The state of Michigan offers so many unique adventures, activities and beautiful sites that attract tens of millions of visitors each year.
From historic sites to sporting/entertainment events to outdoor activities, there is so much to do during a visit to “The Great Lake State.” Here are some of the top sites and events to place atop your to-do list in Michigan.
Visit Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island on Lake Huron is home to roughly 600 people, but it’s one of America’s most popular and critically-acclaimed islands for tourists to visit.
This place is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as well as the U.S. National Historic Landmark District, and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Mackinac Island is simply the place to be if you love smalltown vibes and beautiful waterfront views.
Mackinac Island also offers visitors the opportunity to explore the area by boat, so those who love spending a way on the water can look into those options.
Arch Rock and the Fort Mackinac military post are among the top tourist attractions to check out during your visit to Mackinac Island. There are plenty of well-regarded restaurants on the island as well, including the Chuck Wagon of Mackinac as well as the Yankee Rebel Tavern.
Pay A Visit To The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
History fanatics traveling to Michigan will definitely want to check out the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, also known simply as “The Henry Ford.” The museum brings in more than one million visitors annually.
Located in Dearborn, The Henry Ford in 1929. The museum houses several items of historic significant, including the limousine that John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated.
The lab used by Thomas Edison, a pioneer in the rise of electricity and photography, is also on display at the Henry Ford. There is so much to learn here that you might even wish to come here on multiple occasions while you’re in Michigan.
Sporting Events
Michigan is home to one of America’s most passionate sports markets. Not only do they have four huge fanbases in the “Big Four” North American professional sports leagues (NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA), representing NFL’s Detroit Lions, NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, MLB’s Detroit Tigers and NBA’s Pistons. The Lions play their home games at Ford Field in downtown Detroit, while the Red Wings and Pistons share the relatively new Little Caesars Arena in the midtown area of The Motor City.
Comerica Park, the home of the Tigers, is a very short walk from Little Caesars Arena. So if you’re in town and the Tigers happen to be playing on the same day as the Red Wings or Lions, you’ll have the opportunity to see two sporting events.
The Lions just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the NFL postseason this year, and their 2023 regular season will start up in September. The Red Wings’ and Pistons’ 2022-23 regular seasons run through early/mid April, and the Tigers will play their first home game of 2023 against the Boston Red Sox on Apr. 6.
The Michigan Wolverines football team plays their home games at the historic Michigan Stadium. The team, a favorite of Michigan Sportbooks, will start their regular season in September and run through Nov. 25, so there’s a nice gap there to plan your trip around a Wolverines home game.
