20+ Things to Do in Michigan: Your Ultimate Summer Bucket List
The feeling of a Michigan summer is one that you'll wish you could capture forever. The scent of sunscreen mixed with lake water. The long, sun-filled days where possibilities of adventure stretch out for hours on end. What's on your Michigan summer bucket list? How about a little of everything? We've got 24 ideas to start with (bet you didn't have firing a cannon on your summer bingo card!).
1. Zip Around in an Open Buggy on Michigan’s Sand Dunes
Few things capture the spirit of a Michigan summer quite like tearing across a 200-foot wall of sand in an open buggy – wind in your face, nothing but golden dunes and blue sky ahead. You'll be grinning ear to ear every one of those 40 or so minutes of the trip. Head to Saugatuck Dune Rides Inc. in the scenic beach town or the perennial favorite, Mac Wood’s Dune Rides in Silver Lake.
Read more about six amazing places to discover sand dunes in Michigan and get important safety tips for navigating the dunes.
2. Explore Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes
Hundreds of vessels lie perfectly preserved in the cold, clear fresh water of the Great Lakes – and you can get surprisingly close to them. Snorkel or dive the wrecks yourself, or board a glass-bottom boat while a guide narrates the stories beneath you. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers tours through a 4,300-square-mile preserve, and Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours in Munising has bots that float over three Lake Superior wrecks with views of the colorful, mineral-streaked cliffs of Pictured Rocks along the way.
Get the complete list of 12 places to go shipwreck diving in Michigan.
3. Spend a Day Paddling a Michigan Waterway
The Ludington State Park Hamlin Lake Canoe Trail lets you pick up a rental at the store along the shore and follow 2.5 miles of shorelines, bayous and ponds amid soaring eagles and swimming swans. Head to Aloha State Park on Mullet Lake, situated in the middle of the paddle-friendly Inland Waterways, or venture to Tawas Point State Park, sometimes called the Cape Cod of the Midwest, to access the warm shallows of Tawas Bay.
Find more outdoor adventures on Michigan's waterways.
4. Stay the Night in Michigan Wine Country
Touring Michigan's wine country is one thing, but waking up inside it is something else entirely. Chateau Chantal in Traverse City leaves the tasting room open on the honor system after hours, so the evening is yours. Black Star Farms Old Mission in Suttons Bay treats overnight guests to a library wine reception and private breakfast. At Chateau Grand Traverse on the Old Mission Peninsula, a bottle of wine comes with every stay.
Discover where to enjoy Michigan's finest wines, from grape to glass.
5. Wish on Falling Stars (and Marvel at the Northern Lights!)
Michigan's lack of big-city light pollution is one of its best-kept secrets. On a clear night, far from the glow of any skyline, the Milky Way stretches overhead in a way that feels almost unreal – and if you're lucky, a ribbon of northern lights might join the show. Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a favorite gathering spot for stargazers, where the beach becomes a natural observatory and the stories behind the constellations are as much a part of the experience as the stars themselves.
Find three magical places to spot the northern lights in Michigan.
6. Transform Camping Into Glamping
Michigan's 103 state parks and 13,500 campsites mean there's no shortage of ways to sleep outside – but why rough it when you don't want to? At Uncle Ducky's Paddlers Village in Munising, shoreline yurts lull you to sleep with the sounds of Lake Superior just outside. In South Haven, The Fields of Michigan sets luxury tents against rolling blueberry fields for something that feels more like a retreat than a campsite.
Explore eight relaxing locations to go glamping in Michigan.
7. Explore the Mushroom Houses in Charlevoix
Charlevoix has no shortage of summer charm, but nothing quite prepares you for the Mushroom Houses. Built by eccentric architect Earl Young from the natural rocks and boulders of Northern Michigan, these fairytale cottages look like they were dreamed up in Middle-earth and dropped along the streets of a real town. Start in the Museum at Harsha House to get the backstory, and then wander the neighborhoods and see them for yourself.
Expand your summer adventure on these eight waterways near Charlevoix.
8. Explore Michigan's Cities by Bike
Ground yourself in a new city by exploring on two wheels. In Detroit, Wheelhouse Detroit leads themed rides through storied neighborhoods, with architecture and public art as your backdrop and the history of the Underground Railroad as your backdrop. The Lansing River Trail turns a day at the museums into an adventure, with stops at Potter Park Zoo, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum and Impression 5 Science Center. In Grand Rapids, a biking tour provides turn-by-turn guidance to downtown hot spots.
Get the insider scoop on Michigan's city bike trails and hot tips on mountain biking in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
9. Find Your Motown Groove
The story of Motown is one of the greatest in American music, and Detroit is where it all began. At Hitsville U.S.A., the Motown Museum lets you step inside the legendary studio where it happened, learn the history behind Michigan's classic sound, and even take the mic yourself to channel the Supremes. The best is still ahead: a $75 million expansion called Hitsville NEXT will transform the campus into a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education destination, with a planned reopening in spring 2027. In the meantime, the museum continues to offer special programming, like an immersive exhibit at the nearby Esther Gordy Edwards Centre For Excellence.
Learn the stories behind Motown Records, the little house that rocked the world.
10. Escape to an Island
You've heard of the incredible beauty and fun of Mackinac Island, but Michigan's island adventures run deeper than most people realize. The Manitou Islands off the coast of Leland offer wild, untouched landscapes steeped in the legend of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Drummond Island, tucked just east of the Upper Peninsula in northern Lake Huron, is a paradise for ORV and ATV enthusiasts willing to make the journey. And for something closer to home, there are even island escapes within reach of Detroit.
Michigan has more islands to explore than a single summer can hold. Find your island style in Michigan.
11. Play at a Water Park
Michigan's water park scene meets every kind of thrill-seeker. Michigan's Adventures in Muskegon remains the state's largest outdoor amusement and water park, with 15 water attractions and the Shivering Timbers coaster hitting speeds of 65 mph. For an indoor option year-round, Bavarian Blast in Frankenmuth has claimed the title of Michigan's largest indoor water park at 140,000 square feet featuring slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and even a swim-up bar. Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City is a longtime family favorite, and Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain brings 88,000 square feet of slides, lazy rivers and wave pools to Northern Michigan.
Splash your way through these nine incredible indoor water parks in Michigan.
12. Fire a Cannon at Fort Mackinac
You won’t get in trouble for it when you sign up to fire the first cannon blast of the day (for a fee) at Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island. You'll reach into the supply trunk yourself to don the blue cloth soldier's hat (yours to keep) along with earplugs and tools needed to clean the cannon and tap in the charge. The views from the fort are stunning on their own, but pair the experience with a stay at the iconic Grand Hotel and a visit to the historic sites of St. Ignace across the Straits and you've got a full immersion into Michigan's storied past.
Discover more treasures of Fort Mackinac and explore more on magical Mackinac Island.
13. Tour the Beach Towns of the Vintage West Michigan Pike
Follow the path of a classic Michigan road trip: two hundred miles of shoreline, and every stretch has something worth stopping for. The West Michigan Pike winds through some of the state's most beloved beach towns – Grand Haven, Holland, South Haven, St. Joseph, Saugatuck – where wide sandy beaches give way to galleries, festivals, fresh food, and the kind of low-key summer days that are hard to find anywhere else.
Planning a summer road trip? Get a glimpse of our itineraries across the state.
14. Sleep in a Michigan Lighthouse
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state – and remarkably, some of them you can actually sleep in. Whether you want to serve as a volunteer keeper for a few days or simply book a night at a lighthouse B&B, the options are worth seeking out. Keep watch over Lake Huron from the Tawas Point Lighthouse or Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, or settle in for a more leisurely stay at the charming Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort or the remote Big Bay Point Lighthouse best and breakfast tucked into the Upper Peninsula.
Michigan's most unique lighthouses are full of history and photo-worthy moments.
15. Hunt for Petoskey Stones or Agates
There's something deeply satisfying about finding a treasure that's been waiting in the sand for millions of years. Petoskey State Park, just outside the city that shares its name, is one of the best spots in the state to hunt for Michigan's iconic state stone – and the success rate might surprise you. After your search, browse downtown shops for polished pieces and DIY kits to finish your own finds. For agates, head to Grand Marais in the Upper Peninsula, where Lake Superior beaches shift from sand to colorful rock.
Learn the secrets of finding Petoskey stones, Yooperlites® and other unique rocks in Michigan.
16. Nostalgic Sailings
Step onto a tall ship and sail away from the modern world. The BaySail out of Bay City offer everything from stargazing sails far from city lights to dinner cruises and storytelling of local legends. The Traverse Tall Ship Company in Traverse City keeps things festive with themed trips – ice cream, live music, and even overnight bed-and-breakfast sails. Down in South Haven, the Friends Good Will Tall Ship runs a crowd-pleasing "pirate chaser" aboard an 1810 replica sloop that's equal parts history and fun.
Learn how one family built their legacy around tall ship sailing with Sailing Saugatuck.
17. Take a Mountain Adventure
Most people know Mount Bohemia Adventure Resort for its legendary black diamond runs – some of the most challenging ski terrain in the Midwest. But when the snow melts, the mountain doesn't slow down. The same rugged landscape that draws hardcore skiers in winter becomes a base camp for summer adventure, with kayaking on Lake Superior and mountain biking through the wild trails of the Keweenaw Peninsula right outside the door.
Get our comprehensive list of ski resorts in Michigan that transform into summer playgrounds.
18. Drink a Michigan Craft Beer in Beer City
Grand Rapids didn't earn the title of Beer City USA by accident. Brewery Vivant sets the scene in a beautifully repurposed former chapel, bringing Belgian-inspired brews and a serious commitment to sustainability to every pour. Founders Brewing Co is a pilgrimage-worthy stop with a great patio and beers that have earned their reputation well beyond Michigan's borders. Gravity Taphouse Grille rounds out the experience with thoughtful food and craft beer pairings.
Meet Michigan's legendary craft brewers and get the ultimate list of Pure Michigan breweries.
19. Catch a King Salmon or Reel in a Walleye
A day on a Great Lakes fishing charter has a way of resetting your whole outlook. The Manistee area is one of Lake Michigan's premier destinations for king salmon, with a range of charter options for every experience level. For walleye, Saginaw Bay is the spot – consistently productive and beloved by anglers who know where to go. See what you'll catch in the springtime and which fish are most abundant in autumn.
Learn why fishing in Michigan has become such a popular pastime among all different types of anglers.
20. Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding
The Detroit waterfront is one of the hottest, if not most unexpected, spots for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Explore the Eastside Canals, paddle around Belle Isle, or join Detroit River Sports' "paddle to table" tour for a taste of the city's culinary scene from the water. Beyond Detroit, the calm bay conditions at Tawas Point State Park make it a great entry point for beginners, while the dramatic shoreline of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a bucket-list excursion for experienced paddlers.
Plan your trip to visit Michigan's most scenic areas for paddling and get tips from an insider on kayaking in the Upper Peninsula.
21. Eat Fresh and Support Local
There's nothing quite like fruit picked at peak ripeness, still warm from the sun. Michigan's agricultural bounty runs deep: Hunt for wild blueberries in Paradise, or head inland from Southwest Michigan's beach towns to some of the state's top fruit-growing regions. At Fruit Acres Farm & U-Pick in Coloma, a hayride delivers you straight to the peach trees. Crane Orchards in Fennville grows apples, peaches and sweet cherries.
See why Michigan's cherries are so beloved and where you can enjoy them.
22. Dine Your Way Through Michigan Delicacies
Detroit-style pizza and Coney dogs, Mackinac Island fudge, pasties, artisan cheeses, and maple syrup: the flavors you can experience in Michigan are as varied as the communities that serve them up. Whether it's a five-star meal or a local favorite, no meal is complete without a Michigan wine, craft beer or spirit to pair it with. Restaurants across the state carry local varietals and brews, but unique flavors are waiting to be discovered at brick-and-mortar shops and local grocery stores as well. Don't forget to refuel at Michigan coffee shops and get a bag of beans to enjoy at home.
Dishing Michigan: Discover the most iconic meals and local flavors.
23. Get Eye Level With the Eagles
Brockway Mountain Drive near the tip of the Upper Peninsula holds a lovely claim to fame. At 1,328 feet above sea level, it's the highest scenic roadway between the Rockies and the Alleghenies. The views earn every bit of that distinction: unbroken stretches of Keweenaw Peninsula forest, glittering inland lakes and distant freighters crossing Lake Superior. Stick around long enough and you'll find yourself eye level with migrating hawks, owls and eagles. Or catch the ferry to Isle Royale National Park for a wilderness escape that feels truly remote.
Look and listen when you go bird-watching in Michigan.
24. Drive a Model T
Few experiences connect you to automotive history quite like gripping the wheel of an actual Model T. At Kalamazoo's Gilmore Car Museum, you can do exactly that – the museum's driving school puts you behind the wheel of a Henry Ford original. For the full story on the place that quietly changed the way the world moves, Detroit’s Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is where the Model T was conceived and built.
What's on your Michigan summer bucket list? From family traditions to first-time adventures, summer in Pure Michigan is a time to treasure and a season to remember.