Tourists flock to Michigan in the summertime and for good reason. The outdoor opportunities are limitless. Michigan offers a wide variety of options for people with all sorts of interests. From water to trails, get outside this summer.
Visit an Underwater Preserve
Did you know that Michigan is home to 12 underwater preserves? Put on a snorkel or take a tour on a glass-bottom boat to visit the history of the great lakes protected in these preserves.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena is the first national marine sanctuary and is home to more than 100 historic shipwrecks. This is an excellent option for divers, snorkelers, and a glass-bottom boat tour for non-divers.
Additional options include:
- Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve, Traverse City
- Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve, Empire
- Keweenaw Underwater Preserve, Copper Harbor
- Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, Paradise
- De Tour Passage Underwater Preserve, Drummond Island, and DeTour Village
- Thumb Area Bottomland Preserve, Port Austin
- Alger Underwater Preserve, Munising
- Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, Mackinaw City
- Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve, Lexington
- West Michigan Underwater Preserve, Grand Haven
- Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve, South Haven
Cruise a Lake or River
Take a kayak, canoe, or tube and see the world a little differently.
Visit an Island
From tourist destinations to backpacking adventures, Michigan Islands can provide a haven for all types of outdoor enthusiasts.
Isle Royale
Isle Royale is an outdoor enthusiast’s haven. One of Michigan’s 5 national parks, Isle Royale is located in Lake Superior and requires either a 6+ hour boat ride or a seaplane to access. Home to a large population of moose and a newly introduced pack of wolves, this isolated island is for experienced hikers and backpackers.
If you plan on visiting, make sure you have a great understanding of first aid, emergency, and survival skills. If you’re out on the trails, you’ll be on your own.
North & South Manitou Island
Located in Lake Michigan, the Manitou Islands are a little more accessible than Isle Royale. Considered part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, these pair of islands have a lot to offer.
North Manitou offers a primitive experience similar to Isle Royale where hikers are self-reliant. Boating, camping (including a campground at The Village and backcountry camping), and fishing are all allowed on the island with special permits. Pets wheeled vehicles, and explosives are prohibited.
South Manitou Island features unique sand dunes, beautiful beaches, and forests. Visitors can access a lighthouse, go hiking, camping, see ghost towns or take a wagon tour.
Drummond Island
Drummond Island is well known for it’s ORV/ATV trails. Located in Lake Huron, Drummond Island offers 60 miles of ATV trails and 40 miles of ORV routes. It is home to Michigan’s largest closed-loop off-road trail system and is one of the locations of the annual Jeep Jamborees.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is a perfect island getaway for those with families or who enjoy learning about the history of Michigan. Horse-drawn carriages, walking, and bicycles are the only options for travel on the island.
Ferries run hourly from both the lower peninsula and upper peninsula as hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this tiny island each year.
Create a Trail Bucket List
Summer is the perfect time to start a trail bucket list or start checking off those trails. There are hundreds upon hundreds of miles in this beautiful state. From small local trails to longer multiple-day hikes, Michigan has it all.
My trail bucket list includes:
- Rose Lake Wildlife Research Area
- Ionia State Recreational Loop
- Waterloo-Pinckney Trail
- North Country Trail
- Proud Lake Recreation Area
- Egypt Valley Trail
- Luton Park Trail
- White Pine Trail in McCormick Wilderness Area
- Shinglemill Pathway
Stargaze at a Dark Sky Park
It is really hard to find good night sky these days. Light pollution is a major issue in most places. Thankfully, Michigan has six state parks (Lake Hudson, Negwegon, Port Crescent, Rockport, Thompson’s Harbor, and Wilderness State Park) that are Day Sky Preserves, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, and the Dr. T.K. Lawless Park.
These locations provide opportunities for people to fall in love with the night sky and see the Milkyway, planets, the northern lights, meteor showers, and more.