Travel the USA (Visit Michigan)

It is the unique goal of travel adventurers to visit all 50 states in America. To boost this objective, each week we shall explore one state. Alphabetically, the 22nd to visit is none other than Michigan, abbreviated MI.  Regardless of the order in which you visit them, MI, The Great Lakes State, is super inviting.

Visit state # 22 – Michigan 

Michigan sits in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. Its name comes from the Ojibwe word meaning large water or lake – and it is the only state to consist of two peninsulas. The Upper Peninsula slices eastward from northern Wisconsin between Lakes Superior and Michigan on the map. The Lower Peninsula stretches northward from Indiana and Ohio. The two landmasses are connected by the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge, which crosses the Straits of Mackinac which separates Lake Michigan from Lake Huron. The Lower Peninsula is between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. It is separated from the Canadian province of Ontario by Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. The international boundary between the Upper Peninsula and Ontario is formed by the St. Marys River.

The Great Lakes State, also known as the Wolverine State, the Water Winter Wonderland, and the Mitten State, was the 26^th state admitted to the Union on January 26, 1937. It was the fourth to be carved from the Northwest Territory. Detroit, Michigan’s largest city, played a pivotal role in the American automotive industry. In contrast to its cities, Michigan has an agricultural history as well, however, areas of vast swamp lands deterred some early settlers. Michigan is unique in that it borders four of the five Great Lakes. Much of Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula are wooded. Thus, the state is diverse, from its bustling cities to its wilderness areas.

Per PlanetWare, the number one attraction in Michigan is Mackinac Island. Visitors can take a ferry to the island and spend the day meandering through old town shops, touring the island on a horse-drawn carriage, exploring the area on foot, hiking, or visiting Fort Mackinac. Most memorable is a trip to the 18^th-century French and later British fort and trading post at the Straits of Mackinac. Visitors can learn history and see the oldest building in Michigan, along with other historic structures. Exhibits explain the history of the fort as a home for soldiers and their families and its role as a military outpost. Upon your visit, enjoy live programs and tours by costumed interpreters who bring history to life.

Detroit is a vibrant city. The Henry Ford Museum and the Automotive Hall of Fame are must-see attractions. The Eastern Market is considered one of the best things to do in southern Michigan. The open-air market is the largest historic public marketplace in the United States. The entertainment district is also welcoming and contains 50 blocks of sports complexes and theatres. Grand Rapids is another wonderful city to visit, complete with 80 craft breweries and excellent museums, including the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, to name a few.

Other wonderful places to visit include Saugatuck, located on the eastern shore of Michigan. This favorite summer spot consists of the popular Oval Beach and Saugatuck Dunes State Park, and the town boasts eclectic boutiques. Another great way to see this area is via an exciting boat cruise. Also worth mentioning is Holland, a western Michigan town that transforms its downtown in honor of Dutch traditions. During Christmastime, enjoy the open-air Kerstmarkt and hear the roaming carolers perform live. Or experience summer in Frankenmuth, known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Enjoy festivals and time celebrating German heritage. Or, if it’s nature you’re seeking, experience Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, with roughly 100 miles of hiking trails showcasing beautiful spring and summer wildflower blooms, fall and winter foliage, and fascinating ice formations. Visitors will delight in an abundance of year-round activities, from swimming and boating in the warmer months to cross-country skiing and ice climbing come cold weather. There is so much to see and do in this state that one visit simply isn’t enough.

Up next: Minnesota