Places to visit in Michigan

We are sure all of you have made plans to visit New York, Niagara Falls,
Florida and the like. But in case you have lesser time to spare, we have
listed some places, closer to Ann Arbor, that are ideal for a day’s trip or a
weekend getaway. The information mentioned here is merely to provide a
starting point to plan your trip. It would be a good idea to get hold of
someone who has visited the place and learn about the various things you can
do there and on the way. For more vacation ideas, visit
http://travel.michigan.org.

Holland and Grand Haven

Holland, MI, is a beautiful town about 2.5 hours west of Ann Arbor. The town
hosts authentic Dutch windmills and tulip gardens. There are live
demonstrations of Delft pottery and traditional candle making. The best time
to visit is during the Tulip Time festival in May, when the tulip gardens
are in full bloom and the town celebrates Dutch heritage with Dutch dances and
carnival floats across downtown. Grand Haven has one of the most popular
beaches on Lake Michigan. It is about an hours drive from Holland and you can
cover both places in a day long trip.

Manistee River Trail

This is a 10/11 mile trail along the beautiful Manistee River. There aren’t
any big hotels around, but it is an nice (and inexpensive) location for a
camping trip. The trail starts at the Seaton Creek campsite, which is a 4 hour
drive north-west of Ann Arbor. The scenic trail is hilly and runs through a
fairly dense forest. It is long but not very strenuous, making it suitable for
trekking enthusiasts and novices alike.

Mackinac Island

Mackinac island is located near Mackinaw city, where the Lower and Upper
Peninsulas of Michigan are connected by the famous Mackinaw bridge. A 4.5 hour
drive and a ferry ride from Mackinaw city will take you to the island. Horse
carriages and bicycles are the only means of transport on the island. The
island is small (an 8 mile road runs around the perifery) and you can rent a
bicycle to explore the island. The island is known for the Mackinac fort, the
arch rock and its variety of famous fudges.

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and Traverse City

The towering 400 feet Sleeping Bear Dunes are unique attraction in Michigan
that one shouldn’t miss. Right next to Lake Michigan the place is full of
large and small dunes, beautiful beaches and short trails. You can camp inside
the national park itself OR in any of the numerous private campsites
surrounding the place. Traverse City is the closest big town. It is a nice
town by Lake Michigan, and can serve as a base to visit the Dunes and other
attractions (like the Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the tip of the Leelanau
peninsula, Sleeping Bear Point Maritime Museum, etc.).

Sault Ste. Marie and Tahquamenon Falls

Sault Ste. Marie is the most popular vacation destination in Michigan’s rugged
Upper Peninsula. It is a 6/7 hour drive north of Ann Arbor. The world famous
Soo Locks overlook Canada (in fact the city has the same name on the other
side of the international border). The city has many maritime museums and
serves as a base for visiting the Agawa Canyon and the Tahquamenon Falls.
Tahquamenon Falls is made up of two sets of falls on the Tahquamenon river
about four miles apart. It is a nice place in the Upper Peninsula to plan a
camping and hiking trip. Camping sites are located near the lower falls.
Canoes and Kayaks are also available on rent. The best time to visit the
place is in fall when the entire Upper Peninsula will be covered with the
beautiful colours of Fall. The tunnel of trees (a road so densely covered by
trees that sunlight doesn’t reach the ground) is also worth visiting on your
way there.

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