Michigan— Your one-stop vacation destination

Surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan is the ultimate vacation getaway! Rich with history, culture and innovation; abundant forests, rivers and inland lakes; and exhilarating sports, activities and cities—Michigan is a perfect balance of peaceful nature and city fun. There’s no need for residents to leave Michigan for a great family vacation.

Thrill seekers who typically spend vacations at amusement parks like Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio will likewise enjoy Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon. Visitors get two parks for the price of one; Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park and WildWater Adventure Waterpark offer over 60 exciting roller coasters and water rides for all ages (www.miadventure.com). Photo courtesy of Michigan’s Adventure.

If you are a true beach bum and regularly spend vacations in places such as Daytona, Florida then you’ll love the sandy beaches and refreshing bays along Michigan’s west coast.Commonly referred to as the nation’s “third coast,” Lake Michigan truly is one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. Oval Beach in Saugatuck was recently rated the #1 beach in the Midwest by Chicago Tribune Magazine, hailed one of the world’s top 25 shorelines by Traveler Magazine and named one of the top two in the nation by National Geographic Traveler. Other top beaches can be found here, from the refreshing northern bays near Traverse City and Petoskey to the sugar sandy shores of Harbor Country at the coast’s southern end, and everywhere in between (www.michigan.org). Photo courtesy of the Traverse City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

History buffs who travel to historic sites like Colonial Williamsburg will be amazed when exploring Michigan’s own living history museums. Watch 18th Century military reenactments at Colonial Michilimackinac, the French fur-trading village and military outpost in Mackinaw City. Take a ferryboat from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island and experience 19th Century life without automobiles. While on the island, tour Fort Mackinac built by the British during the American Revolution (www.mackinacparks.com). Or, travel to Dearborn and visit The Henry Ford, America’s Greatest History Attraction. Encounter ideas that change the world at the Henry Ford Museum, travel through America’s past in Greenfield Village and watch as F-150 trucks are assembled at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour (www.thehenryford.org). Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford.

If you enjoy a relaxing vacation out on the links and frequent places like Hilton Head, South Carolina, then you will appreciate the courses Michigan has to offer. Michigan is a golfer’s sanctuary, boasting over 800 golf courses. Oakland County in Southeast Michigan is home to more than 50 public courses (www.michigan.org). Gaylord, known as Michigan’s Golf Mecca, features 21 courses that are sure to challenge the most experienced golfers (www.gaylordgolfmecca.com). Photo courtesy of Shanty Creek Resort.

For a fast-paced vacation, full of speed and excitement of a NASCAR race, skip the long drive to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Instead, cheer on your favorite NASCAR driver from the infield of the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn. Located on over 1,400 acres within the Irish Hills (near Jackson), MIS is considered one of the country’s premier racing facilities. (www.mispeedway.com). Photo courtesy of Carrie Nolan.

If you embrace culture, theater, shopping and nightlife and feel drawn to big cities like Chicago, then you’ll be happy to learn that Detroit offers an equally stimulating experience. The newly renovated Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) is sure to inspire every art connoisseur. DIA’s collection of over 60,000 works of art comprises a multicultural survey of human creativity from prehistory through the 21st century (www.dia.org). Whether you like musicals, comedy, or drama one of Detroit’s prestigious theaters has it—The Fox Theatre, Detroit Opera House, Majestic Theatre and Fisher Theatre, to name a few (www.visitdetroit.com). For unique gifts, designer apparel and other specialty items, visit the shops at the GM Renaissance Center (www.gmrencen.com). The nearby suburb of Troy is home to the Somerset Collection. Known as the epicenter for luxury retail in Michigan, Somerset Collection features stores like Nieman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton and Gucci (www.thesomersetcollection.com). Night owls will enjoy Detroit’s nightlife from three state-of-the-art casinos. The Greektown Casino (www.greektowncasino.com), MGM Grand (www.mgmgranddetroit.com) and Motor City Casino (www.motorcitycasino.com) offer live music, fine dining, exciting lounges, and of course gaming. Photo courtesy of Marji Silk.