the Swiss public transportation systems. Download the SBB Mobile app and input your current location and where you want to go to see your options and how long the trip will take you. Expand each choice to see the type of transportation you would take (train, bus, ship, funicular, and/or tramway) and any connections or changes you'll need to make.  Interlaken From Zurich, the train ride to Interlaken takes about 2 hours. If you rent a car it will take about 1.5 hours, and Interlaken has plenty of (paid) parking.  Near the railway station in the middle of Interlaken is a funicular that goes to the top of Harder Kulm t...