Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

Home solar panels: anyone have them? We are seriously looking at this for our house, and would love feedback from any of you who've done it.
Looks very interesting, the 30% tax credit is gone at the end of this year, and so all of a sudden there's some urgency if we plan to have them sometime.

One of our neighbors has them. It does not "store" the electricity in any kind of battery. If the power goes out, their power goes out.

She said their electric bill is about $30/month.

 

[fuzzi]

Home solar panels: anyone have them? We are seriously looking at this for our house, and would love feedback from any of you who've done it.
Looks very interesting, the 30% tax credit is gone at the end of this year, and so all of a sudden there's some urgency if we plan to have them sometime.
Mary

What about snow? Is there some way to keep them clear during the winter?

 

[Sally PB]

My neighbors don't worry about that. They go to Florida shortly after Thanksgiving, and come back in April.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Thank you!! That sounds lovely!
I will check with hubby about the route. I know we will be coming up 75. He did say will bypass Detroit.
Any suggestions welcome!
It has been twenty five years so I’m sure lot of changes.

Avoid Detroit or avoid Ann Arbor? 75 will take you right around Ann Arbor, which we would avoid whenever we could when we lived over that way. It's such a mess and so stressful.

If you're coming in to the state from 80/90, I would go to the middle and travel up. 75 can be such a pain to drive because everyone goes north on Friday and South on Sunday.

Michigan is full of little side markets, fruit stands, and beautiful backwoods drives. There's never any easy way to get to the Island. Honestly, they should put in a train.

Anderson and girls is off 66 (north/South) in Stanton, after Battle Creek, that goes to 131 in Kalkaska and 31 in Petoskey. Shorts Brewery is a bit off 131 from Kalkaska, but they have a cozy atmosphere and great food! Another good brewery to stop for lunch if you are going the eastern route through Alpena is Austin Brothers.

You're making me want to hop in my jeep and go for a long drive. I really hope you enjoy the things along the way on your trip!

 

[BoundlessLove]

Thank you so much, @Chickin Fairy.
I read your post to my husband and he said we could actually go up 65. Looks like a better route for sure.
I’d like to avoid Cincinnati, as well.
Going through traffic in large cities makes me a nervous wreck.
If we could drive straight through our drive time is twelve hours, but definitely will be taking breaks.
We’re looking forward to visiting Mackinac and I’d like to stop at Anderson & Girls Farm. I checked out their website and it looks like a nice place to stop for a break.

 

[1muttsfan]

23 from Toledo bypasses Detroit and meets up with 75 near Flint. Not much scenery in that part of the state on any route. Then north of Bay City 23 splits off again and follows the Eastern shoreline, a really beautiful drive.

 

[BoundlessLove]

23 from Toledo bypasses Detroit and meets up with 75 near Flint. Not much scenery in that part of the state on any route. Then north of Bay City 23 splits off again and follows the Eastern shoreline, a really beautiful drive.

This is the route we took twenty-five years ago.