The 10 Things You Must Do In Michigan in 2015
I started to make a list of must-see places in The Mitten State. When I got to number 100 and wasn’t finished, I decided I better narrow it down because it was a bit overwhelming. It wasn’t easy to pick just ten, but if I have to choose these are the things that will give you a good overview of what our pleasant peninsulas are all about. If you’re from Michigan and haven’t crossed these items off your bucket list yet, why not make plans to do so in 2015. It’s never too soon to start enjoying this incredible place.
1. Take in a Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park. Michigan is famous for its great sports teams, fierce rivalries and loyal fans. Taking in a baseball game on a warm summer day with a hotdog in hand is the perfect way to experience that. Bonus: Make a stop a Greenfield Village where you’ll learn about Henry Ford and Michigan’s automotive industry legacy.
2. Swim in Lake Michigan. There’s nothing quite like taking a dip in the cool, clear waters of Lake Michigan. North to South, its coast is lined with sugar sand beaches and towering dunes. Some of my favorite places to take a dip in The Big Lake include Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Ludington State Park, Petoskey State Park and Good Harbor Beach at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Bonus: Linger long enough to catch one of our spectacular sunsets over the lake.
3. Visit the city of Holland during the Tulip Time Festival in the spring. You will be blown away by the bright, colorful tulips that are in bloom all over town and cover acres of fields. Bonus: Catch the Klompen Dancers who perform daily in the streets, wearing traditional dutch costumes including wooden shoes.
4. Visit Mackinac Island during the Lilac festival. Mackinac Island is spectacular any time of year, but it really shines at the end of June when the weather is perfect and all the island’s lilac trees are in bloom. You can catch their lovely scent on the breeze everywhere you go. Bonus: Taste some sweet, creamy fudge the island is world-famous for making.
5. See a lighthouse up close. Michigan is home to the most lighthouses in the country. Each one has it’s own unique architectural style. Some of my favorites are Big Red in Holland, Mission Point in Traverse City and Port Betsie in Frankfort.
6. Take a fall color tour. In the Autumn the fields, woodlands and hillsides are bright with yellow, orange and red as far as the eye can see. They look even more brilliant against the blue backdrop of Lake Michigan. Bonus: Visit an apple orchard in the fall. Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the U.S.Pick your own bushel off the tree and don’t forget to take home some fresh pressed cider.
7. Enjoy winter sports. Snow in the winter is a big part of life up here. World Class resorts offer skiing and snowboarding. If that’s a little too much for you, you can always take a ride downhill on a snow sled or put on a pair of snowshoes.
8. Go fishing. Lakes, rivers and streams abound in Michigan making it a fisherman’s paradise. You can charter a fishing boat on Lake Michigan, fish from the dock in an inland lake and even fly fish in a river. Bonus: Catch some keepers, clean them yourself and fry them up for dinner over a campfire.
9. Drive over the Mackinac Bridge to the U.P. With crystal clear water, lush forests and lots of wilderness the U.P. is a place where you can truly get away from it all and be one with nature. Bonus: Eat a pasty. Even more than fudge, the pasty (pronounced with a short A sound) is the food Michigan is most known for. A traditional pasty is a pastry crust filled with diced potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, onions and seasoned ground beef. You’ll find the best pasties in the U.P.
10. Visit Grand Rapids. GR is a small city with big city style. In recent years it’s become a town known for its trendy art scene, craft breweries and top notch restaurants. My favorite places to visit include the Art Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park and Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.
