Michigan holidays
This state in the Great Lakes region is that rare destination that’s appealing to both outdoorsy and indoorsy travellers. Holidays to Michigan can range from a culture-soaked city break in Detroit to a backpacking trip through areas so remote you’re more likely to spot a bear than another person. And from Traverse City to Ann Arbor, there are plenty of idyllic beach villages and college towns that offer the best of both.
Top destinations in Michigan
Detroit
Once dubbed the ‘Paris of the Midwest’, this revitalised Midwestern metropolis is brimming with edgy galleries, innovative restaurants and creative energy.
Traverse City
From freshwater beaches and rolling sand dunes to seasonally inspired eats and a flourishing wine scene, this small town in northern Michigan makes for an idyllic Great Lakes getaway.
Kalamazoo
Nature is never far away in Kalamazoo. This Midwestern gem is packed with bike paths and hiking trails, while farm-to-table cuisine shows off a bounty of local produce.
Michigan: fast facts
Language
English
Currency
United States dollar ($)
Time zone
Detroit - UTC−5 (EST) and UTC−4 (EDT)
High season
June – August; September – October
Low season
December – March
Michigan holiday highlights
Admire the architecture
Modern architecture fans can marvel at dozens of Frank Lloyd Wright creations scattered around the state, as well as the gorgeous Art Deco skyscrapers and newly restored Beaux Arts train station in Detroit. Scour the consignment shops of Grand Rapids (aka ‘Furniture City’) for great mid-century finds. Or visit offbeat Frankenmuth, designed to look like a Bavarian village.
Sample the craft beer
Craft beer is a way of life in Michigan, particularly in the western part of the state. Grand Rapids is brimming with breweries, earning it the nickname ‘Beer City USA’. Just south, in Kalamazoo, quirky Bell’s Brewery and Eccentric Cafe is a favourite. The day it releases its annual summer beer, Oberon, is treated like a citywide holiday.
Learn about cars
One of the best things to do in Michigan is to learn about its role as the birthplace of the automotive industry. Tour the historic (and still-active) Ford Rouge Factory, or drop by Detroit’s Automotive Hall of Fame. The collection at the huge Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation includes everything from 19th-century steam engines to the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Things to do in Michigan
Top attractions
Michigan’s nature shines alongside man-made innovations. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is best explored by kayak at sunset, when its colourful sandstone cliffs are bathed in a golden glow. Experience life at the pace of a horse-drawn carriage on Mackinac Island, where no cars are allowed. At the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, you can wander Edison’s lab and ride a steam train.
Beaches
Boasting the country’s longest freshwater shoreline, Michigan has plenty of beaches. At places like Grand Haven, Saint Joseph and Holland, you’ll find grassy dunes, soft sandy shores, gentle waves and charming village life. You can also hunt for fossilised coral in Petoskey and hike through the vast Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Nature
Michigan is home to some of the Midwest’s most pristine wilderness and more ski areas than almost any other state. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park offers great hiking and spectacular views. And the Upper Peninsula’s Tahquamenon Falls State Park has over 20,000 hectares of cedar and spruce forests, rivers and dozens of cascades.
Cuisine
The list of must-try Michigan foods is long, from Coney dogs and square pizza in Detroit to Traverse City cherries and the classic Mackinac Island fudge. And don’t forget cornflakes, which were invented in Battle Creek! The most innovative restaurants in Michigan are found in the Detroit area, where young chefs push the envelope of Midwestern food.
Culture and museums
The museums in Michigan cover a wide range of cultures, especially in Detroit. The city is home to the recently renovated Motown Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, and the Detroit Institute of Arts, whose vast collection spans pre-Columbian pottery to Russian icons. In Grand Rapids, the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park features work by greats including Auguste Rodin, Louise Bourgeois and Richard Serra.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Michigan runs the gamut from storied jazz institutions with decades of history to the artsy, college-bar vibes of Ann Arbor. In Detroit, uncover a secret speakeasy or dance until dawn at a legendary techno club. In Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, craft beer is king, with dozens of breweries to keep you busy.
Find the best time to visit Michigan
Weather in Michigan through the year
March – May: Snow can linger in northern Michigan into May, but in the city of Holland, spring arrives with millions of tulips blooming during the annual Tulip Time Festival.
June – August: Sunny days and warm lake waters make summer the best time to visit Michigan, especially Mackinac Island and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Expect to see clumsy June bugs everywhere. Don’t worry — they’re harmless.
September – November: With cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, autumn is a beautiful season for leaf peeping up north, museum hopping in Detroit and tasting craft beers in Grand Rapids.
December – February: The lake effect can turn Michigan winters windy, cold and snowy. This is a great time to ski Crystal Mountain or go ice fishing in the Upper Peninsula.
Events in Michigan
UP200 Sled Dog Race (February): Watch as champion mushers race teams of dogs across 367 kilometres of untouched Upper Peninsula wilderness at this popular event.
Movement Electronic Music Festival (May): Detroit is the birthplace of techno music, and it’s got the music festival to prove it. For 20 years, international DJs and electronic music fans have poured into the city to get their fill.
National Cherry Festival (July): Traverse City celebrates its famous cherry harvest with parades, concerts, air shows and pie-eating contests.
ArtPrize (September to October): Every autumn, the streets, cafes and museums of Grand Rapids turn into de facto art galleries, showing off work by artists from around the world.
Know before you go
Getting around Michigan
Public transport
Buses: Greyhound’s comfortable, air-conditioned coaches are a cost-effective way to travel between most of Michigan’s major cities and towns. Megabus and Indian Trails also operate in the state, with a more limited network.
Trains: Amtrak operates several routes across Michigan. Two east–west lines link Chicago with Detroit and Port Huron via Kalamazoo and Lansing. Another follows the western shoreline, stopping in Holland, Grand Rapids and other scenic lakeside communities.
Boats: Michiganders love boats almost as much as cars. Cross Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Milwaukee, or ride to Mackinac Island from St Ignace. Round Island has no public access but can be admired from boat tours or Mackinac Island’s shore.
Domestic flights
Michigan has more than a dozen airports, the busiest of which is in Detroit. From there, you can catch non-stop flights to Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Marquette.
Driving and car hire
Hiring a car is essential for exploring most of Michigan, fitting for the birthplace of the automobile. Well-maintained roads and scenic landscapes make road trips a pleasure — except on Mackinac Island, where cars are banned and travel is by bike, by carriage or on foot.
