16 Unique Places and Unusual Things to Do in Michigan

Michigan is home to a number of unique and record-breaking attractions you won't find anywhere else, from the world's largest cherry pie pan to the world's largest Christmas store. Below is a roundup of some of our favorites. 

A horse carriage in front of the Grand Hotel
Horse Carriage at the Grand Hotel | Photo Courtesy of Pure Michigan

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1. Ride in a Carriage  

Head to Mackinac Island for a tour with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, home of the World's Largest Horse & Buggy Livery. Visitors can take a one hour and 45 minute narrated historic and scenic horse carriage tour through the island.

2. Play Indoor Sports  

The Superior Dome in Marquette, the world's largest wooden dome has a retractable turf, three basketball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball courts. It is host to trade shows, banquets, conferences, and athletic events.

3. Ski a Ski Slide 

Pine Mountain Ski Jump in Iron Mountain, is the largest man-made ski slide in the U.S. Built in the early 1930's, Pine Mountain Ski Jump holds the North American distance record of 459 feet on 140 meters.

4. See the World’s Largest Weathervane

The World's Largest Weathervane in Montague was built by Whitehall factory employees. This functioning weathervane is 48 feet tall with an arrow 26 feet long.

5. Get Spooked in a Haunted House

Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac is the world's largest haunted house. The four-story haunted house that was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Walk-Through Haunted Attraction in 2005.

6. Listen to Jazz  

Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, is the world's oldest jazz club. If you like traditional jazz, great atmosphere or if you enjoy just stepping into history then it’s the spot for you.

7. Stop at a Memorabilia Collection

Dawson & Steven's Classic 50's Diner in Grayling has the largest private collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia in Michigan. Over 10,000 pieces of memorabilia make up the museum, housed in the authentic 50's diner.

8. Enjoy a Musical Fountain Performance  

The Grand Haven Musical Fountain in Grand Haven, is the world's largest musical fountain. A synchronized display of water and lights on the harbor offered nightly beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day.

9. Visit a Giant Pie Pan

Near Traverse City, at the Sara Lee Bakery Group, stands the World’s Largest Cherry Pie Pan. The pan was made to hold the World’s Largest Cherry Pie at the time (from 1987-1992). The huge pie weighed 28,350 pounds and was 17 feet, 6 inches in diameter.

10. Tinker with Mechanics

If you like magic posters, neon, antiques, advertising, ceiling fans, slot machines, memorabilia, robots, airplanes or animation, then Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington is the place to visit. Marvin's boasts coin-operated games from the oldest gypsy fortune-telling machines to the latest in laser hologram video games of the 1990's.

11. Take a Trip to Hell

Visitors that enjoy fun excursions and unique destinations will find plenty to smile about when they arrive in Hell. “Sinfully delicious” is the phrase most often heard by patrons that frequent Screams Ice Cream. While here you can enroll in Damnation University, experience some world-class haunted effects. Hell is guaranteed to be appreciated by folks with a great sense of humor.

12. Go Back in Time

A world-renowned reproduction of over 25 prehistoric birds and dinosaurs on a 40-acre tract of land split by Devil River can be found at Dinosaur Gardens in Ossineke. Dinosaur Gardens features a brontosaurus over 80 feet long and weighing over 60,000 pounds.

13. Observe some Taxidermy

The Antlers: Taxidermy Restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie is a unique dining experience in northern Michigan. Enjoy viewing over 200 mounted animals while waiting for your meal. Try the famous Soo Stew Canoes!

14. Taste Some Jerky

The Jerky Outlet in Dundee is one of the world's largest jerky outlets - beef jerky, turkey jerky, elk, venison, buffalo, alligator jerky...even kangaroo! Visitors can bag their own or pick an assortment of pre-packaged jerkies.

15. Get in the Holiday Spirit

Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth is the world's largest Christmas store with over 90,000 square feet of newly expanded shopper's dream! Bronner's is bigger than one and a half football fields in size featuring over 50,000 trims, gifts, and collectibles.

16. Witness World's Largest Piece of Float Copper

The world's largest piece of float copper is located in Presque Isle Park. It is the largest found anywhere in the world.  It weighs 28.2 tons, measures 14 feet by 15 feet. Marquette residents are working to assure that this copper specimen will remain in Marquette in a visible place for tourists and residents to enjoy.