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Welcome to Pure Michigan
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A Place That Feels Like a True Vacation

Within the Great Lake State’s expansive borders – which sweep northward to Canada – reside some of the nation’s greatest variety of things to see and do. See small towns styled like Dutch villages, idyllic islands that keep to a horse-and-carriage pace and romantic lighthouses like Big Red (Michigan’s most photographed) rising up out of vast, cobalt-blue lakes. Spend some time in quintessential college towns such as Ann Arbor and East Lansing, or explore the Upper Peninsula’s natural wonders, including shipwrecks, colonial forts and kilometers of snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails.

 

Excitement and Cultural Adventures in Detroit

Immerse yourself in one of the USA’s most historically significant cities, Detroit, teeming with unique neighborhoods and rich with diverse cuisines, eclectic shopping and stand-out museums that do more than just showcase exceptional art. Catch a professional baseball, hockey, basketball or football game at the city’s grand sports arenas or an unforgettable show at a historic theater. Here, the city’s Motown legacy is kept alive at Hitsville U.S.A., Motown’s first headquarters, while its automotive heritage is preserved at Detroit Historical Museum and the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. View Diego Rivera’s famous Detroit Industry Murals at Detroit Institute of the Arts, take a walking tour of Corktown, the city’s oldest ethnic area, or check out the iconic architecture of the Fisher Building.

 

Endless Nature and Outdoors

Discover apple and cherry orchards and beach towns beyond the coastal dunes. Look for a Petoskey stone, fossilized coral often found on the beaches here. Go boating on any one of thousands of inland lakes in the summer and ice skate in winter. Hike through colorful forests in the fall, and head to Traverse City wine country in the spring, when “blossom time” is in full swing across the state. Recreation here is year-round, from fly-fishing to flyboarding, sledding to swimming. Visit natural wonders like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – 64 kilometers of shoreline and a vision of Michigan like none other – with its waterfalls and layered, multicolored cliffs towering over Lake Superior. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a paradise shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago, embodies the wild spirit of Michigan with its 135-meter bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan.

Welcome to Pure Michigan
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Fun Fact

The Henry Ford’s signature cars
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The nation’s largest indoor-outdoor museum complex, which features entertainment as well as American history, is The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

Photo: Pure Michigan

A slower pace in Mackinac Island
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Mackinac Island’s M-185 is the only highway in the nation where motor vehicles are banned.

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Two pints of craft beer paired with appetizers in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Voted “Beer City USA” in national polls and named Best Beer Town, Best Beer Scene and Best Beer City by USA TODAY readers, Grand Rapids is home to more than 80 local breweries.

Photo: Experience Grand Rapids

Must see places

Classic cars on display at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Pure Michigan

The Henry Ford

Deep in the heart of Detroit you’ll find this expansive museum devoted to preserving the legacy of Henry Ford. Artifacts and exhibits present American innovations and tell the story of the most fascinating break-through moments in U.S. history.

Exploring Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Michigan, via dune buggy
Pure Michigan

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Tucked away along the Lake Michigan coast, massive dunes protect a family-friendly beach well suited to beach buggies and off-road vehicles. Sweet, small towns, bike trails and local fare await visitors to this pristine paradise.

Hikers taking in the view of Lake Michigan from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Pure Michigan

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The “Perched Dunes” here look sculpted because they were – millions of years ago by glacial sands. Explore this magical landscape that runs 56 kilometers along Lake Michigan and offers camping, canoeing, ranger-led tours, group campfires, stargazing and much more.

Kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pure Michigan

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Over time, mineral deposits painted these immense sandstone cliffs that have names like Lover’s Leap and Chapel Rock in colorful layers.

Penguins at the Detroit Zoo
Jennie Miller

Detroit Zoo

There’s nothing quite like this city’s zoo including its 1.2-million-liter Penguin Conservation Center tank waddling with 80 penguins. After touring the underwater gallery, head outside for an unforgettable giraffe encounter or a ride on the carousel.

Diego Rivera mural at Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit Institute of Arts

The 100 galleries that lie behind this museum’s Beau Arts façade offer a rich collection of works from major artists like Warhol and Degas, as well as Diego Rivera’s famous murals, “Detroit Industry.”

Heading out for a sunset paddle at Grand Haven State Park in Michigan
Pure Michigan

Grand Haven State Park

The soft, sugar-sand beach goes on for 48 hectares here and looks directly onto Lake Michigan. Walk the pier or the boardwalk straight into town, where great dining, fun bars and dozens of boutiques await.

A colorful sky framing the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

Grand Hotel

Car-free Mackinac Island's 1887 hotel is a National Historic Landmark and emblematic of Victorian-era style. Step onto the peaceful grounds for a game of croquet or pickleball. Join afternoon tea or take a slow promenade down the path by horse-drawn carriage.

Overhead view of The Belt in Detroit
Pure Michigan

The Belt

Possibly the most interesting alley you’ll ever walk, Detroit’s public access alley is open to street artists, muralists and more, and routinely showcases contemporary visual work in exhibits. The Belt continues to evolve with new galleries and restaurants, so there's always something fresh to discover.

Hiking atop a rocky bluff in Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, Michigan
Pure Michigan

Isle Royale National Park

It’s all quiet and remote wilderness to explore in this collection of islands in Lake Superior near the Canadian border. Kayak to the lighthouse, camp on the Greenstone Ridge Trail or dive one of several shipwrecks.

The northern lights dancing over the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse and Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
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Experience Michigan