Keep It Fresh: 12 Essential Experiences in 2025
Self-expression is not only encouraged in Michigan – it’s practically our way of life! Pursue your favorite activities, chase a lifelong dream or try something completely new to you. You’ll come back with memories that are unique to Pure Michigan and make 2025 your year of you.
Find better well-being in 2025.
Put your wellness at the top of your to-do list. Escape to a wellness retreat at a spa resort or fully immerse yourself in outdoor beauty like in a field of lavender or deep in a forest.
With 103 state parks to explore, you’ll always find a new way to reset and reconnect with nature. Try treasure hunting on a geocaching expedition, find accessible outdoor activities with all-terrain track chairs and beach wheelchairs, and explore Michigan’s designated Trail Towns.
Proximity to water is a tried-and-true way to find peace, and adventuring on the water is practically our state pastime. We have the longest freshwater coastline in the nation, along with thousands of inland lakes, rivers and water trails. Go paddling, tubing, fishing or even surfing on America’s “third coast” in Michigan
If you’d prefer to soak up views of the water than be in it, there’s plenty to do on the shore. Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, and we’ve got our guide to some of the most iconic lighthouses to experience. Another signature experience is our mighty sand dunes, where you can hike, bike and sandboard to your heart’s content.
Bring music into the mix.
As the home of Motown Records and the birthplace of techno, we’ve got music in our soul. Get a feel for it at Movement Detroit, taking place May 24–26, 2025, in Hart Plaza – featuring six stages of electronic music in one of the longest-running dance music events in the world. Come back August 9–11 for Ribs R&B Music Festival Weekend, where you’ll find barbecue grill masters and live music on the RiverWalk for a joyful weekend of family, food and fun.
Look up and enjoy the show.
2025 promises to be a spectacular year to catch the northern lights, thanks to the peak in the sun’s 11-year solar activity cycle. Get our expert tips on how to maximize your chances to see the aurora borealis, or simply head to a Dark Skies park and catch a celestial show of dazzling constellations.
See how many signature dishes you can try.
There are some dining essentials you’ll just have to experience when you’re in town. Detroit lays claim to the nation’s best pizza (at least we think so!). Detroit-style pizza features a thick, soft square crust, à la Sicilian-style pizza, baked in a deep pan. A Coney dog, despite its name, has less to do with Coney Island and is commonly found alongside Greek food – smothered in chili or ground beef, plus mustard and onions.
A drive through the Upper Peninsula will reveal a variety of pasty shops (pronounced PASS-tee), offering soul-satisfying, flaky pie crust stuffed with meats and veggies. If it feels vaguely British, you’re right; pasties were brought over by Cornish miners.
And if you happen to be in Michigan on Fat Tuesday, you’re in for a real treat: Pączki Day! Rooted in Polish culture, these jelly-filled doughnuts are yeasty, full of sweet deliciousness and dusted with powdered sugar.
Discover our agricultural bounty.
Our unique geography is ideal for agricultural production, making Michigan the second-most diverse agricultural state in the nation. Taste your way through the seasons, from springtime morels to Traverse City cherries and Michigan apples.
Sip and savor.
The state of Michigan also has five American Viticultural Areas (AVA), with a climate similar to Italy’s Piedmont and France’s Bordeaux. Pay a visit to a Michigan winery and spice it up with a local experience like biking through a vineyard, taking a cooking class or spending a night at a nearby inn.
Mix it up with a Michigan-made craft beer. Local brewmasters have been leading this art form for decades, including Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, the breweries of Grand Rapids — known as Beer City USA — and pioneering women cicerones.
Hit the slopes.
Michigan has many surprising claims to fame when it comes to skiing, so why not come experience it for yourself? Find our complete list of ski areas for all levels, and while you’re here our apres-ski scene is also pretty sweet.
Go hard on Michigan sports.
With the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons, plus college athletics galore, it’s pretty clear that Michiganders love to cheer on our favorite sports teams. Keep an eye on our calendar and grab home tickets while you can.
2025 promises to be a year to celebrate even harder. February 13-16, 2025, the UP200 returns to the Upper Peninsula for 228 miles of premier dog sledding between Marquette and Grand Marais. This Iditarod qualifier includes challenging terrain, and spectators can enjoy warm-up parties, incredible local dining and unique shopping in downtown Marquette.
Coming up July 11–17, 2025, Move United’s 68th annual Hartford Nationals will bring together hundreds of competitors to Grand Rapids. It’s the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment or intellectual disability, and this marks the second time Michigan has hosted the event since it was held in Saginaw in 2011.