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Michigan Road Trips

They lead us to world-class wineries. They treat our eyes to thousands of acres of vibrant autumn colors. And they guide us along the scenic roads that hug the world's longest freshwater coastline. Michigan's tours and trails enlighten us. Expose us to memorable highlights. And inspire us to explore lighthouses, antique markets, exotic gardens and more. So let's be spontaneous. Because satisfying our curiosity and touring to our heart's content is Pure Michigan.

Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinac Island

Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinac Island
Colonial Michilimackinac, a recreated 18th century outpost and center of the Northern Frontier fur trade, sits beside the Straits of Mackinac. Play along with interpreters dressed as British redcoats staging black powder musket demonstrations and firing cannons over the water.

Photo courtesy of Mackinac Historic State Parks

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Paradise, Michigan

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Paradise, Michigan
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a must-see for anyone who enjoys natural beauty in its finest setting. View the falls close up in this Michigan state park. The soothing rush of water from the 200-ft-wide Upper Falls drops nearly 50-ft, making it one of the largest falls this side of the Mississippi River. The Lower Falls are equally magnificent and gush around an island.

Photo courtesy of Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum & Whitefish Point Light Station, Paradise

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum & Whitefish Point Light Station, Paradise
Watch the fury of Lake Superior or explore the haunting world of shipwrecks with artifacts from 13 local shipwrecks including the tribute to the Edmund Fitzgerald and the men lost with that vessel. Visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

Photo courtesy of Paul Fifer
Michigan Road Trips

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Ann Arbor Home Town Heroes Great and Small

Discover some of Ann Arbor's attractions, through the heroes who have lived in the county and perhaps are still with us.

Books, Art and Wine: A driving tour of the Traverse City/Grand Traverse area.
This self-guided driving tour through the Traverse City area will introduce you to some of the treasures of this regional cultural center. The Grand Traverse Region has long been known as a favorite vacation spot for its exquisite scenery and unique cultural resources. We hope you’ll enjoy this special tour.
Great Lakes Circle Tours

The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated, scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail
Our cool-climate, Michigan wines go beautifully with food and have been winning more national and international awards and praise each and every year - making it a great destination.
Sparks of Creativity: Following the Trail of Automotive Innovators and Entrepreneurs. An automotive heritage tour of southeastern Michigan.

This self-guided driving tour of southeastern Michigan will help you discover some of the early innovators and leaders in the development of the automobile—and the impacts they have had on our world. 

US 12 Heritage Trail
Centuries in the making, the US-12 Heritage Trail is a road connecting man, animals, commerce, culture, and nature. Bridging southern Michigan's east and west shores, the US-12 Heritage Trail is an unconventional destination that encourages the traveler to journey its winding roads, meet its people, explore its places, and uncover its hidden treasures.
Alpena - Gaylord - Mio

Michigan's Sunrise Side greets fall color in late September, and the autumn hues usually linger until mid-October. This 200-mile route travels from Lake Huron's shore to a stunning stand of virgin forest, with lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing along the way.

Blue Coast Artists Driving Tour

Travel the scenic Blue Star Highway and back roads between South Haven and Saugatuck to discover a distinctive and diverse community. The Blue Coast Artists cultural heritage tour is a treasure trove offering a behind-the-scenes look into the studios talented working artisans, agri-tourism farms, wineries and sites within quintessential towns.

Detroit - Algonac - Lake Orion - Port Huron

Where better to begin a driving trip than in the Motor City? The home of the Motown Sound is the starting point for a 195-mile fall color route that skirts three waterways to the maritime city of Port Huron, and rolls through historic Southeast Michigan towns with connections to three pop music stars. The month of October is prime for viewing autumn hues at a variety of parks, and stopping to taste seasonal treats at cider mills along the way.

Echoes of the Edmund Fitzgerald

At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, 1975, the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin, loaded with 26,116 tons of iron ore. She overtook the Arthur M. Anderson just beyond Two Harbors, Minnesota. The two captains discussed the worsening weather and decided to take the northerly route across Lake Superior to Whitefish Bay and the Sault Locks. Our maritime heritage tour follows the progress of the two ships from the south shore of Lake Superior, where stories of shipwrecks and survival draw visitors to museums, glass-bottom boat tours, lighthouses and the big lake itself.

Flint - Brighton - Bloomfield Hills

Catch the last spectacular show of fall color in East Central and Southeastern Michigan in October. There is plenty of see and do with the entire family in this loop of 150 miles from Bloomfield Hills, to Flint and back down to the Brighton area.

Grand Ledge - Hastings - Battle Creek - Eaton Rapids

Here's a Capitol idea: a fall color excursion that starts in the State Capitol and takes in scenic farm and woodlands, rivers, and a unique geological formation that is about 300-million years old. The 150-mile loop is best enjoyed from mid to late October.

Grand Rapids - Grand Haven - South Haven - Kalamazoo

Pack the binoculars, bicycles and beach blanket for a fall color tour that takes in all the sights, from city scenes and sand dunes to wineries, farm markets and Lake Michigan sunsets. And don't forget the camera for this 195-mile West Michigan jaunt, which is best enjoyed from early to late October.

Grayling - Torch Lake - Lake City

Enjoy this area's fall color by car, on foot, canoe or on a vintage train ride. The winding Au Sable River is the perfect waterway to paddle and enjoy the splashes of vibrant color against towering evergreens.

Great Waters Lake Michigan Trail: “Windswept Dunes and Hidden Lakes,”

The Lake Michigan Trails, “Windswept Dunes and Hidden Lakes,” can offer you a panorama of earth and sky above the Cut River or the quiet majesty of bald eagles and trumpeter swans at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Waters Lake Superior Trail Tour: Rugged Shores and Falling Water

The Lake Superior Trail, Rugged Shores and Falling Water, will lead you on a quest inland through deep forests to the mighty Tahquamenon Falls or along the shore to secluded, historic lighthouses and the glorious cliff-side display at Pictured Rocks.

Hillsdale - Homer - Sturgis

Catch the last act of Michigan's fall color show in the central Lower Peninsula near the state's border with Indiana and Ohio.  Best enjoyed from mid-to-late October, the 155-mile loop travels through countryside known for agriculture, antiques and Amish communities.

 
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