~ Top 10 Destinations in Michigan, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Destinations in Michigan, USA

Yes, Michigan can get cold during the winter months and when people think of Michigan it may even be the first thought that comes to mind but that is not all that Michigan is. Michigan is a great place to visit for many reasons and if you dont like cold weather just dont go in the winter season. This top 10 list will let you in on the ten best places to see while you are in Michigan; of course, there are many other great places aside from theses ten but these are some of the most recognized and some you may not have even known about. Read on and check out these places and you will be prepared to see some of the sites of the state when you make your next or even your first visit to the state of Michigan.



1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
 


 The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a great place to see in Michigan that will give you the opportunity to snap so amazing photos and of course, wonderful time spent in the state. One of the most visited sires in the park is the Miners Castle, which is an astonishing rock formation with an observation deck at its highest point. The rock formation got its name from its defining characteristics that, you guessed it, resemble a castle in a way. The park has several rock formations that resemble places and things in the world that is why the park actually got its name. Within the park there are several hiking trails to explore and even some waterfalls, some of which are more secluded than others. In the park you are sure to find plenty of things to do and ways to spend your time including swimming and picnicking and sightseeing.

[MysteRy]

2. Tahquamenon Falls State Park



Running along the coast of Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes sits the Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The park encompasses over 46,000 acres of Michigan land. A lot of which is on the coast of the great lake. The massive land coverage of the park makes it easy for the park to earn the title of being the states second largest park. The park inherited its name from the two waterfalls that drain into the namesake river of the park. For outdoorsmen the park is the perfect destination of all the parks in the state the Tahquamenon Falls State Park has the most trails, over twenty-two miles of trails to be exact. If you like to camp outdoors then the park is an excellent choice to accommodate this need as well as it boasts having over 350 campsites within its grounds. Wildlife abounds in the well preserved park too, so there are many opportunities to catch some excellent pictures of the wild animals of the park.

[MysteRy]

3. Mackinac Bridge
 


Some claim that the Mackinac Bridge is one of the wonders of the world whether this is true or not can be argued but one thing is for sure that the magnificent structure is one for the books. When you compare this huge bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge the Golden Gate Bridge loses the comparison by around 950 feet, that is how much longer than the popular Golden Gate Bridge, Mackinac Bridge is. The mega-bridge stretches from one side to the other for 5 miles, hovering at its highest point 552 feet above the water. The bridge has around 34 water piers supporting it and two giant towers helping to suspend it so high in the air. Both directions of traffic get to enjoy four lanes to travel so the bridge rarely gets jammed and traveling over the bridge without marveling at its massive presence is just about impossible to do.

[MysteRy]

4. Mackinac Island
 


A fit little Island of Michigan called Mackinac Island is probably most famous for its fudge production and its active lifestyle. With only a population of less than 500 people the Island is very hospitable a homely. Cars are prohibited on the island and the only time that cars were allowed on the island was when the movie "Somewhere in Time” was filmed at the famous Grand Hotel. Aside from the fudge and active lifestyle, the island holds some of the most prestigious yacht and sailboat race annually. The main mode of transportation on the island is either by foot, bicycle or even by horse. The small island likes having none of the pollution that cars leave behind and you can tell the difference of in the air quality as soon as you take in a fresh breath of Mackinac Island air. Get a whiff of the fresh air yourself next time you are near.

[MysteRy]

5. Isle Royale National Park
 


Isle Royale is the largest of Lake Superior islands and the national park is actually made up of the whole island itself. The park was established in 1940 and includes the whole Isla Royale and even all of the surrounding small islands along with some underwater islands. The total coverage of the park is about 9 x 4.5 miles, a pretty small park. Only 209 acres of the park are above water and the remainder of the total 894 acres is below water. The island is well-known to scientists for it large wolf and moose communities living on the island. Many scientists come to the island to study the animals in a zoned environment. Before the island was a conservation and park area it was the home to a thriving fishing community and at one time it was even a resort community but this all changed as the focus became preservation.

[MysteRy]

6. Holland City
 


Developed on the east side of Lake Michigan is the quaint town named Holland, which is the 7th largest metro area in the state of Michigan. This city in Michigan has a really high percentage of Dutch speaking Americans from the Dutch heritage of the United States. The land where the city now rests was settled by the Dutch in the year 1847 and it has largely remained held by the same culture that inhabited it so many years ago. It is said that the town members are the ones who started the "What Would Jesus Do?” bracelet trend in the year of 1989. One of the best times to visit the city is during the month of May when the town throws their huge Tulip Time Festival, where the streets are filled with tulips wherever there is dirt for them to grow. During the festival the streets are painted with reds, blues and violets among the other colors of the rainbow.

[MysteRy]

7. Detroit Zoo



The Detroit Zoo is a big hit for just about everyone especially the kids though as it is home to so many different animals and fun hands on activities there is something to keep every tike entertained while making a visit to the zoo. The total number of animals is around 7,000 and they all live within the huge zoo. The first version of the Detroit Zoo actually opened over 100 years ago but it was of course very small and has since been redesigned and added onto to make it what it is today. The zoo takes the title when it comes to the first zoos in America to have cage-less exhibits. Within the zoo there is a marine exhibit as well, where visitors can stroll down an underwater tunnel, gazing upon shark, sperm whales and numerous other marine species. The underwater tunnel is one of the major attractions of the park. Kids and even adults will also enjoy the many shows and up close and personal shows the zoo pouts on that are both educational and exciting.

[MysteRy]

8. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
 


The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore may be another very popular destination you wont want to miss. The area is actually a national park and was designated so because of its outstanding natural features. The giant sand dunes are quite spectacular especially as you look down at Lake Michigan from the white dunes. The name of the park was inherited from an ancient Chippewa Indian legend about a giant sleeping bear. The legend tells that a mother bear was forced to push her cubs into the lake so they could survive a forest fire but as the two cubs and the mother bear swam, the tiny cubs lagged behind. When the mother bear reached the other side she climbed to the top of a high cliff looking out over the lake, waiting for her cubs but they never came. The mother bear never left and the Great Spirit was impressed and so he created two islands in memory of the two cubs. The Beautiful Lakeshore is one to see as BBC says it is some of the most beautiful land in America.

[MysteRy]

9. Michigan State Capitol
 


The building that holds all of the Michigan government officials is known as the Michigan State Capital and is located in Ingham County. The historic structure was first built in the year 1847. The capital was once in another city but to better defend against attacks from the British the capital was moved to its present location in Lansing. Making up the design is a marvelous Italianate design alongside a neoclassical style. It is a very beautiful design and will most likely remind you of the structures that are built in Washington DC. The building is a national landmark and a designated national historic building and there is much history to be discovered within its halls. The interior of the building is quite grand and you will surely want to bring a camera to get as many photos as you can of the magnificent structure and the paintings that are found on the walls of the interior.

[MysteRy]

10. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village



The great creator of the Ford Motor Car Henry Ford is well noted in Michigan and the best place to learn about his legacy is at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenwich Village in the state. The museum is actually has indoor and outdoor exhibits that reflect the great manufacturers greatest achievements and ideals. It is massive in stature and it includes many of Henry Fords personal collection of antiques. Henry was the first to contribute to his museum saying that he was collecting the great achievements of the intelligent minds of the world. The museum is quite a wonderful place to visit and has many hands on exhibits to explore along with some of the worlds greatest accomplishments such as one of the first telephones. One of the unique exhibits is a sealed tube which is said to hold Thomas Edisons last breath. The museum is all about preserving the roots of American history and it is one of the must see places in the state of Michigan.



This list of course, doesnt hold all of the wonderful places to see in the state but these 10 places are some of the best, so next time you plan a trip to the nice state check these places out and bring a good camera along with you for the ride, you will surely need it. As you can see whether you are a history buff or just want to see Mother Natures work at its finest or you may just want to get in on the local folklore and legends, there are many places to do it in the state of Michigan. The best way to experience the state is to travel to all the locations on a fun and exciting road trip these top 10 places will give you a good starting point for your trip.