Embrace adventure in these two peninsulas, where the Great Lakes surround landscapes of breathtaking beauty and cities burst with culture and creativity.
Michigan is known as the “Great Lakes State,” as the state is split into two peninsulas surrounded by large lakes creating the border with Canada. This unusual geographic formation means that the state offers vast stretches of stunning lakeside wilderness and a variety of adventure activities. Experience Michigan’s diverse and engaging cities and discover its enticing landscapes.
Explore a land populated for centuries by Algonquian Indians, such as the Potawatomi, Menominee and Ojibwe tribes. Europeans arrived by the 1600s and the state joined the union in 1837. Since then it has seen the birth of America’s automotive industry and Motown music.
Embrace the chaos and culture of Detroit, a city with a lively arts scene and welcoming community. Follow the city’s musical story in the Motown Historical Museum or browse paintings and sculptures in the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, which is hosted in an abandoned auto dealership.
Many people visit Michigan to disappear into its beautiful swaths of nature. Hike or paddle around the Upper Peninsula coastline in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, characterized by dramatic, colorful rock formations. Escape from civilization to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, where you can leave behind all traces of human development for summer hiking and winter skiing.
Relax on one of the islands scattered across the freshwater Great Lakes. Mackinac Island offers a quiet community and biking trails in forested scenery, while Isle Royale is the state’s rugged national park. Retreat to the tranquility of South Manitou Island or Bois Blanc, where you will find few other travelers.
Fly into Detroit Metropolitan International Airport to visit the Lower Peninsula or Marquette’s Sawyer International Airport in the Upper Peninsula. Michigan’s position surrounded by lakes can mean mild winters and summers that never get too hot, making it a great destination for visits year-round. Summer provides the warmest days for hiking and cycling, while the colors in spring and fall bring the spectacular scenery to life.