Must sees in Michigan
 

We like to take 9 or 10 days a year and visit a state or two that we've never been to. This year it's going to be Michigan and/or Wisconsin. We know nothing about the are and are wondering what are the places/towns/sights that we should incorporate into our trip sometime in May to June.

Which part(s) of MI? What are you interests? Are you more of a lake house person, into sporting activities, being active, culture, etc?

Here's a start for MI:

http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=12546

Go to Comerica (Tiger Stadium) Park. My sister went to Mackinac Island last year and loved it.

Madison, WI is well worth a day or two's visit. There are some modest sized museums, and the state capitol building is enjoyable to see.

My time in Milwaukee has been limited to a Brewers baseball game (nice new domed stadium) and dinner at a German restaurant downtown. There are a couple other attractions here, including an art museum (haven't been).

Include Northern Michigan in your trip. Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, the bridge, Houghton Lake are good stops.

In the Detroit area, The Ford Museum and Dearborne Village are a great one day destination.

Michigan has a lot of diversity. Copper country in the UP is like a whole different world from the southeast corner of the state. (And it will take a long time to travel between the two also!) The recommendations for Sleeping Bear Dunes and Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island are spot on. In between enjoy Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs.

Grand Rapids is a lively city with several good museums. Nearby Holland and Saugatuck are worth a visit too. In SE Michigan, Ann Arbor is a great place to visit. There are scenic areas nearby too -- drive through the Irish Hills on US 12.

Many years ago the Kellogg factory in Battle Creek could be considered a must-see. That was back in the days when you could actually tour the working factory. I assume nowadays they only give a simulated tour.

The dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan, near the Indiana border are a great place to spend part of a day.

Frankenmuth has a lot of German history - fun for a night out on the town.

The Cereal City tour which replaced the actual tour of Kellogg's factory closed in January 2007.

Would agree with a game at Comerica Park. Real nice stadium. Been there for 1 game. Slight update to Christa's post above. It is not Tiger Stadium. That stadium, I believe, was finally torn down last year.

For Milwaukee, would go to a game at Miller Park. Tailgate before the game.

The Straits of Mackinac is the ultimate destination in Michigan: http://www.mightymac.org/

Keith

I think if you are in the UP, the Soo Locks and Pictured Rocks National Seashore are must sees.

Thanks so much for all your great ideas!

You could consider the circle drive and do both MI and WI. Here's a link with map showing the route. http://www.great-lakes.net/tourism/circletour/michigan/

Henry Ford Museum and Geenfield Village in Dearborn, MI are two things that everyone should see at least once.

The "Welcome to Ohio" sign. (from a Buckeye)

If you are in the Grand Rapids recommend a visit to Meijer Gardens - http://meijergardens.org/
enjoy Michigan!
debbie