It’s the start of summer and everyone I know is starting to plan their vacations. Every place has one theme in common…the beach! Whether you are looking for a family getaway, a weekend away with the girls or a weekend away with your significant other, there is one place you all need to start looking at…Northern Michigan!
Northern Michigan has so much to offer! The picture above is from the Sleeping Bear Dunes Scenic Drive (lookout #9). I had been to Sleeping Bear Dunes when I was a child, but recently went back there and I had forgotten how beautiful it was there! There were so many people walking around and taking pictures, but the people I were totally jealous of, were the people that were laying on the sand, looking up at the beautiful blue skies, while listening to the waves. Can’t beat that!
Why You Should Visit Michigan
- Lake Michigan…with it’s tides and waves, it is just like visiting the ocean without saltwater, jelly fish or sharks!
- The vineyards…Northern Michigan has beautiful vineyards with some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted!
- Mackinac Island…besides having the best fudge I’ve ever tasted, it’s a relaxing and slow paced with just your feet, bikes or horses to get around!
- Experience all 4 seasons…you can sit by the beach in the summer, admire the changing leaves, visit the Tulip Festival or there is plenty of skiing, ice skating and other winter sports.
- Apple Picking…you can pick apples in many places, but the nice thing about Michigan orchards is that you can usually pick 4-5 varieties of apples at the SAME orchard!
- The Breweries…Michigan has some amazing craft beers and local breweries.
- The Sand Dunes…these amazing mountains of sand is something every child (or child at heart) should get a chance to run up and roll down!
- The food…Northern Michigan has some of the BEST restaurants I have ever been to and they use a lot of local grown and raised products!
- Recreational activities…whether you enjoy biking, skiing, fishing, boating…Michigan has what you are looking for and more!
- Meijer…I know it’s weird that I added a grocery store on here, but for whatever reason, everyone LOVES Meijer. You can get clothes and shoes needed for a boating trip, food for lunch, sunscreen AND the worms, all at one store!
**I had the pleasure of visiting Northern Michigan as part of a press trip. My airfare, hotel and activities were provide. All stories and opinions are 100% my own.
If you would like to start planning your vacation to Michigan, you can get more information at www.Michigan.org! Also, be sure to check out the #PureMichigan Facebook and Twitter pages!!
Stay tuned for my series of posts on three of my favorite places to visit in Michigan. I will be highlighting some well known places and some not so well known places (but should be!).
I’ve seen such beautiful pictures of summers in Michigan one of these years I would love to go visit and enjoy the lakes there.
We vacationed in Michigan last year and thoroughly enjoyed it! It has so much to offer.
This is a great list of fun activities to see and do! 🙂
I so want to visit Michigan! I’ve been trying to convince my husband. It sounds like there is a lot to do!
I have never been to Michigan. We had a family friend that was from Petoskey, she said it was always cold and snowy there.
I’ve never been to Michigan but would love to as long as it is during the summer! LOL I don’t do cold very well. 🙂
I haven’t been to Michigan, but it’s on my must-visit list!!
I’m from St. Joe so I have to say my hometown, right??! I love Traverse City and Petoskey too!
I love Michigan, it’s time for me to start planning a trip there.
I’d love to go to Michigan. I have a family friend that lives in Michigan. It does sound like a beautiful state to visit.
You had me at fudge 😉
That is one area I haven’t had the pleasure to visit. I would love to see lake Michigan though. Looks like fun.
We visited Ohio twice a year for years and years but never ventured up into Michigan. I will have to add that to our travel lists!
I honestly wouldn’t think about going to Michigan on vacation until you posted all the pros of going there! Seems like a great vacation spot.
Michigan has been my second home since I was born. My great-grandparents lived there, then my grandparents moved up there and we would go up there multiple times a year. I miss it.
My dad grew up in Michigan but I have never been. It looks really beautiful .
Looking forward to your upcoming posts. I’m looking forward to visiting Michigan one day.
I’d have to say that Saugatuck may be the nicest small town I’ve ever seen. It’s family-friendly, has good restaurants, a beautiful beach (Oval Beach), has lots to do, and very friendly locals. Also, Ann Arbor is great for it’s interesting shopping and innovative food scene. Both are near the top of my Michigan fun list. I’m from Ohio, but the hospital at the U of M in Ann Arbor saved my life 5 years ago with a radical brain surgery that the doctors here wouldn’t do. You could call me one of Michigan’s biggest fans ever!
UofM is a great hospital. I’ll have to check out Oval Beach one of these days!