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Michigan

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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hiking in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan

© Per Breiehagen / Getty Images

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Overview

More, more, more – Michigan is the Midwest state that cranks it up. It sports more beaches than the Atlantic seaboard. More than half the state is covered by forests. And more cherries and berries get shoveled into pies here than anywhere else in the USA. Plus Detroit is the Midwest's most exciting city of all, reinventing itself daily with street art and fresh architecture.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • The exhibits at the Henry Ford Museum feature all makes of automobiles and tell the reader how they affected American culture.

    Henry Ford Museum

    Michigan

    The Henry Ford Museum contains a fascinating wealth of American culture. It’s comprised of two parts: the indoor Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation,…

  • Eastern Market entrance in Detroit.

    Eastern Market

    Detroit

    One of the oldest and largest year-round bazaars in the United States, Eastern Market draws Detroiters of all types to its six-block spread of wares…

  • The North Wall of the Detroit Industry Murals, a series of frescoes by Mexican artist Diego Rivera at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, October 1988. (Photo by Barbara Alper/Getty Images)

    Detroit Institute of Arts

    Detroit

    The DIA holds one of the world's finest art collections. The centerpiece is Diego Rivera's mural Detroit Industry, which fills an entire room and reflects…

  • A ceiling painting in the Fisher Building in Detroit.

    Fisher Building

    Detroit

    This 1928 masterpiece from the man who built Detroit, Albert Kahn, has an imposing art deco exterior made from Minnesota granite and Maryland marble, and…

  • DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 03: A sculpture created from recycled material sits amongst the "Heidelberg project," which is an "open air art environment" centered around one block in Detroit, on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The Heidelberg project is the brain child of Tyree Guyton. He and other artists use the urban environment (including homes and sidewalks) as a canvas for art, which they make using paint and recycled materials. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

    Heidelberg Project

    Detroit

    Polka-dotted streets, houses covered in Technicolor paint blobs, strange doll sculptures in yards – this is no acid trip, but rather a block-spanning art…

  • Motown Historical Museum

    Motown Historical Museum

    Detroit

    In this row of modest houses Berry Gordy launched Motown Records – and the careers of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson – with an…

  • Greenfield Village, part of the Henry Ford Museum, was constructed to save and house historic farm buildings, houses, and other structures, recreating a time in the United States that recalled Mr. Ford's childhood.

    Greenfield Village

    Michigan

    Adjacent to the Henry Ford Museum (and part of its complex), outdoor Greenfield Village spreads across 80 acres and features historic buildings shipped in…

  • Guardian Building

    Guardian Building

    Detroit

    Commissioned as a 'cathedral of finance,' this distinctive, 40-story, redbrick building with green and white accents was the world's tallest masonry…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Known as the Great Lakes State, it's water-based fun that makes the biggest splash in Michigan. But there's lots more to do besides...

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Best Places to Visit

Michigan boasts beautiful wild landscapes, charming small towns and thriving, vibrant cities. Where to begin? These are our 11 favorite places to visit.

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Best Time to Visit

Every season brings its own delights in Michigan but some are a little more challenging than others! Here's your guide to the best time to visit.

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Things to Know

Plan the perfect trip to Michigan with these top tips on planning, etiquette and health and safety.

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Transportation

Michigan may be the birthplace of the automobile but that's not the only transport option. Here are the best ways to get around the Wolverine State.

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Free Things to Do

From stargazing at a dark sky reserve to touring lighthouses, here are the best free things to do in Michigan.

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Money and Costs

Michigan's two peninsulas combine natural beauty and bustling city life, and plenty of activities in the state don’t cost a penny.

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Traveling with Kids

With four seasons of fun for kids, the Great Lakes state has plenty to offer its youngest visitors.

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Best Road Trips

Tour charming small towns, marvel at the view as your car hugs the lakeshore, and explore dense forests on our favorite Michigan road trips.

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Go Beyond

Michigan and beyond

Beyond Michigan