We just returned from our 2nd Fall Break road trip and it was such a perfect escape for a family fall fanatics like us.
We live just north of Cincinnati and the destination was Pontiac Lake Michigan which means we spend most of our time on I-75.
I have had a lot of people ask me about the parks that we have visited and how I happened upon these little pit stops. So I finally decided to map it all out here on the blog for anyone that might be looking for some 1-75 destinations in the Ohio or Michigan area.
Almost all of these activities are free or very budget-friendly. So if you are traveling with a big family like we are it is easy on the wallet.
Without further ado here are the stops we make in order from Lebanon, Ohio to Waterford Township, Michigan.
The first stop (coming from the Cincinnati area) is Lebanon Ohio.
This is a great place to stop for a bite to eat at the many local restaurants or in our case just a morning coffee and pastry at the Lot No. 1 coffee shop.
Lebanon has the cutest shops and historic downtown area.
There is a train station and plenty of sidewalks to take in the gorgeous fall foliage if you are there at that time of year.
We then travel an hour and a half north to the village of New Bremen. I can’t recommend this stop enough even if it is about 15 minutes off of the highway.
My favorite part about the village is The Bicycle Museum of America.
Our whole family was able to go for under $10!
This museum was the coolest thing! They had some of the earliest bicycles all the way up to modern ones. They even have an original Pee Wee Herman bike.
Most of it was off limits to touch, but there were enough interactive displays to keep our 8 little hands happy.
The kids loved this museum and I enjoyed all the history behind it as well. If you like bikes at all this place is a must-see.
From there you can walk to the Komminsk Legacy park which is not only gorgeous but a lot of fun as well.
It considered an “interactive art park” and I’ve never seen anything like it.
This little park is sure to impress your family.
Along with the museum and the park, there is The Miami and Erie Trail, which is a 2-mile path that runs alongside the historic canal in the village. It’s easy to fall in love with New Bremen, Ohio.
From there we hop back in the car for another hour before stopping off in Findlay, Ohio.
This little University town is home to one of our favorite coffee shops, George House Coffee Co. It’s eclectic menu includes some food, loads of drink combinations, and lots of rows of reading material.
Not far from there is Fort Findlay, an old wooden playground that my kids absolutely love!
After getting those wiggles out we drive another hour and a half to end up in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is a day trip of its own so there are way too many attractions and experiences to fit in at one little stop but here are a few recommendations that we have experienced.
Beautiful scenery with plenty of trails, a fascinating dam, and lots of water activity if you have a kayak or canoe!
If you are a Wolverines fan this little deli near the campus needs to be on your bucket list. Be ready for a mouthful though.
Not only was this an amazing playground, but this park also has lovely trails and beautiful community garden.
Along the banks of the Huron river this park has it all: wild life, water activities, gorgeous hiking trails, and a playground that your kids will want to spend hours at.
Our destination of Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is only 45 minutes away from Ann Arbor so that is our final stop.
To be clear, these photos are not all from the same trip! That would be too much in one day. We do try to stop at each city. Sometimes it’s a quick stop, others are a longer visit. This last time we saved Findlay for the ride home. Either way it makes a really fun adventure out of a 5.5 hour drive!
If there is something else along that route that I am missing out on please let me know. I would love to add more attractions to our i-75 fall road trip.
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