Destinations
Six ways to fall for Michigan.
Family favorites and wild places — pick a season, then pick a corner of the map.
Destinations by season
Find your best week.
Filter the list, then open a card for its top activities.
Traverse City
Northwest
Cherry Capital of the World — a working harbor town where wine country meets dune country.
Best season: Summer and fall
- Cherry-picking on Old Mission Peninsula
- Wine tasting along the peninsula
- Sleeping Bear Dunes day trip
- Harborfront dinner at sunset
Mackinac Island
Straits of Mackinac
A national historic landmark where cars have been banned since 1898. Horses, bikes and fudge.
Best season: Summer
- Bike the 8-mile perimeter loop
- Tour Fort Mackinac
- Grand Hotel porch and tea
- Ferry over from Mackinaw City
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Northwest
The Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Drive and 35 miles of Lake Michigan beach the whole family can enjoy.
Best season: Summer
- Climb the Dune
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
- Canoe the Platte River
- Swim at Glen Lake
Detroit
Southeast
Motown, the DIA and a riverfront that has been reborn — a city weekend with big energy.
Best season: Year-round
- Motown Museum
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Riverfront and Dequindre Cut
- Eastern Market on Saturday
Ann Arbor
Southeast
A college town of bookstores, bakeries and autumn football Saturdays, an hour from Detroit.
Best season: Fall
- U-M campus and museums
- Kerrytown shops
- Cider mills on the outskirts
- Nichols Arboretum
Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls and the Porcupine Mountains — the wildest shoreline in the Midwest.
Best season: Summer and fall
- Pictured Rocks boat tour
- Tahquamenon Falls hike
- Porcupine Mountains trails
- Lake Superior sunset at Marquette
Not sure where to start?
The travel guide covers ferries, seasons and packing — everything before the fun part.
Read the travel guide