Top Places to Visit in Michigan

Michigan is one of America's most underrated travel destinations. With four Great Lakes, two peninsulas, and everything from world-class museums to pristine wilderness, the state offers experiences that rival any in the country.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was voted "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America viewers, and it's easy to see why. Towering sand dunes overlook turquoise Lake Michigan water, and the surrounding Leelanau Peninsula is dotted with cherry orchards, vineyards, and charming villages.

Mackinac Island is a timeless destination where horse-drawn carriages replace cars and Victorian charm meets Great Lakes beauty. The Grand Hotel, Fort Mackinac, and Arch Rock are must-sees, and the island's famous fudge shops are reason enough to visit.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a 40-mile stretch of sandstone cliffs, sea caves, beaches, and waterfalls along Lake Superior. A boat tour or kayak trip along the painted cliffs is one of the most spectacular experiences in the Midwest.

Detroit has reinvented itself as a cultural powerhouse. The Detroit Institute of Arts (home to Diego Rivera's famous murals), the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (the nation's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex), and the Motown Museum are world-class attractions. The food scene — from Corktown's restaurants to Eastern Market's Saturday market — is excellent.

Traverse City is the cherry capital of the world and the gateway to wine country. Grand Traverse Bay's turquoise water, nearby wineries, and the charming downtown make it Michigan's premier resort town.

Isle Royale National Park is the least-visited national park in the lower 48 — and that's its appeal. This remote Lake Superior island offers true wilderness: wolves, moose, pristine lakes, and zero roads or cell service.

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is one of America's most important museums. It houses the bus where Rosa Parks sat, the chair from Ford's Theatre, Edison's laboratory, and a comprehensive history of American innovation.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park features Michigan's most dramatic waterfall — the 200-foot-wide Upper Falls with its distinctive amber-colored water cascading 48 feet.

Frankenmuth, Michigan's Little Bavaria, is a quirky delight with Christmas shops open year-round, a covered bridge, and Zehnder's legendary chicken dinners.

Michigan rewards visitors who look beyond the obvious. Every corner of this state has something remarkable.