By Jared Tobaison
In the summer, Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the United States to be in. With amazing forests, beautiful beaches to go swimming and tanning, watching the sunset and historical cities to learn about, there are so many places to visit in Michigan.
If you are looking to visit some of the state’s most scenic attractions, there are quite a few to choose from— specifically, Pictured Rocks and Tahquamenon Falls State Parks in the Upper Peninsula.
Although you can’t camp there unless you have a permit, Pictured Rocks is a beautiful park to visit. It’s known for colorful sandstone cliffs; Munising Falls and the Miners Castle Rock formation. It is definitely a weekend trip, so find an Airbnb in the area and go visit.
If you are looking for more of a hiking and camping experience, Tahquamenon Falls is the perfect spot. It has around 200 campsites and about 20 miles of hiking trails. The falls are split into the upper and lower falls. The lower falls are the cascades and rapids from the upper falls, and you can rent row boats and canoes to go visit the lower falls. The upper falls is a waterfall with a 50-foot drop. It is accessible via a shuttle from the visitor center, or you can walk to it on a paved path. The Tahquamenon Falls is also known as the “Root Beer” falls because of its golden-brown color.
Mackinac Island is a place like no other— I mean that literally. The island is located off of Mackinaw City, right before the Mackinac Bridge, and the only way to get there is by boat. It is known for its older setting, restaurants, fudge and beautiful sights over the lake. Visitors can travel around the entire island by either renting a bike or riding in a horse-drawn carriage. There is the Mackinac State Park, with many sites on one side of the island, and on the other is the iconic Grand Hotel that holds the record for the longest front porch in the world. Mackinac is for sure its own atmosphere and feels like its own state, having its own culture.
If camping, hiking and nature isn’t your thing, that’s okay— there are other places for you. If you want to go somewhere you can drive to and spend a day at, Michigan has a pretty big and historic city.
Detroit is well-known all around the country and the world. Whether you like sports, history, culture or food, there are a lot of things you can do in the city of Detroit. If you are a sports person, I suggest getting a ticket to a Detroit Tigers game and going with friends or family. The support the Tigers get and the atmosphere of the fans on a game day is unmatched. Go to a Friday night game and stay for the fireworks, I promise you won’t regret it.
If you are a history buff, there are plenty of museums to go to. For example, there’s the Detroit Historical Museum, which takes you back through the history of Detroit, dating back to the fur trade in the 18th century. If you like science, it has the Michigan Science Center. This Smithsonian-affiliated Museum aims to inspire young and growing minds to learn about the importance and innovations of science. There is also the Detroit Institute of Arts for all the art fans. It holds one of the largest art collections in the United States, along with one of the most significant art collections. Last but not least, there is the Motown Museum, which explores the history of Motown Records and influential artists of Motown.
The west side of Michigan is big on its beaches. If you are a big stay out in the sun, get tan and socialize type of person, then you should spend a beach day at one of the many beaches along Lake Michigan. I personally believe that the three best beaches are Saugatuck State Park, Holland State Park and Grand Haven State Park. All are great options that come with different benefits. Saugatuck has the sand dunes you can go riding on and a pretty popular beach. If you want something not as busy but still beautiful, Holland State Park is perfect. You can walk to the end of the pier and hang out at the lighthouse. If you like a beach that is big, with lots of room and beach volleyball, then Grand Haven is the right choice. Grand Haven is close to downtown, so you can walk there and back. It has countless sand volleyball courts and loads of people and space. If you have a dog, there is also a little area to bring your dog to the beach.
Michigan has lots more to explore, but these are some recommendations for vacationing in this beautiful state.
