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15 Best Tourist Attractions in Michigan

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university of michigan
university of michigan

Probably most of us associate Michigan with the famous city of Detroit. It is true that this is the cultural and tourist center of the state, but Michigan can offer a number of other places with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and natural attractions such as the Great Lakes.

Every tourist will find an activity regardless of his hobby here, and maybe this will become one of his favorite destinations. Below you will find the most outstanding sights and entertainment.

Visit Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island has preserved its ancient appearance and has managed to combine it perfectly with modern amenities. You can reach the island by ferry, walk around the wonderful little shops, go around the island in a horse-drawn carriage.

Some of the most notable attractions here are Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Bridge, built in 1957 and connecting the upper and lower peninsulas. There is also a museum next to the bridge, where you will find a lot about the history of its construction.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is the third-largest lake in the Great Lakes, but unlike the other two, it is located entirely within the United States. Fans of scientific facts can visit the Michigan Maritime Museum to learn details about its creation and its significance for the state.

To enjoy the calm waters of the lake, you can take a boat trip. Beaver Island Archipelago and the Manitou Islands (part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) are among the most famous islands on the lake.

Of course, there are nice hiking trails around, which are ideal for an afternoon in nature or a walk with the family.

Detroit Institute of Arts

The museum boasts over 100 galleries and 65,000 works of art dating from the early centuries to the present day. The collections are extremely diverse and include exhibits from the Islamic world, medieval Europe, Africa, and Asia, Classical Antiquity. Here you will find works of the most famous names in art such as Rembrandt, van Gogh, Picasso.

In the area, you will definitely want to see the beautiful architecture of the Detroit Public Library and the Detroit Historical Museum on Woodward Avenue.

Pictured Rocks National Seashore

Pictured Rocks National Seashore is located on the south shore of Lake Superior and gets its name from the various compounds in the rocks that give them specific colors.

The landscape is diverse, consisting of rocky beaches, dunes, cliffs, and wooded areas with rivers and hills. Tourists here most often indulge in boating, hiking, camping. Nearby is the Grand Island National Recreation Area, ideal for outdoor activities.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park


The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park offers an incredible symbiosis between art and nature. The place has a special garden for children, which offers interactive activities with plants.

In addition, here you will have the opportunity to see a “Butterfly Maze”, a Japanese garden, a farm garden, and a number of wonderful sculptors. In The Lena Meijer Conservatory you will see rare tropical plants, and in the early spring months – the amazing process of transformation of Monarch butterflies.

The Henry Ford


The collective name “Henry Ford” actually represents 3 smaller attractions that reveal not only the history of the big name in the automotive industry but also the all-encompassing view of the American technical revolution.

In Greenfield Village you can see what life was like in the last century – the restaurants here serve typical food from the late 1800s, you can take a tour with a steam locomotive or see the farms that are still operating today.

The next stop, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, details the development of global innovation and the achievements of the people who shaped the world of technology as we know it today. Last but not least, visit the Ford Rouge Factory Tour to see behind the scenes how the latest vehicles models are made.

Isle Royale National Park


The ice age has shaped in a particularly interesting way this natural attraction, which today attracts lovers of wildlife. At the 432-square-mile Isle Royale you will find lakes and wooded areas inhabited by a variety of fauna- otters, ospreys, herring gulls, falcons.

There are tours to the lake from Michigan and Minnesota and the reach is by boat or seaplane.

Detroit Zoo

At Detroit Zoo you will find animals from all over the world. The African fauna is richly represented by families of lions, giraffes, lemurs, zebras, and primates. The favorite of many tourists are the Arctic species in the face of the polar bear and the 16 Australian kangaroos and two wallabies who live here.

Amur tigers and red pandas are the representatives of the Asian Forests, and bears, wolverines, and bald eagles are divided into the group of North America. The zoo also has reptile and amphibian centers, as well as the Tauber Family Railroad, with which you can make a pleasant ride.

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan occupies 2,800 acres, housing some of the most interesting architectural and historic buildings. Gothic buildings include the Law Quadrangle, the Power Center for the Performing Arts, and the Natural History Museum.

One of the major attractions is the Kelsey Museum of Archeology. If you wish to make this educational tour, you can also stop at the nearby Matthaei Botanical Gardens, where you can enjoy a pleasant walk among the amazing flora.

Belle Isle Park


You will find Belle Isle Park on the banks of the Detroit River. Here are some of the favorite family attractions such as the oldest aquarium in the United States Belle Isle Aquarium, which is located in a building from the beginning of the last century, fish, turtles, seahorses, and poison frogs.

Housed on 13 acres, one of the oldest conservatories, the Anna Scrips Whitcomb Conservatory is placed here, as well as the Dossin Great Lakes Museum which reveals much about the history and economic importance of the region and the Great Lakes.

There is much more to see here – some of the smaller attractions are the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Belle Isle Boat House, the Belle Isle Golf Range.

Fort Mackinac (Colonial Michilimackinac)

In the past, Fort Mackinac was a French commercial and military settlement but was burned down in 1781. Today, most of the buildings have been restored to their original appearance. This makes the place a true museum of history in the area, and costumed actors recreate daily life from those days – from farming and growing produce to military life.

Some of the preserved buildings include Soldiers Barracks, where many historical artifacts are stored, the Post Hospital, where you will learn more about the treatments used in the 18th century, and the Post Guardhouse, which will introduce you to the judiciary at the time.

There is also a special area for children, where historical information is presented in a way acceptable to them. You can choose between a self-guided tour or a guided tour.

Michigan Historical Museum


The museum is located in Lansing and presents a huge collection of artifacts about the life of the first native settlers in these places, during the Industrial Revolution to this day.

The largest educational center in the state has permanent and temporary interactive exhibitions, which are constantly updated to present the latest technological innovations.

Windmill Island


On the 36-acre area of Windmill Island, you will find beautiful flower gardens and typical Dutch architecture.

In the spring, more than 170,000 tulips bloom here, and a typical mid-18th-century Dutch windmill rises near the gardens. Even today, it still functions and grinds flour for sale. In the other seasons, the gardens are decorated with seasonal flowers.

Here is the Outdoor Discovery Center of Wildlife Unlimited, as well as a number of places for hiking and relaxation.

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum


The museum is open from mid-June to October and attracts tourists with artifacts from historic shipwrecks, including that of Edmund Fitzgerald.

The completely restored 19th century Lightkeepers Quarters is also accessible to visitors. You can take a walk along the boardwalk, enjoy the view and reach the dunes of Whitefish Point.

Ann Arbour


Ann Arbor is one of the best choices for a vacation with a loved one. Couples can choose between cycling or a pleasant walk in the Hudson Mills Metropark, canoeing in Argo Park, or watching a play in the Hill Auditorium.

The city is rich in bookstores and museums – the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Planetarium, and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Sports fans should definitely watch one of the games at Michigan Stadium.

Conclusion

Michigan is a place with a rich historical heritage, which has become a major attraction for tourists and a livelihood for the population. Most of the artifacts in the area are several centuries old, restored, and presented in a modern interactive way.

A real delight for the eye are the beautiful views and diverse landscapes. Traveling here for a weekend or longer is definitely worth it and you won’t be left without fun or places to visit, because Michigan definitely has something to offer its guests.