Michigan Travel Guide
The dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Michigan is two peninsulas wrapped in Great Lakes shoreline: more freshwater coast than any other state. Sleeping Bear Dunes' 140 m bluffs, Pictured Rocks' painted cliffs, and Mackinac Island, where cars have been banned since 1898 and the Grand Hotel's porch is the world's longest.
Detroit is the comeback story: the Motown Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Belle Isle, and a food scene that finally matches the hype. Traverse City anchors cherry country and the Sleeping Bear gateway.
Destinations in Michigan
Sleeping Bear DunesThe dune climb, Pierce Stocking Drive and Lake Michigan overlooks.
Mackinac IslandNo cars: bikes, horses and fudge shops; the Grand Hotel porch.
Motown Museum (Hitsville USA)The house where Motown was born; Studio A is intact.- Pictured RocksMineral-stained cliffs on Lake Superior; the boat cruise is the way.
- Detroit Institute of ArtsThe Rivera Court murals and a top-ten American collection.
- Traverse CityCherry capital, Old Mission wineries and the Sleeping Bear gateway.
- Belle IsleThe island park: conservatory, aquarium and Detroit River views.
Hover a state to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in Michigan
Regional food
- Coney dog (Detroit's chili-topped hot dog)
- Pasties (the Upper Peninsula's Cornish miner pie)
- Mackinac fudge (the island's famous sweet)
Getting there
Detroit (DTW) is the gateway; Traverse City (TVC) covers the north. Mackinac Island is ferry-only from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. The UP is a long drive; plan it as its own trip.