Michigan is full of unique – and sometimes unusual – attractions. Join us as we go on a road trip around the Mitten State in pursuit of some of these unique destinations. Many of them can be seen easily from the road, while others may require stopping for a little while. This is not an exhaustive list of places to visit by any means, but this will give you a start.
How many of you seen? What other attractions have you visited that are not on this list?
Roadside Stop 1: Allen Park: World’s Largest Tire
Let’s begin the tour by visiting an attraction all RVers will appreciate and can view from the comfort of their RV – a tire that’s larger than the ones on the rig! The Uniroyal Giant Tire was created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair and functioned as, believe it or not, a Ferris wheel. It’s been in Allen Park since 1966. The tire measures over 80 feet tall, with an exterior tire tread six inches deep. It’s made of polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, making it flame resistant unlike standard rubber tires.
How to get there:
Take I-94 east of Detroit Metro Airport. It’s on private property so it’s not accessible up close and personal, but the tire is visible from the interstate.
Extra Info:
Allen Park is also home to Ford Motor Company and the Detroit Lions.
Roadside Stop 2: Chelsea: Chelsea Milling Co., Home of Jiffy Mix
Corn bread is a staple of camping menus, so why not stop in the quaint town of Chelsea, Michigan, just 10 minutes west of Ann Arbor, to visit the Jiffy Mix plant? It’s just an hour west of Detroit. A free one-hour tour includes a video presentation, product samples, and a walk through the packaging plant. Reservations are required (734-475-1361, ask for the tour department). But call at least a day ahead. Tours take place between 8am-2pm.
How to get there
: From I-94, take exit 162 onto Old US Hwy 12. Continue on Old US Hwy 12 until you reach North Street. The address is 201 West North Street.
Extra Info:
After your tour, go stop at Thompson’s Pizzeria, a local favorite, off of Old US Hwy 12. The Common Grill in downtown Chelsea offers more upscale dining.
Roadside Stop 3: Ossineke: Dinosaur Gardens
Take the trail and go back in time by heading north to Ossineke. A Michigan attraction for 80 years, Dinosaur Gardens is forty acres filled with exhibits and more than 20 homemade, life-size dinosaur statues that excite children and adults alike. Besides exploring the northern woods for a T-Rex or a brontosaurus, enjoy a game of putt-putt golf, a treat at the frozen yogurt bar, or have a picnic at one of the outdoor tables.
How to get there:
Dinosaur Gardens is accessible off of US-23, located between of Alpena (12 miles south) and Harrisville (21 miles north).
Extra Info:
Two for one!Make sure to stop by to see the largest statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in downtown Ossineke.
Roadside Stop 4: Indian River: Cross in the Woods
The largest wooden cross in the world at 31 feet high, the Cross in the Woods is a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims and general travelers alike. It’s accessible every day of the year and visited by 275,000-325,000 people annually. Around the cross are bronze figures, indoor and outdoor churches, smaller shrines, and a nun doll museum. Its serene, picturesque location evokes a sense of awe and wonder. (http://www.crossinthewoods.com/)
How to get there:
From I-75 North, take Exit 310 to 68. Continue on 68 (also known as S. Straits Hwy) for a few miles. Turn right onto Argonaut Trail.
Extra Info:
Visit in the winter when there are fewer visitors to really experience the beauty and majesty of the shrine.
Roadside Stop 5: Mackinac Island: Grand Hotel Porch
Your next destination will require getting on a passenger ferry. All three ferry providers, Sheplers, Star Line, and Arnold, are within the same price range for a round trip ticket (bikes cost extra). Mackinac Island is a special place to visit in and of itself, but one of the major attractions is the Grand Hotel’s front porch, the longest in the world. It’s 660 feet long. Unfortunately, it takes $10 per person to access the historic hotel’s lobby and shops, as well as walk across the porch. So make it worth the money. Enjoy the view of the Mackinac Bridge for a while from the rocking chairs, or bring a deck of cards and play a hand or two.
How to get there:
First by land, then by freshwater sea. Take Exit 337 off of I-75. Follow the signs to the ferry docks.
Extra Info:
Purchase your ferry tickets ahead of time online to skip the line and ensure you get on the ferry that works best with your travel schedule. If you miss it, you’ll need wait 30-60 minutes until the next one.
Roadside Stop 6: St. Ignace:
Deer Ranch Leaping Deer
Just across the Mighty Big Mac is the little town of St. Ignace, and just four miles west of it is your first U.P. stop. It’s hard to miss, the big brown buck leaping over two logs. It’s as much of an attraction as Deer Ranch itself, which is the oldest whitetail deer exhibit in North America. Visitors are invited to view the deer in a natural setting, take photos, and even help feed the fawns. There are some big racks on-site, as well as some albino deer. Open May-October.
How to get there:
Take the exit onto US-2 off of I-75. Drive four miles. You can’t miss the deer.
Extra Info:
Deer Ranch also has a big inventory of Minnetonka moccasins, which might be just what your feet need after a long day of hiking.
Roadside Stop 7: Iron Mountain: Pine Mountain Ski Jump
Imagine the view from the platform 176 feet in the air, nearly the height of an 18 story building. The ski jump, one of three in the Upper Peninsula, that belongs to the Kiwanis Ski Club looks daunting without any snow cover, but that doesn’t stop skiers from around the world from using it in the three-day FIS Continental Cup each winter. Pine Mountain holds the record for the longest jump and longest distance in World Cup competition and is reputed to be one of the best ski jumping facilities in the world. There is an observation deck at the top of the jump.
How to get there:
From US Highway 2 in Iron Mountain, turn west onto Kent Street, then turn onto Upper Pine Mountain Road.
Extra Info:
If you also like to golf, the Pine Mountain Golf and Ski Resort’s TimberStone course has been ranked among the Top 100 in GOLFWEEK’s list of Best Resort Courses. The public course has rates ranging from (early-late season) $49-69 for 18 holes.
Roadside Stop 8: Ironwood: Hiawatha
Hiawatha was the leader and founder of the Iroquois Confederacy, and now a 52-foot fiberglass statue in his image recognizes this fearless, peace-seeking chief. It was built in 1964 to help drive tourism to Ironwood, the westernmost city in Michigan. It takes a little bit of a drive to see the great Native American, but it’s worth it. Hiawatha weighs 16,000 pounds and is engineered to withstand 140 mph winds. The persona evoked is dignified and harmonious, with one hand extending to those below and the other grasping a peace pipe.
How to get there:
From south: US Hwy 51 north to Hurley. Right on Hwy 77 (Silver St.) into Ironwood. In a few blocks turn right on Suffolk St., which takes you to Hiawatha. From east: US Hwy 2 west into town. Left on Douglas Blvd (Business US Hwy 2). At the T bear right onto Frederick St., then an immediate left onto Suffolk St.
Extra Info:
This little town is also home to Stormy Kromer, the red six-panel cap with a pull-down earband that would help keep outdoorsmen, locomotive operators, welders, and pipeline workers warm. It’s more of a fashion statement today, but it was a very popular choice for working Yoopers in the early half of the 1900s. There’s a large scale replica of the famous cap in downtown Ironwood.
Here’s the whole tour via map:
