Michigan Atlas & Gazetteer Paperback – December 1, 2000

Good for checking out backroad fishing spots.

We had one of these years ago for travel and camping. It finally wore out and we had to toss it. Been looking for another as we have started camping again and so happy to easily find new marked campgrounds to try out this fall.

I didn't want to get stuck in the UP in the MASSIVE amount of snowfall they get in July, so I picked this up so I'd know which of the clearly labeled paved roads I needed to stay on to get from Newberry to Paradise and back again. I happen to love maps, so this is actually a great addition to my stable of mapping software and navigation devices. It's much easier to just look on a map and plan a route with lots of stops on it than trying to let software (that doesn't REALLY know what it's doing, especially during construction season) do the work. I've spent 30 years navigating Michigan, I've had tons of maps, and I'm very happy that this is in my car, just in case.

I used to own the other Michigan atlas book, but it was falling apart and many years old. I really needed the detail that these type of books give, for planning youth trips.The old map type was easier to read, but i wanted an updated book. The topographical info in this book seemed useful also. We really liked the old book being one county per page, but will probably adapt to this format just fine. After all, if you need an adjacent area, you just flip the page.Additionally, the other map book now has MUCH smaller maps, so they can fit in a bunch of county related info. So the benefit of their hand drawn maps has gone away.'Camp owner

Although I have lived in Nebraska for four decades, there's one spot I really love to vacation, and that is in the UP in general and the Keweenaw Peninsula in particular. Five years ago when we were planning a trip to the upper Keweenaw, we bought the Michigan Atlas and Gazeteer. It proved invaluable in our explorations. Every road, including some that are little more than rocky trails, is shown, as are many topographical features, including lakes, ponds (even the smallest), hills, swamps, and the like. Although we had been to the Keweenaw several times before, this atlas helped us get around far better than we had on previous visits.

I have used and enjoyed this Michigan atlas countless times for traveling back roads in pursuit of my many outdoor hobbies, which include birdwatching, fishing, camping, and hunting. Looking for alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic, or just to discover someplace new, it's been invaluable to me. However, it cannot replace a detailed county map, but who has all those? Another possible drawback is the lack of Forest Route numbers in the state's national forests. You will need to buy the appropriate National Forest map if you wish to wander there. Use this atlas together with a Michigan Department of Transportation map (free from the state) and you can go just about anywhere in the Great Lake State.

I always have a gazetteer in my saddlebags for whatever state I'm traveling in. I guess I'm old fashioned and like to use maps rather than the GPS. However don't put 100% faith in these maps as ther are mistakes on the maps, but I've used them for years and have discovered many out of the way places and always feel confident that I will find my way to wherever I'm headed. I've also used them as a guide off road- they have a lot of information in them - just don't be surprized if you find a mistake here and there. The overall accuracy is good and reliable.

I bought this for when I cruise around on my Honda Ruckus. The downside is the size is that is is little bulky but fortunately I have a bag I can store it in. The detail is really good when you need to figure out which road you need to take next as highways are out of the question. I suspect for the everyday traveler, this is probably the best option out there for a take along atlas. As a fan of maps, I really enjoy and like having this to refer to -- it will help you find the road less traveled. It delivered what I needed. Thanks.