Located between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a favorite vacation spot of Michiganders and out-of-state visitors alike. About 100 years ago the island's powers-that-be banned those newfangled contraptions, automobiles, and most motor vehicles are still banned to this day. Visitors get around the island by horse, bike or foot. If you want to ride a horse or drive your own horse and carriage, you can rent them at Jack's Livery Stable. Most people arrive on the island by ferries which depart from Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula or Saint Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. The island has plenty of hotels, most of which are at least a century old. Activities include touring Fort Mackinac, which was the site of the first battle of the War of 1812, shopping for souvenirs, hiking to see interesting rock formations on the island, enjoying Mackinac's famous fudge and biking around the perimeter of the island.
Jack's Livery Stable
P.O. Box 331
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
906-847-3391
jacksliverystable.com
For a lazy beach vacation, head to the West Michigan lakeshore, which includes the communities of Holland, Saugatuck and Grand Haven. All three of these small towns boast beaches along Lake Michigan. Each has a state park with a clean, family friendly public beach where kids can build sand castles, preteens can skimboard, teenagers can flirt and couples of all ages can walk hand-in-hand along the water's edge. Holland and Grand Haven both have picturesque red lighthouses at their state park beaches. While the beaches are the biggest draws, all three of these towns have cute downtown areas with clothing and souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants; Saugatuck has the biggest variety of stores. Holland has several Dutch-theme attractions, while Saugatuck features an active arts community.
Holland State Park Beach
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI 49424
616-399-9390
michigandnr.com
Saugatuck Dunes State Park Beach
3834 66th Street
Saugatuck, MI 49453
269-399-9390
michigandnr.com
Grand Haven State Park Beach
1001 Harbor Ave
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-847-1309
michigandnr.com
There is much for visitors to do in Detroit and its suburbs. If you appreciate art, the Detroit Institute of Arts has a significant collection for a museum of its size. Those who enjoy gaming can head to one of Detroit's casinos, such as the popular Greektown Casino, which offers dining and entertainment as well as slot machines and table games. Those traveling with families might enjoy an attraction like the vast Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, or Dearborn's historic Greenfield Village, where visitors can step back in time to ride on a steam train, browse through a turn-of-the-century jewelry shop, see the laboratory where Thomas Edison developed the light bulb and visit the home where Noah Webster worked on his dictionary.
Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
313-833-7900
dia.org
Greektown Casino
555 East Lafayette Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48226
888-771-4386
greektowncasino.com
Detroit Zoo
8450 West 10 Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248-541-5717
detroitzoo.org
Greenfield Village
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124
313-982-6001
thehenryford.org
In summer there's the beach, in winter there's skiing, and downtown Traverse City is hopping all year round. The city's biggest festival of the year is the Cherry Festival, which takes place in July of each year. The city is also home to the Great Wolf Lodge Hotel/Indoor Water Park, a perpetual kids' favorite.
Great Wolf Lodge
3575 N US-31 S
Traverse City, MI 49684
866-274-3203
greatwolf.com
