Michigan has its beach, forests and small towns. More than half of the Great Lakes are covered in timberland, and visitors are often surprised to know that.

What is a visitor to do when there is so much to see? There are answers we have. You will get an urban fix as well. There are many great places to visit in Michigan.

A city street scene at night with blurred neon lights giving a sense of movement
Detroit offers Michigan's best nightlife © Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin) / Getty Images

1. Detroit

Best place for art and nightlife

The can-do spirit of Detroit makes it difficult to not fall in love with it. There are over 100 murals in the warehouses of Eastern Market and the multi-block, polka-dotted Heidelberg Project. One of the world's best collections can be found at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Baker's Keyboard Lounge is a jazz club that plays live music at night. There are design hotels and homey restaurants in old buildings.

Detroit has a lot of free things to do and is easy to plan around.

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Sand dunes on the edge of a body of water with the sun setting
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has 14 different beaches © Delcroix Romain / Shutterstock

2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Best place for days at the beach

Sleeping Bear Dunes is an unheralded national park in Michigan. There are two ways to get a good look at the lake. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a 7-mile one-lane loop with picnic areas. The Dune Climb is a 200 foot high sand pile. The view of the Caribbean-hued water from the summit is worth it.

Many families return year after year to indulge in the 14 beaches and 100 miles of hiking trails at the park.

3. Traverse City 

Best place for couples

Even though it only has 15,000 people, it is still a great place to live, with excellent restaurants and cool-cat shops. The action can be found at the beach, parasailing, cycling, and kayaking.

There are 10 wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula that make chardonnay and pinot noir. The area has the same climate as France's Bordeaux and Italy's Piedmont region. The bottles are perfect for a beach picnic.

A car-free street lined with young and old people riding bicycles
Car-free Mackinac Island is perfect for exploring as a family on two wheels © NicoleTaklaPhotography / Shutterstock

4. Mackinac Island

Best place for families

Mackinac Island is a small island speckled with fudge shops, Victorian cottages and 18th century hilltop forts. Cars are not allowed, and all travel is done by horse-drawn carriages or bicycles.

It only takes an hour to cycle around the island, which is one of Michigan's top experiences, but you can detour to Fort Mackinac, where costumed interpreters fire cannons.

There is a million stars in the dark sky after the day trippers leave.

5. Isle Royale National Park

Best place for unspoiled wilderness

foggy mornings over the lake. There is a moose on the shore and he is drinking. Or is it a wolf? One of the least visited national parks in the US is Isle Royale.

The ferry ride from Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula to the island takes three to six hours. There are 165 miles of hiking trails and 36 rustic campgrounds in the forest. The Greenstone Ridge Trail is one of the many treks.

6. Saugatuck

Best place for LGBTQI+ travelers

Saugatuck is known for its golden beaches, piney breezes, fruit pies and a welcome one-welcome-all mindset. Oval Beach is one of the best for its soft sand. Take the Saugatuck Chain Ferry from downtown and follow the path up and over the dunes.

One of the country's largest LGBTQI resorts is located in the area.

7. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Best place for kayaking and boating

It is the top sight in the Upper Peninsula. The red and yellow sandstones are streaked with blue and green minerals that give them their colors. You can see them from the water.

Lovers Leap and Flower Vase are examples of rock formations that can be paddled among. If it's too much work, you can take a seat on one of the pictured rock cruises.

A cityscape at dusk, with several high-rise buildings looming above a river
Grand Rapids is home to many craft breweries © DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

8. Grand Rapids 

Best place for craft beer breweries

Thanks to beer, the second-largest city in Michigan has gotten its act together. There are a lot of craft breweries in the city proper. There is a trail that takes you to that place. The scene is so popular because of its density and low cost of drinking.

When you get off the barstool, you can take a tour of the gardens and see some of the world's best sculptors.

9. Keweenaw Peninsula

Best place for fall colors

At the top of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the Keweenaw Peninsula. Keweenaw National Historic Park tells the tale of how the region was once the world's greatest copper producer. The Brockway Mountain Drive is what you're really here for.

The views of Lake Superior are great when the leaves are bright. The peninsula is bookended by the towns of Houghton and Copper Harbor. There are ferries that go to Isle Royale.

10. Holland

Best place for camping

The city of Holland is named after Europe. It has a lot of kitschy things. The point is not that. There is a state park in Holland.

It's one of the state's most popular beaches, where vacationers come to splash in the waves, fish off the pier, admire fiery sunsets and snap photos of Big Red, the lighthouse that watches over it all.

Camping is a must do if you want to be close to Lake Michigan.

A shot looking outwards from the mouth of a cave to a snowy landscape. The cave is covered in icicles
Marquette is home to many extreme activities, including ice cave exploration © Posnov / Getty Images

11. Marquette

Best place for adrenaline sports

Do you want to visit the Upper Peninsula? It's a perfect base. It's the largest town in the UP and a hot spot for thrill seekers. In the winter, locals ski, snow bike, kayak, rock climb, and mountain bike.

Presque Isle Park is a cliffy patch of forest jutting into Lake Superior. There are hiking trails and a glimpse of the northern lights nearby. Everyone gathers at Black Rocks Brewery to talk about their accomplishments.

The article was published about 8 hours ago.