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. 

The US 12 Heritage Trail is a road of contrasts and surprises. Traversing approximately 212 miles through the State of Michigan, US-12 retains a rich historic character and offers the traveling motorist a unique opportunity to view the many intrinsic historic, cultural, and recreational assets along this east-west corridor. The US-12 corridor which begins just blocks from the Detroit River within the City of Detroit, extends through southern Michigan and provides access to the following counties: Wayne, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, and Berrien.

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.

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.

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.