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| Best Beaches in Western Michigan |
Michigan boasts pristine scenery, fun summer events, lovely lighthouses and some of the best Beaches on Lake Michigan. Michigan is definitely one of the most underrated vacation spots in the Midwest, though the state is a hidden gem with fantastic natural attractions and charming historic towns waiting to be explored!
See below, a nice round up of interesting places to visit in Michigan:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has to be one of the most interesting places to visit in Michigan, if anything for the amazing tall dunes. Whether you’re traveling with kids or with friends, you can’t miss out on climbing the dunes to get lovely views of the area.
Apart from dunes, the Sleeping Bear is home to other interesting attractions that you can check out like the Life-Saving Museum, the Glen Haven Blacksmith Shop and the Cannery Boat Museum.
Ludington
Michigan is known for its lighthouses, and Ludington is home to some of the most popular lighthouses in the state such as the North Breakwater Lighthouse. The cool thing about the North Breakwater Lighthouse is that the light is open to the public for tours, and you can walk along the breakwall to enjoy the views.
Apart from the lighthouses, the town of Ludington is on my list of interesting places to visit in Michigan because of the S.S. Badger carferry.
The Badger Ferry is an interesting way to explore Lake Michigan, and a fun way to cross the lake and explore other interesting places to visit in Wisconsin.
Traverse City
The beach town of Traverse City is close to the Sleeping Bear National Dunes Park, and it is a great charming historic town where you can enjoy boutique shopping and walking tours. I added Traverse City to my list of interesting places to visit in Michigan for two reasons.
First, if you’re traveling to the area this autumn, Traverse City is one of the best places to see fall foliage in Michigan, especially in Old Mission Peninsula where you can get lovely views of the bay, and appreciate the amazing leaf color change
Second, if you’re a candle enthusiast, Traverse City is home to a candle factory where you can make your own candles to take home.
Saugatuck and Douglas
Located southwest of Grand Rapids, you’ll find the lovely towns of Saugatuck and Douglas. Both Saugatuck and Douglas are two of my best summer vacation spots in the Midwest because of the laid-back and great family vibe.
I added Saugatuck and Douglas to my list of interesting places to visit in Michigan, not only because you can enjoy fun activities like wine tasting but also because of the Saugatuck Ferry, which is one of the last remaining chain driven ferries in the US.
Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is certainly one of the most interesting places to visit in Michigan, and the region has to be one of the top 10 natural wonders in the USA.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll be blown away by the stunning natural scenery, the famous cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the majestic Tahquamenon Waterfalls.
Manistee
The charming riverfront city of Manistee is another interesting place to explore while traveling along the coast of western Michigan. Besides offering beautiful views of Lake Michigan, Manistee boasts plenty of interesting
historic sites to be visited such as the Marilla buildings, the Vogue Theatre and the Kaliva Train Depot, the SS City of Milwaukee car ferry, and the Manistee Fire Department, which is the oldest and continuously operated fire station in Michigan.
One of the best thing though about Manistee it's its lovely trolley service that offers alot of very interesting history of the area.
Tip
If you're wondering about the best time for vacation in Michigan, I would have to say that spring and fall seasons are great for hiking and camping, while the summer months are great for enjoying water activities.
I would avoid winter though, mainly because Michigan is famously known for its cold and snowy winters, and with good reason, it snows in Michigan by the bucket loads!
See: Things to do in the Midwest
Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions
Top Canadian Tourist Attractions
Best Things to do in Michigan
Lake Michigan Tourist Attractions
Places to visit in Muskegon MI
Things to do in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Best Things to do in Detroit
