By Michael Thompson, Contributing writer

Some who desire to experience Lake Michigan's beauty opt for visiting the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Others opt for the 11-day Summerfest outdoor concert in Milwaukee.

On both the Michigan side and the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan, there are numerous high-profile tourist attractions and annual events. However, you may be among those who define a vacation as "getting away from it all." If so, Lake Michigan offers plenty of options.

Should you explore the Michigan coastline first, or the Wisconsin side? Your decision may involve whether you are a morning person or a night owl. A morning person needs to be on Wisconsin's coast to see the sun rise onto the lake. A night owl can view the glittering sunset from Michigan.

The following is a sample of five Lake Michigan destinations that your vacation group may enjoy:

1. A good way to quietly enjoy Lake Michigan is to head for Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The main community along that coastline is Escanaba, where you can experience small-town tourist amenities and tours; you can opt for either a comfy hotel room or a nearby camping area. You also can head a couple hours north toward Lake Superior.

2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a popular destination along Michigan's Lower Peninsula northwest shoreline, but the park area is long enough (35 miles) to still offer your desired level of privacy. In addition to enjoying the water and climbing the dunes, your vacation group can visit a maritime museum, a 19th century lighthouse, and three historic Coast Guard stations.

3. Ludington, below Sleeping Bear Dunes, offers Historic White Pine Village. This will give you a feel for small-town Michigan life during the late 1800s. There are more than 25 restored buildings, including a blacksmith shop, courthouse, hardware store, fire hall and chapel. Also, from Ludington you can join your car or van on a 2 1/2-hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wis., north of Milwaukee. This is ideal for vacationers who desire to experience both of Lake Michigan's shorelines.

4. If you wind up in Manitowoc, there's plenty to do on the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan. For one thing, golfers can enjoy the scenery of coastal links courses without facing the prevailing westerly winds that buffet the Michigan shoreline. Manitowoc is home to the popular Lincoln Park Zoo, where you can see timber wolves, black bears, white-tailed deer, even a cougar and a bald eagle.

5. On the upper Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan, you may first think of Green Bay, home of football's legendary Green Bay Packers. However, the city of Green Bay actually is inland from Green Bay. Up top of a small peninsula is Sturgeon Bay. You probably can't imagine the Sturgeon Bay Packers, but your vacation group might enjoy the local maritime museum. You also can visit both dairy farms and wineries.

Camping can also provide a great Lake Michigan getaway. State governments of both Michigan and Wisconsin are going through budget cuts, but Department of Natural Resources funds in both states are directed for upkeep of public campgrounds. If you really want privacy, consider camping on Lake Michigan during winter. DNR operations in both states have winter sites available with utility hookups and running water, and trails for activities such as cross-country skiing or snowshoe hikes. You also can rent a cottage along Lake Michigan for a week, or maybe even a month. It's a renter's market.