How can you possibly pick where to go and what to do when to get there?
When it comes to Michigan, you have a lot of choices. In the past couple of years, our state has garnered a lot of attention by the national press. So as you’re planning your RV trips for 2019 and beyond, consider these top spots as selected by other magazines, newspapers, and travel authorities.
Spring
According to TimeOut.com, there are several Michigan destinations within easy reach of metro Chicago that urbanites should visit. But you don’t need to be from the Windy City to make the trip. Listed towns include Fennville (located in the fruit belt) Harbor Country, Grand Rapids, and Holland. In May, Holland becomes a canvas of color as thousands of tulips spring forth for the Tulip Time festival – the ideal spring celebration.
If you want some freshwater fish fresh from the Great Lakes, then head to Keyhole Bar & Grill in Mackinac City, recognized by the illustrious Food Network as the top spot in Michigan for seafood. According to the review, “Its broiled whitefish is a top seller, available blackened for those who want a bit of spice.” The review also describes other savory dishes. You may even see some of the last shelves of ice get swept away under the Mackinac Bridge.
Take in the cherry blossoms on a drive around the Leelanau Peninsula, and stop in one of the areas’ 25 scenic wineries. In October 2018, Leelanau County’s Wine Trail was named the third best wine region in the nation according to a contest by USA Today. Most if not all of these wineries have award-winning vintages, so make sure to give them a try!
Summer
According to the “Reader’s Choice Awards” by respected Conde Nast Traveler, Mackinac Island was voted the #1 hottest destination for summer travel in 2018. The island’s rich history, vehicle-less roadways, and picturesque charm really does help visitors escape from many of the pressures of modern life. We would tell you not to even bring your phone along, but you won’t want to miss taking pictures.
The Detroit Free Press came out with a list of their own: twenty-two under the radar activities worth trying in the summer. Among them, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum up at Whitefish Point on the shores of Lake Superior, and going to the Henry Ford museum in Detroit for a factory tour of the Ford Rouge.
But Michigan is most well-known for its freshwater, both for swimming and for views. And if you’re looking for the best beach in the state, it’ll depend on who you ask and where you are when you ask. Up north, you may hear North Bar in Leelanau County (although inland Lake Leelanau has stunning beaches as well). And Thrillist added Saugatuck and Douglas, in the southwest region, to its list of best summer lake towns in America. But the beach you have to go to come summer? Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon, according to USA Today’s 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Fall
Looking for the best chicken wings for game day? In October 2018, Thrillist named Detroit’s Sweetwater Tavern as one of the top 21 spots in the country to enjoy a plate of wings. The secret? One extraordinary secret sauce. Wings are marinated for 24 hours before being cooked to perfection.
For leaf peeping, People magazine’s travel writers gave Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a shout out as one of its top seven places in the nation to take in fall colors: “Maples, oaks and hardwoods can be spotted along tree-canopied roads near the lake shorelines starting in late September.” And with our autumns staying warmer longer, a sunny day makes the oranges, yellows, and reds that much more brilliant.
Ann Arbor was ranked among the best cities to live by MONEY Magazine. The reason? Culture. The University of Michigan, one of the best universities in the country, is a big reason for this. “The walkable downtown includes galleries, theaters, and museums, including the University of Michigan’s Museum of Art and the Ann Arbor Art Fair draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.” And what better time to visit that in the fall when the university grounds are bustling, football games are going, and the culture scene is in full swing?
Winter
When the weather turns cold, there’s no better time to find a cozy nook at one of Michigan’s delicious eateries. Food & Wine came up with an appetizing road trip featuring eight spots to eat. What tops the list? Supino’s Pizzeria in Eastern Market, Detroit, and Gustafson’s Smoked Fish Inc. in Brevort in the Upper Peninsula.
The New York Times published an article in December 2017 titled “Searching for a Secret Ski Destination? Try Michigan.” The article goes on to describe three resorts worth visiting if you’re a ski bunny or avid snowboarder: Boyne Highlands, Crystal Mountain, and Boyne Mountain. These are all in northern Lower Michigan, so grab your gear and head north. (The article also makes suggestions for eateries around these areas!)
If a slower pace is more your cup of tea, then go on a winter waterfall hike or cross-country ski. The Detroit Free Press suggested Bond Falls, in Ontonagon, which is also near Agate Falls Park and Lake Gogebic State Park. The winter splendor of the waterfalls is magical and something few people take the time to see.