5.0Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore(2.173 reviews) - Beautiful scenery by land or water; big sandy beaches Sunday: Bodies of Water • National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Park located on the shoreline of Lake Superior encompassing cliffs, dunes, waterfalls and lakes.See more..
4.5Mackinac Island State Park(1.979 reviews) - The bikes make this such a unique place. Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
Michigan's first state park. This is Mackinac Island State Park, a landscape characterized by high limestone bluffs, beautiful vistas of sparkling water, vibrant forests, and mystical geological formations. With automobiles banned since 1898, here exists a quieter way of life away from interstate noise of cities. Over 80 percent of Mackinac Island is within Mackinac Island State Park—free of charge and open year round—where you’ll discover the true natural gems of Mackinac. Whether visiting this island parkland by foot, bike, horseback, or carriage, these many majestic geological wonders and unique historical monuments are visual treasures found only here—on the island sacred to the Ojibwa and Odawa Great Lakes Indian tribes. According to them, this is where life began. You’re invited to discover why. This is Mackinac.See more..
This national park includes a 35-mile stretch of beach on Lake Michigan for swimming plus 13 hiking trails.See more..
4.5Tahquamenon Falls State Park(1.743 reviews) - Best falls in the U.P. Sunday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM State Parks • Waterfalls
Located in the upper peninsula area of Michigan with wonderful wildlife and waterfalls.See more..
4.0Windmill Island Gardens(1.225 reviews) - Nice Place. Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
Windmill Island Gardens is home to de Zwaan windmill, the last mill allowed to be transported from the Netherlands. de Zwaan still functions by grinding locally-grown grain into flour that is sold to visitors and local businesses. A highlight of visiting is a tour of this historic working windmill. Visitors can enjoy music from our antique Dutch street organ given to the City of Holland by the City of Amsterdam after World War II. Children can also ride on our antique carousel from the Netherlands. There are several other replica Dutch buildings and shops. The Island is home to beautiful gardens which feature tulips in the spring followed by beautiful annuals and perennials throughout the summer. Please note that the Island will re-open for the 2019 season on Saturday, April 13. Last tickets sold at 5 pm.See more..
4.0Belle Isle Park(1.092 reviews) - Great recreation spot Sunday: 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Islands • Parks
Rich with history and natural beauty, Belle Isle Park is a Detroit gem and a Michigan state park. The 987-acre island park features the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, giant slide, athletic fields, picnic areas, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the James Scott Memorial Fountain and more attractions popular with all ages and interests. The park includes three lakes, 150 acres of wooded area and spectacular views of the Detroit and Windsor skyline. Rentals available for: Watercraft, Bike, Snow Sports. Food and ice sales available. Recreation Passport Required for entry. Please check website for hours for each attraction.See more..
4.0Nelis' Dutch Village(1.035 reviews) - Family fun and a great value Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
A visit to Nelis' Dutch Village is like a step back into the Netherlands of over 100 years ago on a day when a festival came to town. Watch old Dutch craft demonstrations and the klompen dancers (and join in on the fun with our Dutch dance lessons.) Taste 22 kinds of Dutch cheeses, enjoy beautiful Dutch architecture and listen to the joyful sounds of the Golden Angel street organ. Admission includes unlimited rides on the Ferris wheel, carousel, Dutch chair swing ride, and a number of other fun play activities for small children. Our newest attraction is the Pirate Balloon Battle, where water balloons are launched at ships in defense of a pirate attack. Also enjoy unique shopping for Dutch gifts and souvenirs, tasty food in the Dutch cafe and pub, fresh-made fudge, and yummy ice cream. If you have young kids along, plan on 3 to 4 hours at a minimum.See more..
4.0Michigan's Adventure(1.006 reviews) - Older park but still fun Amusement & Theme Parks
Classic amusement park combined with a water park and Boogie Beach wave pool.See more..
5.0Presque Isle Park(994 reviews) - Rock jumping State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Finished out a day of mtn biking with a few jumps into Lake Superior. Easy to do, not too high, and water was about 68 degrees so very pleasant. Parking can be tight and the area is closed to newly entering cars on Weds from 6 pm to 8 pm. See more..
5.0Ludington State Park(975 reviews) - Highly Recommend! Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM State Parks • Parks
The state park is the reason we choose Ludington for our vacations. We spent several days at the beach, but we walked about 1/2 mile north of the beach house to get a private, secluded alcove for ourselves. The view of the lake is magnificent. With the lake level rising, the amount of shoreline/beach space is rapidly decreasing. What used to be 50 feet of sand in alcoves is now 10 feet, so we had to walk a ways down to get comfy but it was worth it. On windy days, we walked many of the forest/island and skyline dune trails, including the inland trail to the lighthouse. We were amazed at the beauty and diversity of the nature included in the park. Everything was serene and private. Prices and food at the beach house were very reasonable. Entire facility was kept clean. Very friendly atmosphere. (last visit was July 2020 but we've gone here for many years.)See more..
4.5Colonial Michilimackinac(948 reviews) - Worthwhile Visit Temporarily closed - Closed until May 10, 2023 Spent 2-3 hours Parks
War in the West: Michilimackinac 1779. Treasures from the past come to life at this 18th-century fort and fur trading village, reconstructed based on historic maps and more than 60 years of archaeological excavations. As you walk through the site, you are stepping back in time to 1779, as the American Revolution headed west. Here, you will see and hear how soldiers, civilians, and Native people responded to threats real and imagined as they attempted to maintain their livelihood, the fur trade. Historical interpreters representing voyageurs, British soldiers, and French-Canadian merchant families are stationed throughout the fort to answer your questions and perform demonstrations.See more..
a very popular and impressive beach with a play area, restrooms and food concessions. the swim area is outlined with buoys and manned lifeguards to watch over everyone. there are other areas outside of the swim and beach area, still in the park, along the shoreline including small pockets in the dunes, paved trails leading to a channel for boats and lighthouses one can walk to. there are many tables, benches and bbqs within the park for use. the restrooms are clean and taken care of and there are water fountains with foot showers to clean off the fine grained sand. we were extremely lucky to have a beautiful day and evening for taking photos of the sunset. admission is $12 for an all day pass with plenty of parking for easy access and the ranger mentioned that we could leave and come back later as long as we had our pass, which we did. Lake Michigan never disappoints with its rolling waves and sandy bottom.. definitely will return to this fantastic beach and its amenities.See more..
John Ball Zoo inspires our community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and our natural environment. Over 2,000 animals including lions, tigers, bears (oh my) and chimpanzees! John Ball Zoo brings behind-the-scenes training and care to the public daily. Guests can enjoy both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Interactive experiences include a funicular (tram), zip line, high ropes course, and more! The Zoo closes in the winter so be sure to check out the website for open dates and times.See more..
Consists of 60,000 acres of lakes, forests and rivers.See more..
5.0Silver Beach Carousel(584 reviews) - They're doing the best they can... Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Amusement & Theme Parks
MAKE A MEMORY ALL YEAR ROUND! The horses, the tigers, the hippocampus, the panda, the clown fish - in all, 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots - are whirling with excitement to see you. Come pick your favorite and ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights as the band organ's music happily soars and dips with the gears. Each figure is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the artisans at The Carousel Works. Around the top of the carousel you can learn about our local history - told as no one else in the world has told it on a carousel - using historic photographs. As you gaze at those 18 rounding boards, you'll become part of our story, too.You'll find all the magic and wonder of the Silver Beach Carousel below the bluff in St. Joseph, just yards from Lake Michigan's Silver Beach, named one of the top 10 family beaches by Parents magazine.See more..
5.0Lakenenland Sculpture Park(572 reviews) - So Unique, and free! Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Art Galleries • Parks
My husband and I were driving home from a week up in the UP and saw this along our way home so we thought we’d stop and check it out. It’s completely free! Though you can donate to the artist if you wish :) But there is a trail with a huge assortment of different metal pieces of art, everything from giant daisies to huge iron mine carts. During the summer you can drive your car down the trail but it is easily walkable. There was also a bog walk, a pavilion to sit under, a stage for bands to play, just really a unique place. I definitely recommend checking it out and supporting a local artist if you’re in the area, really cool stuff! See more..
4.5Warren Dunes State Park(568 reviews) - Florida beach vibes near Chicago area. State Parks
Quick spontaneous 3 hr road trip from central IL to relax on a beach. $10 to get in to the park. Hung out on the beach watching the waves roll in on a beautiful hot summer day. It wasn't too packed which made it comfortable. Plenty of parking available. Food truck on site or bring your own cooler. I climbed a 260 foot dune, felt good to reach the top and admire the view from above. You can also hike in the woods which is a whole different vibe than the beach front.See more..
4.5Petoskey State Park(560 reviews) - Beautiful Spot for Petoskey and Charlevoix stone searching! State Parks
This place is so beautiful there really are no words to describe it. From the stones piled up along the shoreline, to the white pines in the background, to the icy-cold waters of Lake Michigan, it really is such a wonderful place. We spent most of our time looking for Charlevoix and Petoskey stones. You could spend hours and hours looking for stones here. We would recommend that you bring some shoes for walking on the stones because doing it barefoot hurts! Crocs or flip-flops would be best! We ended up coming back a second time during our stay in Petoskey because this state park was so beautiful! On our second day, we had a picnic along the lake shore on a sand dune and even though it was a colder fall day, we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Please be sure to stop here and soak up all the beauty!See more..
I was trying to find a place to review the city beach specifically, but I can not, so I will leave my review here. We, like so many others, skipped the State Park, and drove just a minute down, and visited Grand Haven City Beach. There was plenty of parking and the beach was full, but not crowded. The beach is literally a few steps from the parking area. Aside from the frigid water, you would think you were in Florida. It was beautiful. The beach was really clean and a great place to spend a few hours. We were ready for a beach vacation and a six-hour drive sounded a lot more appealing than a fourteen-hour drive, so Michigan it was! We packed our cooler and some towels and camped out. We did get in the water a couple of times, but only briefly. We absolutely loved our trip to Grand Haven overall, so we will definitely keep it in mind for future trips!See more..
I was looking for a different spot for my wife to photograph the straits and the Bridge. This is a beautiful park with amazing views. There is some historical markers there also. It was February and 11 degrees but still beautiful. I can only imagine what it would look like in the summer.See more..
We came here to see the sun set on a warm July evening and were not disappointed. The sun going into Lake Michigan created gorgeous colors. The walk to the lighthouse was newly redone in early 2020 and was safe, clean, and lined with big rocks to protect you from the waves. We were able to take great pictures of the setting sun. On the beach, the bathrooms were clean and private, a perfect place to relieve yourself during COVID-19.See more..
4.5Tunnel Park(405 reviews) - Nice park, must be fit to climb the dunes... it’s a workout! Sunday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks
Beautiful, clean park and beach. We enjoyed the beach, but the sand dune was a hike to get back up so pack light! Not recommended if you’re out of shape or asthmatic. The dune is quite steep to get back up. Beautiful views once you exit the tunnel, nice clean beach except there was a LOT of algae in the water. We went the 2nd week in July, 2020. Once we went back to our hotel and took our swimsuits off they were full of algae. Overall we had a great time at this park, and we went early, prior to 10am, so entrance fee was waived during that time.See more..
5.0Stearns Park(369 reviews) - Oh the sunsets! Beaches • Parks
There is a stream of folks heading to the park each evening for the west- facing park’s view of the setting sun...beautifully maintained and handicapped accessible. Plenty of parking and benches. The access to Ludington pierhead light is from this park.See more..
4.5Saugatuck Dunes State Park(366 reviews) - Wonderful Time at the park.. State Parks • Cross-country Ski Areas
The park's 850 acres include a beach, dunes and cross-country ski trails.See more..
4.5Hoffmaster State Park(364 reviews) - Beautiful state park with easy access to Lake Michigan State Parks
Wonderful place to camp , relax, hike, and swim in the beautiful Lake Michigan. The sites I’m the front half are definitely better for bigger rigs. The bathrooms are well kept and there are private showers rather than being directly with the toilets. Beautiful hikes that overlook Lake Michigan, access to beach, nice nature center. Just needs a nice camp store that sells souvenirs. Great place to go to year after yearSee more..
It was an amazing experience for me and my 2 kiddos ages 8 and 12. The staff do an amazing job making sure you feel comfortable before you go out on courses alone. They have multiple levels for each difficulty level, however I wish they had more blue and black levels (only 2 each). The only con honestly is the price! Definitely would go more if it was more reasonably priced. Watch out for 25% coupons on Thursdays!See more..
This is a state park along the coast of Lake Michigan located near Mears, Michigan. It includes shoreline along Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, along with many sand dunes.See more..
We travelled specifically to this park from down state to view the Milky Way on the new moon. Found out this is a popular spot for viewing the sunset (crowded) so recommend coming early as the parking lot fills up (very small lot) come before sunset or later as the sunset crowd leaves. At 10:30p we walked about a mile from the aux parking to get into the park. Red filter/gel covering for your flashlight as it does not interrupt your night vision and white/regular flashlights are not allowed. Facebook page has scheduled events, information as well. AMAZING. NOMAC was set up and we were able to look through their amazing scope to see Saturn and it's beautiful rings. Clear sky and were able to see Milky Way as well.See more..
5.0Palms Book State Park(311 reviews) - The Sea of Fall Colors State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Geologic Formations
This park is famous because of the Big Spring. It's not the only attraction of this place. Especially during the fall, when colors are changing. you have great opportunity to see so many beautiful spots with crazy-beauty colors. You can take many trails through the woods and you will be surrounded by the nature. You have to pay the fee, but it's very "symbolic number". I recommend this park. RomanPSee more..
This public park will give you a list of birds to be spotted on its grounds.See more..
4.0LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan(296 reviews)from $25.63 - Great Time! Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Playgrounds
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Michigan is the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground where families with children aged 3 to 10 can enjoy a world of creativity, color and building fun! See Detroit-area landmarks made from millions of LEGO bricks in MINILAND® and enjoy 2 LEGO themed rides: Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice. Watch your favorite LEGO characters come to life in the 4D Cinema, get hands-on with the thousands of LEGO bricks in the build and play areas, then take a class from an expert builder in the Creative Workshop! Please note that adults must be accompanied by a child in order to enter.See more..
We went to the Visitors Center, one of the lakes and the 7 mile drive. The Visitors center was pretty big with exhibits and hands on activities. The lake was quiet and you can fish on the pier. I didn't really find the 7 mile drive at all interesting.See more..
4.5Mount Baldhead Park(244 reviews) - A nice overlook of the town Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
A healthy climb up the stairs to a beautiful view of downtown Saugatuck. The parking is free though not many spots. The trail takes you to Oval Beach in about 20-30 minutes. It's a sandy trail to the beach.See more..
The City of Ludington has created one of the best, relaxing, interesting water-front green spaces I have seen. In addition to well-maintained sidewalks and multiple benches, there is a sculpture trail that perfectly reflects the character of the area. Have a seat and watch the boats and if you have kids, there is a large playground. There is also a building housing clean public rest rooms. As you stroll the area, you can't help wonder how much it might cost to live in one of those condos.See more..
4.5Stony Creek Metropark(234 reviews) - Michigan Sunday: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Bodies of Water • Parks
Stony Creek is one of Metroparks best in all the metro area. You, your family, your friends your neighbor or anyone you can think of will love Stony Creek. Spring time is magic. Have a picnic, bike ride or just a walk all of the is so much fun.See more..
4.5Cascade Falls(212 reviews) - Middle of the woods wonder Parks
Today we visited Cascade falls. I was really nervous about hiking for just under a mile with a 7yr old and someone that has stability issues. This is an great hike with a beautiful tiered waterfall. It’s not a huge falls but still beautiful! The hike did not seem like it was that long! I would definitely recommend taking the time to visit these falls. Bring bug spray depending on the time of year you visit.See more..
4.5Tawas Point State Park(210 reviews) - A very popular State Park. A Fritomann review. Sunday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM State Parks
This is the second time coming to Tawas Point. Last year we got totally washed out, not just rained out. It was bad enough to cancel our intended visit to the lighthouse. July 15, 2022 was totally opposite. Bright and sunny and kinda hot. On a Saturday the joint was packed. To get your Florida tagged car in, you have to get a pass, which costs $10.00 per vehicle for an entire day. Fritomann came solo this time, so you do the math. Around noon, parking was easy. There's a nice sand beach, dunes, a lighthouse of course, and beyond the lighthouse grounds, another beach popular with dogs and their hoomans. There is an enclosed pavilion with picnic tables, with bathrooms, cold running water to scoop and pour on your hot head. Bring your own camp chair and carry it with you if you think you might want to sit down somewhere in the shade.See more..
My husband spent 3 hours in the Pigeon River State Forrest and did NOT see one Elk but here right off of Grandview Blvd by the Elks Lodge you can see many Elk!! They have a very nice parking lot and viewing benches. It is mating season so we were able to see some antler play by the young bucks and hear the bellowing of the huge males looking to mate!! It was just spectacular. It was a light drizzle when we were there but the animals were there and ready to entertain!! I highly recommend this viewing location to see a member of the largest elk population of in Michigan!See more..
5.0Whirlpool Compass Fountain(202 reviews) - The Kids' Favorite Part of St Joseph Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
My kids loved this splash pad. It is pretty big, close to the beach, and got them soaked! Their favorite part was when the fountains would go down, and the cannons would begin to shoot water into the center. All the kids (and even the adults) run into the center to get ready for that. I got to hang out on a bench and watch the soaked chaos. As others have stated, there is no shade to be found, which is the only drawback. So if you are there on a sunny day, put on the sunscreen and bring plenty of water!See more..
3.0Splash Universe Resort(183 reviews) - WATER WAS TOO COLD, everyone was freezing! Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Water Parks
Splash Universe Resort is home to Family Fun all year! Thrill at the rush of the Goldmine Adventure Slides, relax in the lazy river, take on the Log Walk and delight in the multi-level Tree House with 500 gallon dumping bucket, multiple slides and interactive water features. Take a break from the water fun for Air Brush Face Painting, play games and win prizes at the Shooting Star Arcade, dine at the Tree House Restaurant or grab a quick bite at the Snack Shack. Test your puzzle solving skills at Breakout Room- an Escape Room Experience located on-site! Plan your trip today- whether you're staying overnight in one of our comfortable rooms, bringing a group, hosting a party or just escaping for an afternoon of family fun; your fun is waiting at Splash Universe!See more..
Popular with families, this park offers a variety of outdoor recreations from swimming and sunbathing to biking and camping.See more..
4.0Sterling State Park(173 reviews) - Be prepared for the extra's needed to be comfortable State Parks • Parks
Bring blankets/sharp kitchen knife/ice/bath soap/towels/ washcloths/ice tea pitcher as these items are not included. There is simply a mattress with a light weight sheet. NOTE: uncomfortable beds. We rented cabin #8, which is a nice cabin. For the amount of money they are charging the beds should be more comfortable. We folded out the living room couch futon and found that to be acceptable for sleeping. Kids of course don't mind. The over all experience was good and the location was beautiful and less than 30 minutes to the Ford Mus/Greenville Villages, which we visited. The cabins are new and i suspect they will improve as times goes on. There is a fire pit at the cabin, a picnic table and an outside grill if you are prepared to use those, bring coals, and buy wood there on the camp grounds. Nice outside area for each cabin. The screened in porch was really nice, with one rocking chair and a double seat Adirondack style chair. Very nice.See more..
I went with my son to explore this place. I was there over 20 years ago, so it was the right time to refresh my memory. I was expecting much more to walk. After roughly a mile, the ground has become softer and softer. We've ended up by the small pond without option for dry walk. I was prepared for that option. I've switched from hiking shoes to...Crocks. For the next 3 hours they were my only shoes. We were walking from bay to bay. We saw many birds, giant turtle, bald eagles, swan, cranes. We were alone there. I've loved to see many flowers. Everything was quiet, not disturbed by anyone. It was a great time spent with my son. I recommend this place. Take the sunscreen and drinking water. RomanPSee more..
4.5Heritage Park(153 reviews) - Very nice park, worth the time to visit Parks
Beautiful, scenic park. Originally on land that was someone's farm. Flowers, covered bridge, small lake, baseball fields, picnic areas, Taylor Historical Society are all there & a bit more. Also a petting zoo.See more..
4.5Silver Lake State Park(151 reviews) - Beautiful, well-maintained small state park State Parks • Hiking Trails
Silver Lake State Park is almost 3,000-acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This area includes both dune country and acres of mature forest and the only sand dune off-road vehicle area in east of the Mississippi River. Our 200 site campground is the only campground in the area that is located along the shoreline of Silver Lake.See more..
We drove 4 hrs from rural NW Michigan and during the last 1 hr I started to regret the decision to visit the East-side of my "hometown" of SE Michigan. When I started seeing the brown HCMA signs it gave me hope. Lake St. Clair Metropark was a wonderful escape from the city. I am no lover of city life, but I love seeing families enjoying one another and the enjoyment of the outdoors. This park was full of both in a beautiful setting. It was about 90 degrees and my kids loved the pool and splash pad. This was novel for "country kids" who love the outdoors and water, but mostly in lakes and rivers. We also visited the nature center and hiked the trails. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly and helpful. The maintenance of the grounds and facilities exceptional. Watch out for the Swan family on the nature trail. They were not so friendly. However, I could empathize some.See more..
We stumbled upon River Raisin National Battlefield Park when we were in the area to see Lake Erie. I knew nothing about the park when we went which added to my curiosity. It turns out this was the site of a major War of 1812 battle. The main museum building was closed, but a gentleman in period garb was stationed in a tent by the road. He gave us a detailed run down of the battle and events. We learned a tremendous amount about the local area during our time there. We walked along a portion of the battlefield path where a number of boards tell the story of the battle. It very hot, but it was an enjoyable stroll. I highly recommend stopping by River Raisin NBP as it was highly informative and a great place to visit!See more..
25 min drive from silver lake sand dunes. SO much more beach for everyone. Even has campgrounds as well. Great place to watch sunset. Meed state park pass to enter.See more..
