We are blessed here in Michigan with four defined seasons, each offering its own splendor and beauty to enjoy.
While my favorite season will always be fall, I still look forward to those summertime traditions only Michiganders know and love. With such a wide variety of activities to take part in during the summer months, there’s never a lack of places to go and things to do in our Great Lakes State.
If you’re up for a road trip, the Upper Peninsula is a showcase of the best in outdoor adventure. Visit the Porcupine Mountains for wilderness camping, Isle Royal for world class hiking adventures, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for a breath-taking kayak tour, or anywhere in the Upper Peninsula to take part in lighthouse tours and fishing the big lakes for lake trout – a time-honored Yooper tradition!
Michigan’s islands are as diverse as the state itself. Take an island-hopping adventure and see iconic Mackinaw Island for a trip back in time and enjoy being a tourist in your home state. Spend a weekend golfing on Drummond Island, or take the plane ride over to Beaver Island for a bike tour of Lake Michigan’s gem.
Head to Detroit and take the bridge over to Belle Isle for a serene retreat in this peaceful sanctuary in the shadow of the city’s skyline. Take the Harsen’s Island ferry across the North Channel of the St. Clair River to enjoy some of the best panfishing around. Visiting Michigan’s many islands is a great family-friendly geography lesson and a wonderful way to see some sights off the beaten path.
With growing popularity of wine in recent years, summer is a fun time to explore Michigan’s many wineries. Traverse City made wine-tasting popular in the northwest part of the Lower Peninsula, and is still home to some of the largest wineries and vineyards in the state. These days, it seems there’s a winery in just about every county, making it a breeze to explore all the different flavors grown and harvested right here in Michigan.
Speaking of a summer harvest, many farms across the state offer “you-pick” strawberries, blueberries, peaches and cherries. What a fun way to enjoy homegrown deliciousness in your own community!
With a name like the Great Lakes State, it’s no secret there are beaches galore to enjoy this summer. If sand isn’t your thing, you may like to hop aboard one of Michigan’s many tour boats to see the sights and sounds of the Great Lakes from a different perspective. From the Detroit River to Port Huron, and Alpena to Munising, there are boat tours leaving the docks every day to show you around our plentiful fresh waters.
Summers in Michigan really can’t be beat. With unending opportunities for boating, bonfires and exploring, we live in one of the nation’s best-kept secrets for outdoor recreation. If you find yourself wondering what you and your family can get out and do this summer, look no further than your own beautiful state. Our great outdoors is the most easily-accessible resource, and it’s full of never-ending adventures just waiting for you to explore!
To view the article in the online 2022 Summer Partners Magazine, click here.
