Navy Pier and the cultural district of Chicago lie on the shores of Lake Michigan, with the beautiful Chicago skyline as a backdrop. Navy Pier offers dozens of shopping and entertainment activities suitable for the whole family. The pier features gondola rides, a 150-foot Ferris wheel, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Smith Museum of Stained-Glass Windows and an IMAX theater.
Also along the lake is beautiful Grant Park, which is home to a number of museums and cultural attractions, including the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Art Institute of Chicago, famous for housing the painting "Sunday on La Grand Jatte."
The city offers numerous quality hotel options such as the W Hotel and the Burnham Hotel, and a number of popular eateries next to the lake, including Harry Carey's Tavern and Giordano's Pizzeria, one of the founders of Chicago deep dish pizza.
Mackinaw City provides a perfect vacation option for visitors looking for a historical area with lots of outdoor activities and a beautiful view of the lake. The city has a number of historical sites, including the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Historic Millcreek and Colonial Michilimackinac a restored colonial fort. A number of golf courses surround the area, and the casino Kewadin Shores in St. Ignace offers exciting games and slot machines.
There are a number of lodging options in and around the city, including shorefront hotels and cabin rentals. The city offers two bed and breakfast options: Deer Head Inn Bed and Breakfast and Brigadoon Bed & Breakfast. The city prides itself on its popular seafood eateries, including Blue Water Grill & Bar, Bell's Fishery and Admiral's Table.
With its national park, restored villages, campgrounds and quaint small towns, Leelanau County in northwest Michigan offers a secluded and peaceful vacation opportunity. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park offers a visitor center, hiking and swimming activities, and a variety of campgrounds for tents, trailers and RVs.
Traverse City, the largest town in the county, has wineries, sandy beaches for swimming, and cultural activities such as the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and Dennos Museum Center.
The county is also part of Michigan's Golf Coast, a four-county area with great golf courses, including the Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms. The Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge provides exciting gaming and three types of lodging: cottages, a hotel and a beach house.
