Are you planning an inter-state vacation anytime soon?
If you have your sights set on exploring the Midwest, you can’t go wrong with Michigan. There’s plenty to discover and experience in the Great Lakes state, from towns stuck in time to amazing nature hikes. Michigan is full of activities, and with the many different environments available, you’ll never run out of things to see or do.
However, hitting popular tourist spots isn’t an excellent way to enjoy the state’s hidden gems. You’ll get a more immersive experience if you follow the unbeaten tourist path. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, these places won’t disappoint. Before we get down to business, a few facts about Michigan.
Useful Information About Michigan
- The Great Lakes state is the 11th most extensive state in the U.S. by area and is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.
- Bounded by four of the five great lakes, Michigan consists of two peninsulas and has the longest freshwater coastline in the world.
- Detroit is the largest and most popular city in Michigan, with a plethora of marquee sports teams and icons in the automotive industry.
- Despite Detroit’s size and economic might, it isn’t the state’s capital. That distinction goes to the city of Lansing.
- A ten-million strong population makes Michigan the tenth most populous state in the U.S.
- The state’s name comes from the Ojibwe word “mishigamaa,” which means “large water” or “large lake.”
- The state goes by a couple of nicknames, the most popular ones being The Great Lakes State and the Wolverine State.
- The state has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds; you’re never more than six miles from a natural water source.
What to Do While in Michigan
Michigan is a beautiful state with tons of activities waiting for the intrepid explorer from harbor towns, like South Haven, to German culture in Frankenmuth.
1. Get a Glimpse of the Past on Mackinac Island
If you’ve ever wondered how everyday life would be without motorized vehicles, Mackinac is the place to be. The entire island looks like it got stuck in a time trap circa the early 1800s. Located in the Straits of Mackinac, the island boasts of well-preserved buildings and hotels from the Victorian era.
The only mode of transportation on Mackinac are bikes and horses. Ride a horse-drawn carriage and take a narrated, one hour and 45-minute tour about the island’s history. You can also choose to walk, which slows things down and lets you take in the sights on your own. Notable sights include Fort Michilimackinac and the Grand Hotel. To get to Mackinac Island, you need to take a ferry from the mainland.
2. Go Tinkering
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington is the place to be if you love antiques and other memorabilia. The museum boasts of old advertising, neon posters, working slot machines, and even Gypsy fortune-telling machines.
3. Have a Taste of Germany without Going to Europe
If going to Germany is part of your bucket list, get a head start, and explore German culture in Michigan. Frankenmuth is a quaint little town located in the Lower Peninsula’s thumb region. The township has several Bavarian-style buildings and an open-air shopping district reminiscent of the ones in Europe.
There’s a lot of German culture in Frankenmuth, from traditional German cuisine to German-style Pilsner. Notable sights include Bronner’s, Frankenmuth Brewery, Zehnder’s, and the Bavarian Inn.
4. Go Jurassic
Although not on the level of Jurassic Park, the world-famous Dinosaur Gardens in Ossineke comes pretty close. The site boasts of over 25 life-size prehistoric creatures that roamed the planet way before we did. The 40-acre attraction is home to a brontosaurus that’s over 80-feet long and weighing 60,000 pounds. Thank goodness these things aren’t real!
5. Take a tour of the Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art exhibit and vision of artist Tyree Guyton located in Detroit’s East Side. What’s fantastic about the project is that it aims to improve people’s lives and neighborhoods through art. If you love art, this place is worth a visit.
Please take extra safety precautions during your visit, though, such as taking a car and traveling in a group. The Heidelberg Project is in a dangerous neighborhood. Mack Ave./Helen St. made the top 25 list based on factors such as arrest records in Michigan, population density, and other factors.
6. Take a Stroll in a Haunted House
If you’ve always wanted to experience what being inside a haunted house feels like, a spooky house in Pontiac is waiting for you. The Erebus Haunted Attraction holds the record of being the largest haunted house in the world.
7. The World Through the Eyes of Henry Ford
Henry Ford collected historical antiquities to preserve what life was like before people migrated to cities for work. At Greenfield Village, you can wander the tree-lined streets of an 80-acre town full of old buildings and even a working farm. Mr. Ford wanted to give guests a glimpse of daily life in the 1800s. You can also ride an old Model-T and a real steam train that goes around the village.
Notable locations include Thomas Edison’s labs, the Wright Brothers’ home, and the adjoining Henry Ford Museum.
8. Go to Hell
Got a dark, gregarious sense of humor and an extra day? Go and visit Hell, Michigan, for a fun time and unbeatable selfies. Look for the U.S. Weather Bureau’s official “Hell” sign and snap away for hellish bragging rights. With a name as unique as Hell, everything in this unincorporated community is a light-hearted take on the dark side.
Visit Hell’s famous Screams Ice Cream or Damnation University for haunted special effects. There was an actual housing development named “Satan’s Hills” in the 1960s, and Satan himself graced the event (by riding in on a helicopter). There’s also an all-hearse event called “Hellfest” happening in Hell each year.
9. Get Judged by Animals While You Eat
Head on over to The Antlers: Taxidermy Restaurant for a unique yet unsettling dining experience. You can check out over 200 mounted animals while waiting for your dinner. If you’re an animal lover, skip this place because you won’t be able to eat while the animals appear to be check you out.
10. Traverse City Wine and Pie
Wine and pie don’t go together, but when you’re in Traverse City, you have to make time for both. The area is beautiful and has the perfect climate for growing different varieties of grapes. There are dozens of wineries scattered throughout the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsula. Take a tour for a better wine sampling experience.
If you have a pie pan fetish, be sure to check out the Sara Lee Bakery Group near Traverse City. Here is where you’ll find the World’s Largest Cherry Pie Pan that made a gigantic, 17.6-foot pie that weighed 28,350 pounds.
When to Visit
You can visit Michigan at any time of the year because each season offers something different. Some folks call the state “Winter Wonderland” for a reason (it must be all the frozen rivers and streams). However, summer is the season you should be aiming for when planning a trip to Michigan. The warm weather is perfect for getting around and touring this fantastic state.
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