Places To Visit, Things To Do, Day Trips: Things to do in the Midwest

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Wondering what to do in Michigan?

Here it's a list of fun things to do in Michigan, and other things you can do in Michigan off the beaten path:

Geocaching in Michigan

If you love treasure hunting you’ll love geocaching in Michigan’s recreation areas. Geocaching is definitely one of the best things to do in Michigan off the beaten path, and one of the most popular family activities during the summer months.

If you’re interesting in geocaching with family or friends, you can get more information and details from the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO).

Exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Taking a trip to the Upper Peninsula is without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Michigan as it’s a stunning region with many opportunities for scenic drives such as Brockway Mountain Drive in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Things to do in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The Brockway Mountain Drive is truly one of the most spectacular drives you can do in the state as you get to drive along the ridge of the Brockway Mountain where you can stop and enjoy stunning views of Lake Superior.

You can also take a drive along the shores of Lake Superior on the Circle Tour to enjoy breathtaking views of waterfalls such as Kakabeka Falls, which is as stunning as the Niagara Falls.

Another reason why taking a trip to Lake Superior Circle Tour is one of the best things to do in Michigan is because you’ll be able to enjoy a ton of activities and outdoor pursuits such as swimming, kayaking, taking tours of the lighthouses, hiking and camping.

Besides exploring the outdoors, another of the best things to do in Michigan Upper Peninsula is visiting historic places such as Mackinac Island. Interesting sites in Mackinac Island include the Grand Hotel (built in 1890), and Fort Mackinac (built in 1790).

Riding a Miniature Railroad

Riding a miniature railroad is another of the best things to do in Michigan off the beaten path, and they're really a fun way to spend the day with friends and family without spending wads of money.

There are a handful of mini-railroads you can visit in Michigan such as the Junction Valley Railroad which a lovely 4-mile JV Railroad ¼ scale railroad which is one of the largest in the world.

Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad is another great railroad you can visit near the town of Cadillac for a fun day out. The Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad is a 17” gauge railroad with a 2-mile long line, which runs through the lovely Manistee national forest.

Kayaking & Canoeing

Kayaking and Canoeing are two of the most popular summer pursuits in Michigan, and they're definitely one of the best things to do in Michigan during the summer...especially while drinking beer.

Places to go in Michigan in the summer

Some of the most popular spots for kayaking downrivers in Michigan are in the Muskegon-Holland-Grand Rapids area because of the their proximity to kayaking rental shops . Having said this, if you prefer a more pristine scenery the Upper Peninsula is home to great kayaking and canoeing spots such as the Fox River and Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Seney Refuge is without a doubt one of the most popular spots for easy paddling, and the best thing is that you get the opportunity to enjoy wildlife excursions as well. Another great thing about Seney Refuge is that it is located near the Big Cedar Campground,which offers canoe rental.

The Fox Rivers is another popular spot for taking a kayaking, canoeing and fishing trip as the river offers many opportunities for fishing pike, walleye and bass. There are also a couple of campgrounds along the banks of the Fox River (Seney Town Campground and Fox River Campground) where you’ll be able to launch your boat and spend the night.

Attending Michigan Events

Attending events in Michigan is definitely one of the best things to do in Michigan and you’ll be glad to know that the state boasts dozens of fairs, art and craft shows, summer concerts, festivals, and other kid-friendly events all year-round. Some of the top 10 events to attend in Michigan are:

Best Things to do in Detroit

1. Detroit International Jazz Festival (Detroit) in September
2. North American Snow Festival (Cadillac) in February
3. Ann Arbor Art Fair (Ann Arbor) in August
4. Blossomtime Festival (Benton Harbor / St. Joseph) in May
5. Bavarian Festival (Frankenmuth) in June
6. Great Lakes Folk Festival (East Lansing) in august
7. Tip-Up-Town USA (Houghton Lake) in January
8. Michigan Renaissance Festival (Holly Twp) in August-October
9. Ann Arbor Film Festival (Ann Arbor) in March
10. Venetian Festival (St. Joseph) in July

See. Places to visit in Muskegon MI
Best Beaches on Lake Michigan
Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions
Interesting places to visit in Michigan
Things to do in the Midwest

/ MyTravelGuidePosts / /

Best Things to do in Michigan Things to do in the Midwest

Things to do in the Midwest

Wondering where to go in Michigan this summer?

If so, you’ll be glad to know that there are loads of fun places to go in Michigan and inexpensive things you can do in the state without breaking the bank. Here it’s my short-list of favorite places in Michigan:

Detroit

Detroit is without a doubt, one of the most popular places to go in Michigan in the summer. There are plenty of live events and lots to see and do such as visiting the Detroit Science Center, Motown Museum, and the Max M. Fisher Music Center.

Things to do in Detroit

As far as summer events go, Detroit is home to the Michigan State Fair (August 15th) which is a cool festival where you can enjoy traditional fair rides, live entertainment and animal exhibits.

There is also the Detroit RiverFront Festival on June 23rd which takes place just west of the GM Renaissance Center. This event is definitely worth attending with kids as it’s one of the most fun summer events in Michigan. You can tour the docked schooners, watch jet-ski and plane demonstrations and enjoy plenty of live music.

Stony Creek Metropark

If you want to enjoy nature hikes not far from Detroit, the Stony Creek Metropark is another of the places to go in Michigan in the summer.

Best Things to do in Michigan

Stony Creek Metropark boasts nice hills and paved paths great for walking and rollerblading. There are also grassy areas for picnicking, and a lovely beach area where you can enjoy swimming and kayaking.

Dearborn

Dearborn is another of the places to go in Michigan in the summer as it is home to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Interesting places to visit in Michigan

You’ll love spending time at the Henry Ford Museum as there are lots to see and do for the entire family such viewing the presidential cars and other educational exhibits such as Rosa Park Bus and the Allegheny Steam Locomotive, which is one of the largest steam locomotives in the world.

At the Greenfield Village you can explore historic building such as the home of Noah Webster and the lab of Thomas Edison, as well as enjoying a ride on a horse-drawn carriage, the steam locomotive, and Ford’s model AA bus.

Michigan's Adventure

If you love fun parks Michigan's Adventure is definitely one of the places to go in Michigan in the summer for a fun day out.

Top 10 Theme Parks in the USA

Michigan's Adventure is located in Muskegon (see. places to visit in Muskegon MI) and boasts dozens of thrill rides, as well as an outdoor water park, wooden coasters, go karts, and kid’s rides such as a carousel and a fun steam train.

Boyne City

Boyne City has to be another of favorite spot in Michigan for a fun family outdoors vacation. Boyne City is small town but it truly offers an opportunity for a relaxing vacation without the huge crowds other areas of Michigan draw.

You can enjoy camping in nearby Young State Park or Whiting Park, as well as a ton of water activities on Lake Charlevoix such as jet-ski and swimming. You can also hire a family pontoon for the day and enjoy boating at your leisure.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes isn’t just one of the best beaches on Lake Michigan but also one of the most popular places to go in Michigan in the summer.

Best Beaches in Western Michigan

There are lots you can do in Sleeping Bear Dunes such as climbing and rolling down the tall sand dunes, fun buggy rides, picnicking and camping in either Platte River Campground or D.H. Day Campground.

Fremont

The town of Fremont is another of my favorite places to go in Michigan in the summer as it’s home to the National Baby Food Festival on July 20th.

Fremont’s National Baby Food Festival has to be one of the most fun festivals in the state as there are lots to of cool events and fun activities for the whole family to join such as the fun Bed Race, the family spa day and live demonstrations.

Marquette

The town of Marquette is located in the Upper Peninsula, and it’s without a doubt one of the top places to go in Michigan in the summer. (see. places to visit in Marquette)

Things to do in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

There are many great attractions, outdoor concerts and events happening in Marquette throughout the summer months such as the Marquette County Fair, the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and the DeVos Art Museum, as well as figure skating and ice hockey competitions in Lakeview Arena.

See. Mackinac Island Sites To See
Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions
Fun Things to do in Michigan
Lake Michigan Tourist Attractions

/ MyTravelGuidePosts / /

Places To Go in Michigan in the Summer Things to do in the Midwest

Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions

The Midwest boasts stunning lakes, beach areas, city attractions and beautiful green areas that the Midwest states can truly be proud of.

The Midwest region is certainly a paradise for outdoor pursuits so, there are lots of cool things to do in Midwest throughout the year. Below we have rounded up a list of great things to do in the Midwest during the summer and winter months:

Water Parks

As mentioned earlier, the Midwest may not boast a coastal area but that doesn’t mean you can’t cool off in one of the region's water parks such as Wisconsin Dells.

Things to do over the Summer Vacation in the States

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Dells may be a bit of a tourist trap for some folks but visiting one of Wisconsin Dells water parks is one of the best family things to do in the Midwest in summer as the area boasts great family resorts such as the Kalahari Resort which boasts an African theme.

There are also dozens of indoor and outdoor water parks that you can visit such as Noah’s Ark which is a huge outdoor water park that boasts a ton of water slides, fun bumper boats and live music entertainment.

By the way, Wisconsin Dells isn't just one of the most popular vacation spots in the Midwest in the summer. Another popular thing to do in Wisconsin Dells in the winter is to visit a ski resort such as Devils Head and Christmas Mountain Village for a fun ski vacation with the family.

Top 10 Places to Ski in the US

If you do visit Wisconsin Dells in the winter, be sure your trip coincides with the annual Wisconsin Dells Flake Out Festival January 23rd to see the amazing snow sculpture competition.

Midwest Lakes

Besides visiting a water park, another of the popular things to in the Midwest is to visit a lake for a bit of sailing and fishing.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Things to do in Lake of the Ozarks MO

There are many Midwestern lakes to choose from, though visiting Lake of the Ozarks Missouri is no doubt one of the most popular things to do in the Midwest for spring break as it’s home to the popular Party Cove where some of the wildest boat parties are known to take place.

Besides spring break season, Lake of the Ozarks is a popular family destination in the US during the summer months as the area offers a ton of opportunities for fun activities like boating, fishing, camping and even visit some wineries.

Having said this, if you’re really looking for a proper lake vacation, there is no doubt that Michigan’s Great Lakes area is the most popular vacation destinations in the US.

Things to do in the Great Lakes area include:

-Scenic Drive: Taking a scenic drive or road trip along the stunning Great Lakes Circle Tour route which takes past beautiful waterfalls, parks and breathtaking lookout points such as Chateau Chantal winery in the Old Mission Peninsula which offers memorable views of Grand Traverse Bay.

Most Scenic Drives in the US

-Cruising: Enjoying a cruise of the Great Lakes aboard a cruise ship is another of the popular things to do in the Midwest. The Great Lakes Cruise Company is one of the most popular cruise companies to use as it offers cruise ship tours of Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and the Great American Waterways.

Best Beaches on Lake Michigan

-Sailing: Learning how to sail a boat is another popular thing to do in the Midwest Great Lakes. There are plenty of sailing schools to choose from such as Fair Wind in Lake Erie New York, and Northern Breezes in Lake Superior Minnesota.

Places to Visit along Lake Erie Ohio

-Fishing: when it comes to lake vacations, fishing is without a doubt the most popular things to do in the Midwest, and the Great Lakes area will have you spoiled for choice! There are many nice fishing spots within the Great Lakes area such as Gun Lake near Grand Rapids, and Portage Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Things to do in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

If you’re not a seasoned fisherman, but still want to give it a go you can always hire a fishing charter with companies such as Silver King Charters in Milwaukee, Nicky Boy Charters in Port Washington, and Sea Breeze Lake Erie Charters in Port Clinton.

City Attractions

Visiting Midwestern cities’ attractions is without a doubt, some of the most popular things to do in the Midwest region. Top attractions in the region include:

-Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky Ohio