Best Places to Visit in Michigan
Michigan is the 11th largest state in the USA and occupies the area situated between the Great Lakes and the Midwest regions of the country. It has a population of 10 million residents. The state capital is Lansing, whereas Detroit is the largest city in Michigan. Housing three leading automobile companies, the State of Michigan is widely considered as headquarter of automobile plants and motors industry. Being located in-between the Great Lakes, Michigan draws millions of vacationers, tourists and hunters from across the states as well as foreign lands every year.
10. Mackinac Bridge
Nicknamed as the “Big Mac”, the Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge linking the upper and lower peninsulas of the Michigan State. It was established in 1957 and spans over a distance of 8 kilometers. The Mackinac Bridge is currently the 5th longest suspension bridge in the world. During the tourism season, thousands of tourists rush to the Upper Peninsula via this bridge.
Bridge zealots and panoramic photographers stay for some time to explore this sublime structure. In fact, there is a museum specially dedicated to the Mackinac Bridge containing many special artifacts from the construction of the Big Mac.
9. Traverse City
Traverse City, a four-season town in the north of Michigan known for its incessant wineries, is ranked as the 2nd best small-town tourist destination in the U.S. As far as the national attractions are concerned, the city features several freshwater beaches, in-land forests and beautiful shorelines. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a renowned coastal area in the town with romantic lighthouses and outdoor recreation activities. In the summers, visitors can enjoy boating, kayaking and fishing in the Lake Michigan. Devotees of cultural attractions may also love exploring the grandiose museums and the public arts libraries.
8. Michigan State Capitol
Inaugurated in 1879, the Michigan State Capitol is a building which houses most of the government departments and chamber offices of the state and is established in central Lansing. Modeled after the State Capitol of Washington D.C, the Michigan State Capitol offers magnificent experience for its visitors. Below the iron dome, the ceilings display glistering muses from the past. The interior of the chambers are decorated with shimmering terra cotta, thus leaving the tourists awestruck as they walk through the pathways.
7. Ford Field
Ford Field is an amphitheater located in Detroit and is used for multiple purposes. The stadium is an official property of the Ford Motors Company. It was originally constructed in 2000 and is home to the Detroit Lions in the NFL. With a seating capacity of over 70,000 spectators, the stadium hosts the most significant concerts, outdoor theatre entertainment and sports games in Detroit. It has earned the appreciation of many visitors because of its brilliant acoustics and seating system.
6. University of Michigan
One of the founding members of the Association of American Universities, the University of Michigan is a public university situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was founded in the early 19th century and is still considered as one of the most paramount research universities in the United States. It covers a gigantic area of around 3000 acres with around 600 buildings being its property. Key tourist attractions in the University of Michigan are Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History.
5. Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo is a small county located between Detroit and Chicago with a population of almost 80,000. The town is home to an immense array of cultural liveliness, vibrant arts and live entertainment. Apart from the fabulous recreation activities, Kalamazoo highlights several artistic festivals and offers a wide range of shopping malls and restaurants for tourist and family gatherings. Amongst the prominent landmarks in the town are the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Air Zoo, where tourists can explore pre-historic artifacts and take adventurous 3D space shuttle rides.
4. Detroit Institute of Arts
Originally founded in 1885, the Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the most compelling art museums in the United States. It has acted as a lantern of culture for the Detroit area and comprises a multinational survey of human history from the historic times till the 21st century.
With over a hundred galleries, the DIA has a compilation of more than 65,000 artifacts and antiques. Works of great African and Asian artists are also stored here. Thousands of art-geeks visit the DIA and are left awe-struck by its interactive displays.
3. Henry Ford Museum
If you’re looking forward to discover America’s most ingenious inventions, Henry Ford is the place to be! It is a museum complex situated in the city of Detroit amassing a large collection of historic artifacts. From the Presidential Limousines, to the Wright brothers’ shop, to the historic inventions of the greatest scientists (Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein), the museum stores it all. It has numerous classical archives and exhibits. Around 2 million visitors tour this remarkable destination in order to gain knowledge about the legacy of great innovators explore their used items.
It has numerous classical archives and exhibits. Around 2 million visitors tour this remarkable destination in order to gain knowledge about the legacy of great innovators explore their used items.
2. Isle Royale National Park
Covering a stunning 900 square miles, the Isle Royale National Park is a wilderness area surrounded by the Lake Superior in Michigan. The rugged terrain is made up of several small lakes and isles. The Park offers splendid wilderness experience and unparalleled solitude for its tourists with activities like boating, fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
Campgrounds are specially established at different locations for devoted campers. While trekking through the trail, visitors come across wolves, moose and other forms of exotic wildlife which roam freely around the meadows. The Park is opened for tourists during the summers.
1. Mackinac Island
Mackinac is a resort island located on the Lake Huron and it’s a prominent tourist destination. Automobiles are prohibited in the island; therefore tourists are offered carriage tours as well as buggies and horse carts to travel around the isle. The Island is renowned for its cultural events as well as architectural sites and historic landmarks, including the famous Fort Mackinac.
Moreover, it offers a wide range of outdoor recreation activities: memorable hiking tours, adventurous treks, theater performances etc. With millions of visitors annually, the Mackinac Island is definitely one of the best vacation and tourism sites in the whole United States!