Michigan Family Travel

From choosing a first kite to finding the right wind, a longtime Michigan kite enthusiast shares what families need to know before taking flight.

By Tena | Guest Contributor, MACkite

There’s something magical about being able to touch the sky, and people have been flying colorful kites for thousands of years. Today, kites come in countless sizes, shapes and designs, meaning everyone in the family can choose something, get outside and soar together.

How Do I Choose the Right Kite?

Children

Young children will be successful with a kite that’s easy to fly and doesn’t pull so hard that it frightens them. A triangular-shaped delta kite that’s up to 4 feet wide is incredibly stable and doesn’t need much wind. Some even have a built-in tail that helps keep the nose pointed up.

Most include flying line, but if not, look for 30-pound line.

Kids & Adults

Older kids and adults can handle larger kites in almost any shape, but for a more interactive flying experience, try a steerable two-line kite called a stunt kite.

Learning is easy: simply pull the right line to turn right and the left line to turn left. However, if you’ve ever attended a kite festival, you know there is almost no limit to the maneuvers you can perform.

If you want a chill, relaxing day of flying, choose a single-line kite. If you want something exciting that’s going to keep you moving, pick up a stunt kite.

Where Can I Fly?

Look for a large, open area without obstacles, especially power lines. Beaches are ideal, but big fields can work well, too, as long as tall trees aren’t blocking the wind.

How Much Wind Do I Need?

This depends on your kite, and many will have their recommended wind range printed on the packaging.

Your kite won’t want to fly in too little wind, while too much wind can damage the frame or sail. For many recreational kites, a steady 10–15 mph is a good range. You’ll see small branches moving and flags flapping.

What Are Some Tips to Help Me Fly?

Have you ever tried to fly a kite, but it just wouldn’t stop crashing?

Kites fly best in “clean” wind, where the air isn’t passing over obstacles like trees, buildings or even hills. These obstacles cause eddies in the wind, and kites become unstable and fly unpredictably in this turbulent, “dirty” wind.

Imagine paddling a kayak down a wide, open river, and then picture trying to navigate rapids with the water swirling around rocks.

A beach with smooth wind coming off the water is perfect for kite flying. But if the wind is rolling over dunes or tall buildings along the shoreline before it gets to you, you’ll have a much more difficult time.

Single-Line Kite Tips

If you’re having trouble launching, have someone walk your kite far downwind, so the wind is blowing on your back as you face the kite, while you let out line. When you pull the line, the kite should rise quickly into air that’s more stable than the air near the ground.

If your kite wants to nosedive, a tail can make it fly better by pulling the bottom of the kite down with the drag it creates. Longer tails and tails with decorations add more drag for larger kites, and they look great, too.

Dual-Line Kite Tips

Don’t be afraid to start with a kite with a 7- or 8-foot wingspan. These can fly in less wind, so you’ll be able to fly more often, and they tend to be more stable, making them easier to learn on.

If your stunt kite line came wound on individual handles, let out all the line. It seems like it would be easier to start on shorter lines, but this actually makes the kite twitchy. Longer lines give you more time to react. A tail will also slow things down, letting you trace graceful, sweeping paths with your kite.

Before launching, double-check that your lines are exactly the same length and aren’t wrapped around each other. Hold your hands straight out in front of you, then swing both arms smoothly down and slightly behind you to pull the kite into the sky.

If the wind is strong, you can launch your kite from a bit off to one side. It won’t pull as hard there because it isn’t catching the wind head-on. You’ll also have an easier time landing off to your side than straight downwind.

If your kite line came with wrist straps and a plastic winding card, wind both lines back onto the card at the same time, crossing over the center in a figure-eight pattern. This helps keep them from twisting or becoming tangled.

How Can I Avoid Common Mistakes?

Heads Up!

Don’t fly in crowded areas, especially with a stunt kite. For some reason, most bystanders don’t react well to being dive-bombed.

Objects Are Closer Than They Appear

It’s easy to lose track of how much line you’ve let out. That tree or power line you think is far away may actually be right under your kite.

Storms can also pop up more quickly than you expect, especially along the lakeshore, so keep an eye on the weather. Ben Franklin already proved that lightning is electricity, so there’s no need to repeat his experiment.

Be Kind When You Rewind

It’s tempting to wind your kite in directly from the sky, but this stores your line under tension and can weaken it.

Kite flying is a great way to reduce your stress, so return the favor: pull your kite down while walking forward along the line, then go back to your spool to wind it up.

Get It Together

Make sure you’ve got all your rods and your line before you leave the flying area, or your next flying session will be much shorter.

Are You Ready to Take Flight?

With about 3,300 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, Michigan has plenty of kite-friendly beaches waiting to be explored.

Keep a few kites in the car, along with sunscreen, water and comfortable shoes. You never know when you’ll discover one of those magical spots and end up escaping to the skies for a whole afternoon.

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About the Author

By Tena, MACkite webmaster and photographer

Tena has been enchanted with kites since she was a small child. She bought her first stunt kite on a trip to Mackinac Island and joined Mackinaw Kite Co., now MACkite, shortly after graduating from college.

In 1999, she accepted the challenge of bringing the store’s many kites and other fun items online, something she still does today. They do let her outside to photograph kite events, though.

Readers can also find her photography and kite coverage on the MACkite Facebook page, MACkite Grand Haven Facebook page and Kite Festival at Grand Haven Facebook page.