Things to do in Michigan
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Pj Hoffmaster State Park
To commune with nature, head north to Grand Haven and Muskegon. Three state parks cluster between these two towns, all offering the opportunity to hike and camp on or near Lake Michigan beaches. Between Grand Haven and Muskegon, take US 31 to the Pontaluna Rd exit to get to PJ Hoffmaster State Park, which features a 10-mile trail system with several sections that hug Lake Michigan.
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Cadieux Café
'It's beautiful to be Belgian', they say at this cafe, and in this case they are right. The Cadieux has been doing great Belgian food for years with all the classics like mussels and pomfrites and of course plenty of beautiful Belgian beer to drink. There's feather bowling available as well, which is Belgian-style bocce with some live music thrown in.
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Isle Royale National Park
Totally free of vehicles and roads, Isle Royale National Park, a 210-sq-mile island in Lake Superior, is certainly the place to go for peace and quiet. It gets fewer visitors in a year than Yellowstone National Park gets in a day, which means the packs of wolves and moose creeping through the forest are all yours.
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Lafayette Coney Island
The 'coney' - a hot dog smothered with chili and onions - is a Detroit specialty. When the craving strikes (and it will), take care of business at Lafayette. The minimalist menu consists of burgers, fries, pies, donuts and beer, in addition to the signature item. Cash only.
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Ludington State Park
The lakeside Ludington State Park, beyond the city limits on M-116, is one of Michigan's largest and most popular playlots. It has a top-notch trail system, a renovated lighthouse to visit (or live in, as a volunteer lighthouse keeper) and miles of beach.
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Greektown
Busy Greektown has restaurants, bakeries and a casino. Early each day, the large halls at the Eastern Market fill with a melting pot of bartering shoppers and vendors. Specialty shops, delis and restaurants surround the site.
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New Parthenon
Flaming saganaki cheese and the cry of 'Opa!' are a Detroit tradition at this bustling Greektown restaurant that commands a loyal following. The grape leaves reign supreme.
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Cass Cafe
The Cass is a bohemian art gallery fused with a bar and restaurant serving soups, sandwiches and veggie beauties, like the lentil-walnut burger. Service can be fickle.
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a 110-sq-mile national park to the east that holds the namesake colored sandstone bluffs.
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Henry Ford Museum
Few could ignore the historical impact of one of earliest artifacts of the 20th century: the first ever Henry Ford automobile. The museum remains much as Ford originally planned and is - surprise! - a massive shrine to the automobile and its impact on America. The Wienermobile used in 1936 by Oscar Meyer hot dogs is a particular knockout.
Henry Ford and 11 associates opened the Ford Motor Company in 1903. They kicked off their tiny operation in a converted Detroit wagon shop and employed 10 people. Today, Ford is the second largest car and truck maker in the world, with a staff of 370,000.
Ford was born and raised in Dearborn, a small town not far from Detroit. In 1915, h…
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Third Coast Surf Shop
First up, surfing. Believe it, people: you can surf Lake Michigan, and the VW bus- driving dudes at Third Coast Surf Shop will show you how. They provide wetsuits and boards for surfing, skim boarding and paddle boarding. For novices, they offer 1½-hour lessons right from the public beach Thursday to Sunday from June through to August (and Saturdays in September). Board rentals cost $15/25 per half-/full day. Wet suits cost $10/15 per half-/full day. Lessons (equipment included) cost $45/65 for group/private instruction. The surf shop is in New Buffalo, Harbor Country's biggest town.
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Motown Historical Museum
The Motown Historical Museum comprises a string of modest houses that became known as 'Hitsville USA' after Berry Gordy launched Motown Records here - and the careers of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and Michael Jackson - with an $800 loan in 1959. Gordy and Motown split for the glitz of Los Angeles in 1972, but you can still step into humble Studio A and see where the famed names recorded their first hits. A tour takes about 90 minutes, and consists mostly of looking at old photos and listening to guides' stories.
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Saugatuck Dune Rides
Saugatuck – known for its strong arts community, numerous B&Bs and gay-friendly vibe – is one of the most popular resort areas. You can huff up the stairs to the grand views atop Mt Baldhead, a 200ft-high sand dune. Then race down the north side to beautiful Oval Beach. The Saugatuck Dune Rides provide a half-hour of good, cheesy fun spent zipping through the sand. After, jump aboard the Saugatuck Chain Ferry, and the operator will pull you across the Kalamazoo River.
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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Beyond the little town of Paradise, is the fascinating Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum; its intriguing displays include items trawled up from sunken ships. More than 300 vessels - including the Edmund Fitzgerald that Gordon Lightfoot crooned about - have sunk in the area's congested sea lanes and unpredictable weather, earning it such nicknames as the 'Shipwreck Coast' and 'Graveyard of the Great Lakes.'
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Tahquamenon Falls State Park
The Upper Falls in Tahquamenon Falls State Park are 200ft across with a 50ft drop, making them some of the largest falls east of the Mississippi River. The Lower Falls are a series of smaller cascades best viewed by renting a boat (per person $4) and rowing across the river to an island. The large state park also has camping (campsites $16 to $23), great hiking and - bonus - a brewpub near the park entrance.
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Grand Haven State Park
To commune with nature, head north to Grand Haven and Muskegon. Three state parks cluster between these two towns, all offering the opportunity to hike and camp on or near Lake Michigan beaches. Grand Haven State Park, off Franklin St from US 31, sprawls along the beach and is connected to downtown restaurants by a scenic walkway along the Grand River.
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Heidelberg Project
Welcome to the Heidelberg Project, the brainchild of street artist Tyree Guyton, who wanted to beautify his run-down community (which has the dubious distinction of being the USA's most economically depressed 'hood). Get here by taking Gratiot Ave northwest to Heidelberg St; the project spans from Ellery to Mt Elliott Sts.
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Bronx
There's not much inside Detroit's best boozer besides a pool table, dim lighting and a couple of jukeboxes filled with ballsy rock and soul. But that's the way the hipsters, slackers and rockers (the White Stripes used to hang here) like their dive bars. They're also fond of the beefy burgers served late at night and cheap beer selection.
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Muskegon State Park
To commune with nature, head north to Grand Haven and Muskegon. Three state parks cluster between these two towns, all offering the opportunity to hike and camp on or near Lake Michigan beaches. North of Muskegon is Muskegon State Park, off US 31 at the Hwy 120 exit, with 12 miles of trails through rugged, wooded dunes.
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Blue Star Pottery
Several galleries line the Blue Star Hwy between Saugatuck and South Haven (yes, it’s south, as the name implies, by about 20 miles), offering pottery, paintings, sculptures and glasswork. Blue Star Pottery – known for its sturdy bowls and platters with leaf-print designs – stands out.
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Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit
We've listed this gallery under 'Clubs' because on Friday nights it throws off-the-hook dance parties with DJs who spin rare funk, soul and disco 45s. The events provide a social outlet for locals and bring a lot of pride to this not-so-great neighborhood. Note this is not the same place as MOCAD .
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Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac sits atop limestone cliffs near downtown. The British built it in 1780, and it's one of the best-preserved military forts in the country. Stop into the fort's tearoom for a bite and million-dollar view of downtown and the Straits of Mackinac from the outdoor tables.
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Eastern Market
Busy Greektown (centered on Monroe St) has restaurants, bakeries and a casino. Produce, cheese, spice and flower vendors fill the large halls at the Eastern Market on Saturday. Specialty shops, delis and restaurants surround the site and operate most other days.
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Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is located in what was an abandoned, graffiti-slathered auto dealership. Heat lamps hang from the ceiling over peculiar exhibits that change every few months. An organic-oriented café with free wi-fi adds to the young scene.
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