Michigan is a diverse state with both urban and outdoor activities to keep you entertained on spring break. While temperatures vary throughout the state, the weather in February and March is likely to be cold and possibly snowy, so be prepared. Get a car full of friends together and plan ahead to find places to stay. The highways are full of inexpensive motels and campsites, but expect to pay a bit more for a cabin on a ski resort or to rent a house.
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a wonderland for spring-break snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing in addition to lovely waterfalls and scenic winter drives. The Upper Peninsula can be a spring-break getaway for couples who want some romantic alone time or college friends looking to get away from the urban grind. The Porcupine Mountains offer winter cabin rentals as well as trails for skiing and other outdoor activities. Marquette is a fun college town on the eastern side of the Upper Peninsula that is a convenient distance for taking spring-break day trips to various ski resorts.
Boyne is a great gateway town to many of Michigan's natural activities. Boyne offers connections to wineries and winter sports of northern Michigan. Sporty types can mountain bike at Boyne Highlands Bike Park or Boyne Mountain--bike rental are available--or play disc golf on Boyne Mountain's course if the weather is warm enough. Boyne's winter activities include sledding, dog sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and ice skating. Ski and snowboard classes and individual lessons are available.
Detroit's renowned art museum, the Detroit Institute of Art (or DIA), has reasonable admission costs and excellent permanent and touring exhibits. The Museum of Natural History on the University of Michigan's campus is another attraction. The museum's permanent exhibits include collections of fossils, minerals and gems.
Detroit's Hart Plaza offers views of Canada and free entertainment. Detroit's thriving music and art scene make for a lot of punk shows, rock shows, independent art exhibits, street art and gallery shows for culture geeks. Local independent newspapers have full venue listings for live music shows.
Civic-minded students can sign up for Alternative Spring Break, a volunteer spring break trip to serve underprivileged communities in the Detroit area.
Michigan makes some of the country's best fruit-based wines. Michigan currently grows approximately 2,000 acres of wine grapes and is the eighth-largest wine-producing state. Most wine grapes grown in Michigan are vinifera, the grape responsible for European-style wines like riesling, chardonnay and cabernet. You can also find great ice wines, fruit wines and fortified brandies.
Michigan has been making wine since the 1800s. Michigan grapes survived Prohibition when Welch's began using Concord grapes in grape juice. Since the 1800s Michigan wines have transformed from the sweet style--which featured grapes like Concord and Niagara--to the drier-style European wines prominent today. Tour one of the wine trails near Lake Michigan, such as the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail or the Old Mission Peninsula, to get a taste of Michigan's wines.
