16 Best Places to Visit in Michigan, According to Locals

From blissful natural sights to inspiring culture gems, Michigan is packed with reasons to visit.

The state of Michigan is home to more than 10,000 lakes and millions of acres of forest, making it a fantastic destination for hiking, fishing, boating, and more. Exploring the state's natural gems and small towns is a must, yes, but talk to locals and they're bound to suggest historical and cultural sights to add to your itinerary, too. Art is plentiful in Michigan as well — in Detroit, old buildings have even been turned into public art.

Candice Smith, of Tours Around Michigan, often points visitors to sand dunes along the Lake Michigan coastline in Saugatuck or Silver Lake, as well as the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meyer May House in Grand Rapids. “With more than 300,000 acres of sand dunes, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views & stunning sunsets along Lake Michigan,” she says. “(Meyer May House’s) located in Heritage Hill, one of the largest historic home districts in the nation, with unique mansions built by lumber barons, furniture company owners and Grand Rapids’ early business leaders.”

“The Historic Avenue of Fashion is one of the largest Black-business districts in the country,” says City Institute president Jeanette Pierce, about this Detroit neighborhood. “From specialty shops and galleries to one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, there’s so much great Detroit culture and community in this one neighborhood.”

When guests at Daxton Hotel in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham inquire about what to do during their stay, director of sales and marketing Sherrilyn Cavanaugh suggests Cranbrook Art Museum, especially its artist-designed miniature golf course. “Cranbrook on the Green is back for its second season, and just opened to the public on May 24,” she said. “Visitors can enjoy two new holes created by members of the Cranbrook community.”

The Mitten State, as it’s fondly called, also hosts two wine regions near Traverse City. “Surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of Lake Michigan with spectacular views accompanying every sip, it truly is one of the most scenic wine regions in the country,” says Patrick Brys, an appointed member of the Michigan Travel Commission and president of Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery in Traverse City, which is also home to Sleeping Bear Dunes. “To stand on top of a 450-foot mountain of sand rolling down to the turquoise waters of Lake Michigan is a jaw-dropping moment,” he said.

Including some of the above recommendations from notable locals, here are 16 places to visit in Michigan.

Related: 12 Romantic Getaways in Michigan — From Small Towns to Car-free Islands

Isle Royale National Park, Upper Peninsula

One of America’s least-visited national parks (because it’s so remote, only reachable via ferry or seaplane, and open seasonally) Isle Royale National Park attracts nature enthusiasts to its 571,790 acres of splendor between Memorial Day for backpacking, camping, kayaking, and hiking. There are also two lodging options in the park: Rock Harbor Lodge and Windigo Camper Cabins.

Arab American National Museum, Dearborn

More than 40,000 Arab Americans live in Dearborn, and this 35,000-square-foot museum, which debuted in 2005, celebrates them. It’s the world’s first and largest museum of its kind, paying homage to Arab American history and culture, as well as the Arab American experience.

Graffiti Alley, Ann Arbor

For a vibrant, colorful collection of graffiti and street art in one small space, Graffiti Alley is just that. Find it off East Liberty Street, a block northwest of the University of Michigan campus, in downtown Ann Arbor.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids

Considered one of the world’s most significant botanical and sculptural experiences, this 158-acre park — founded by the founder of Meijer grocery stores, a company with Michigan headquarters — features a 30-acre sculpture park with 300 pieces of art (including “Iron Tree” by Ai Weiwei), the five-story Lena Meijer Conservatory, a Japanese Garden, and a children’s garden.

Mackinac Island

This island is a classic Americana resort town, with horse-drawn carriages, no vehicles, and stately hotels, including the 95-room Grand Hotel, which boasts the world’s longest porch and has been open in 1887. Guests arrive by ferry. In recent years, more hotels on the island are open year-round, adding cross-country skiing in nearby parks and hot chocolate by the fire to their entertainment mix.

Meyer May House, Grand Rapids

Owned by Steelcase since 1985, Frank Lloyd Wright designed this Prairie School-style house for a local clothier. Built in 1909, the home is accessible via free guided tours. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places and features a mural designed by George Mann Niedecken and 100 art-glass windows.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Dearborn

With must-see relics like Thomas Edison’s last breath (captured in a sealed tube); the Montgomery, Alabama, bus that Rosa Parks was riding when she refused to give up her seat; and the car JFK was riding when he was assassinated in Dallas, this 12-acre campus is the country’s largest indoor-outdoor museum complex.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Marked by 450-foot bluffs, this 35-mile-long lakeshore — plus two islands, North and South Manitou Islands — is a beautiful preserved space and a must-visit if near Traverse City. Visitors can hike, camp (including on the two islands), bicycle, climb the dunes, and kayak or canoe.

Windmill Island Gardens, Holland

Strolling through this 36-acre garden in spring, when it's bursting with tulips, is a joy. The site is home to an authentic working windmill that's now around 250 years old, as well as guides in Dutch costume. While you're here, walk through the quaint downtown area of the city of Holland, where 100 or so locally owned boutiques and restaurants, including Nelis’ Dutch Village, where you'll find wooden shoes and Delft plates, among other items.

Waterfalls in Marquette County

There’s no better place in Michigan to experience the awe of waterfalls. Pick a hike that brings you close to a favorite falls. There are dozens in this Upper Peninsula community, including Warner Creek Falls, Morgan Creek Falls, Cataract Dam Falls, Carp River Falls and Yellow Dog Falls.

Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens, Midland

Visitors can walk 40 feet above ground in this woodsy paradise. The canopy walk here measures 1,400 feet long, and after you've crossed it, there's a playground and apple orchard also onsite for you to explore. When the leaves are popping in September (usually), lots of people make time to visit this destination.

SkyBridge, Boyne Falls

This attraction debuted at Boyne Mountain Resort in late 2022, offering three-hour, ticketed visits that begin with a scenic chairlift ride. At 118 feet tall and spanning 1,200 feet, this is the world’s largest timber-towered suspension bridge.

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

This 658,000-square-foot cultural institution is a fantastic art museum, with a 65,000-piece collection and a wide variety of works, including Diego Rivera’s “Detroit Industry” frescos and paintings by French Impressionists Claude Monet and Mary Cassatt. There's a Vincent van Gogh self-portrait, too, and Jan van Eyck's “Saint Jerome in His Study."

Motown Historical Museum, Detroit

Motown music was born in Detroit, thanks to artists like Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye. In 1959, Berry Gordy bought a house on West Grand Boulevard and turned it into a recording studio, record label and administration building dubbed “Hitsville U.S.A.” After relocating the label to L.A. in 1972, the house became a museum, 13 years later. Guided tours are available throughout the week.

University of Michigan LSA Museum of Natural History, Ann Arbor

Tucked into the Biological Sciences Building of the University of Michigan, this museum is highly interactive and does not charge admission. Guests have the opportunity to watch researchers at work, and in the Planetarium & Dome Theater, you can view constellations and the Northern Lights as if they’re directly overhead. One of the featured exhibits is the only place in the world where you can see a male and female mastodon skeleton side by side.

Kitch-iti-Kipi, Manistique

When translated from the Ojibwe language, Kitch-iti-Kipi means “the big spring.” This is the largest freshwater spring in in the state, and you'll find it in the 388-acre Palms Book State Park. The crystal-clear lake is 40 feet deep, and though swimming is prohibited, you can experience it via an observation raft.

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