Other Destinations and Attractions in Michigan

The Pictured Rocks National Seashore on the south shore of Lake Superior gets its name from the colors of copper, iron and manganese oxide. As every American child knows, this picturesque coast is the setting for the story of the young Hiawatha. Grand Island, off this shore, once provided a peaceful refuge, but has now been discovered by tourists.

The Music House is a 19th century farm complex with a recreated general store and theater. The collection includes antique musical instruments and music-making machines that date from 1870 through 1930.

Amway Corporation Visitor Center offers a tour of the company's world headquarters, which contain a research and development section and one of Michigan's largest private print shops. Interactive displays and a videotape presentation about product manufacturing and the history of Amway are featured.

Adrian has an historic district with 79 homes that illustrate the evolution of architectural styles from Greek and Gothic to Italianate and Queen Anne style.

Croswell Opera House is the oldest continuously operated theatre in Michigan, it opened in 1866. Acting companies, bands and famous orators from the 1800s and 1900s were featured here and then it turned to movies from 1921 to 1967.

Croswell Opera House returned to live theater in 1968.

Whitehouse Nature Center in Albion is a 144-acre site featuring 400 plant species, an herbarium, 168 bird species, 25 acres of oak-hickory and flood-plain forest, a habitat improvement area including ponds, and a tall-grass prairie.

The town of Alma is the home of Alma College, which is a private liberal arts college. It is also near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula.

Augusta is home to the Barn Theatre, housed in a renovated dairy barn, which presents Broadway plays and musicals.

The 770-acre portion of Fort Custer National Cemetery was dedicated as a national cemetery in 1981.

The park contains the Sanilac Petroglyphs, they are American Indian rock carvings that have been etched in the sandstone. The main carvings are almost 1,000 years old.

Baldwin was a railroad junction, it also offers access to numerous lakes and streams that surround the Huron-Manistee National Forest.

Shrine of the Pines contains the largest collection of rustic white pine furniture in the world. Raymond W. Overholzer carved it as a memorial to the white pine.

Originally settled by the French, Beaver Island was abandoned in 1603 and the Mormons arrived in 1847 but were forced to leave in 1856. Eventually Irish fisherman settled on the island and it is a popular hunting and fishing area today.

Beaver Island also offers swimming, kayaking and snorkeling opportunities.

Housed in an historic hangar at Willow Run Airport, the Yankee Air Force Museum includes flyable examples of historic aircraft as well as displays and display rooms filled with historic artifacts.

First settled in the 1850s, Benzonia was the birthplace of Bruce Catton, both a Michigan and Civil War historian.

Located in a century old church, the Benzie Area Historical Museum features artifacts and exhibits of Benzie County history. Highlights include displays of fishing, farming, lumber and ships.

This 110-acre wildlife sanctuary features hiking trails. There is a retail store on-site that does their own in-house printing of the nature designs of Gwen Frostic.

Completed in 1839, Berrien County's Greek Revival-style courthouse has been preserved as a key to the local heritage. Other buildings on Courthouse Square including a sheriff's residence from 1870, and a relocated log house from 1830. The museum exhibits feature items related to the history of Berrien County.

The Byway follows the winding course of Black River to Lake Superior. Along the way are Big Powderhorn Mountain, an equestrian school, the North Country Hiking Trail with a series of waterfalls, Copper Peak, and Black River Harbor.

Miniature golf, bumper boats, go-karts, basketball courts, a gameroom, and paddleboats are featured. Amateur and skilled courses are available for the miniature golf enthusiast.

Built to quarter the usual size, the train at Junction Valley Railroad offers a 2-mile scenic ride past buildings and across bridges that are built to scale. A picnics area and playground are also available to passengers.

Bear Cave is the only cavern in the Great Lakes area. It was formed in rare "tufa rock" (a secondary limestone). This bed is estimated by geologists to be at least 25,000 years old, and rests on a glacial drift deposited during the last ice age 50,000 years ago.

Stalactites, flowstone, petrified leaves, and strange shapes are found throughout the cave.

Cadillac began as a lumber camp in 1871, it was named for the founder of Detroit - Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. It is a popular recreation area due to its closeness to Cadillac and Mitchell lakes.

Adventure Island features an 18-hole golf course, go-karts, waterslides, batting cages, bumoper boats and an arcade.

Wild and domestic game animals can be seen in a natural setting at Johnny's Wild Game and Fish Park. Visitors can feed and pet deer, goats, birds and other animals. Trout fishing is also available.

Cambridge Junction is the area immediately surrounding the intersection of M-50 and US-12. The two historic buildings at the junction date back to 1832, built 7 years after the creation of the Chicago Turnpike.

Walker Tavern was a favorite stopping place as well as a site for political and religious gatherings. The historic building was built in 1833 and includes an 1840s parlor, dining room and kitchen. The barn at Walker Historic Complex houses surveying and stagecoach exhibits.

The main building of Iron County Historical Museum is the former Engine House of the Caspian Mine with over 100 exhibits. The displays include mining dioramas, a miniature working mine, and the largest miniature logging display in the world. The park is home to 20 buildings consisting of a 1921 mining head frame, the 1890 Stager depot, the 1890 log barns, a pioneer log cabin, a 2-story homestead log house, a sauna, a 1920 logging camp, a sleigh barn and a homestead cabin.

Charlevoix is located on Lake Michigan and this resort town offers beaches and boating opportunities.

Visitors can pet and feed the deer, ride the camel and enjoy other exotic animals as well as the miniature train and other amusement rides.

AJ's Family Fun Center in Comstock Park provides family entertainment. Go-karts, 18-hole mountain mini-golf, batting cages, bumper boats, and a state-of-the-art arcade are the highlights.

The Fun Center is located next to Kent Park, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps and each Saturday night there are fireworks at the end of the games.

Daniel and Ellen Mann built their two-story house in 1883. The late-Victorian building features plaster ceilings, unusual catch-release doorknobs and a marbleized slate fireplace. There are eight rooms of period furniture include pieces dating back to the 1840s.

The Coopersville Area Historical Society Museum, housed in a former railroad depot, is home to the Del Shannon Memorial and the Del Shannon Room. Del was a Coopersville native who was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Other exhibits include a toy train collection, a recreated 1880's local drugstore and antique furniture.

Harbour House Museum is a turn-of-the-century home that has been restored and features rooms of the house furnished in period. Other displays include logging and mining artifacts, women's interest room, antique toys, and local newspapers dating to 1887.

Davison was founded in 1840. Davison Regional Park is a 138-acre park, which spans Davison and provides opportunity for camping, fishing, hunting and swimming.

The De Tour Passage Historical Museum features displays relating to early marine operations, social and governmental activities, pioneer families, Native American history, and life in the early years of the DeTour area.

The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College consists of 17,000 historical objects. Highlights include the largest collection of Round Oak Stove Company artifacts in the United States as well as thousands of photographs and hundreds of postcards that show various views of Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Vandalia, Marcellus and other towns.

Drummond Island is popular with anglers, boaters, hunters, and vacationers. Hiking and snowmobiling are favorite pastimes along the forest trails.

Seven Ponds Nature Center was created to conserve the natural environment of Seven Ponds as a sanctuary for native plants and animals and to offer a peaceful retreat for its visitors. The various natural areas include an herb garden, wetlands, glacial lake, a wildflower garden and butterfly garden.

This resort community, located on Tawas Bay, offers opportunities such as exploring the woodlands of Huron-Manistee National Forest, fishing and recreational opportunities at Tawas Point State Park.

The Spirit of The Woods Museum has a large collection of American Indian artifacts and dioramas. Common and unusual North American wildlife and fish are presented with sound effects to highlight the scenes.

The natural harbor in Frankfort is one of Michigan's busiest ports. The sandy shores attract beach lovers and yacht facilities as well as a boat launching ramp provide recreational opportunities.

Fayette was named after Fayette Brown, the Jackson Iron Company agent who chose the site. At one time, Fayette was one of the Upper Peninsula's most productive iron-smelting operations. The town was a bustling industrial community until 1891 when production ceased. There are 19 structures that still stand today including the furnace complex, charcoal kilns, hotel, town hall, machine shop, office, company store, superintendent's house, and homes of employees.

The Black, Manistee, Pigeon, Sturgeon and north branch of the Au Sable River flow nearby and in different directions from Gaylord - . Gaylord is a very popular for skiing and snowmobiling destination as it gets about 150 inches of snow annually.

The Call of the Wild Museum displays more than 60 life-like North American wild animals and game birds such as beavers, elk and polar bears in their natural settings, complete with sound effects. The museum also includes The Wildlife Theater and a hands-on learning center.

Hancock began in 1859, with Finnish farmers and Cornich miners settling here. It is the northernmost city in Michigan.

The Quincy Mine Hoist is believed to be the largest steam powered hoist ever manufactured. It could lift 10 tons of ore at 36.4 miles per hour.

There are three options for touring the Quincy Mine Site: Surface Tour only, Surface Tour with Tram Ride, and Full Tour. All tours include the museum as well as a video-tour of the No. 2 Shaft-Rock House and a guided tour of the Nordberg team-powered hoist engine and the building it is in.

The Museum is located in the 1894 No. 2 Hoist Building. It features mineralogical exhibits including a 17-ton

solid copper boulder that was raised from Lake Superior.

The Cog Rail Tram car takes visitors down the steep hill that overlooks the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.

Harbor Springs is located on the north shore of Little Traverse Bay and is both a center for winter recreation and a summer resort.

The Charlton Park Village & Museum is a recreated turn of the 20th century rural Midwestern village. The village has 16 restored buildings that include a carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, print shop and general store. An onsite museum focuses on the Civil War and has exhibits that feature clocks, firearms, tools and Civil War artifacts.

A 298 acre recreation area is also located on the grounds with nature trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, a beach and boat launch.

This IXL Historical Museum is housed in the offices of what once was the largest hardwood flooring plant in the country. The brand name was derived from the phrase `I excel`. Late 19th century furnishings and office equipment, tools and equipment used in the early lumber era, and the second story living quarters of the owners and executives are on display.

Hiawatha National Forest offers opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing throughout the roughly 880,000 acres. The forest touches the shores of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron.

Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake and is a popular location for sportsmen and vacationers. This year-round resort area attracts boaters and water skiers in summer, and snow skiers in winter. Fishing is possible all year.

The village of Houghton Lake Area Historical Society features a school museum, operating general store, 19th century pioneer village, nature trail and a picnic area.

Huron City was founded by lumberman Langdon Hubbard in the mid-1850s. When the Great Fires of 1871 and 1881 devastated the region, Huron City became a farming community.

Huron National Forest offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities such as hunting, swimming, cross-country skiing and trout fishing available. Hikers can travel along some 330 miles of trail. Huron and Manistee National Forests are two forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes.

The inland waterway near Indian River was used by Indians to avoid the Straits of Mackinac. Located in Northern Michigan, Indian River is near Burt Lake State park offering recreational opportunities.

The crucifix, Cross in the Woods, is said to be the largest in the world, it stands 55-feet high and was made from one redwood tree. The site has an outdoor church, flower gardens and several shrines. An onsite museum features over 500 nun and priest dolls dressed in costumes of different orders.

Interlochen is the headquarters for the Interlochen Center for the Arts. This includes the Interlochen Arts Camp, Arts Academy, and Public Radio. The center was founded in 1928 and provides summer and winter programs.

Ironwood grew from the mining boom of the 1880s. It is the largest town in the Gogenic Range and the main trading, lumber and winter recreation center of the region.

Many bays and channels created by the 36 wooded islands account for the islands' name, Les Cheneaux. It is a popular area for boating, fishing and snowmobiling.

Manistee National Forest offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities such as hunting, swimming, cross-country skiing and trout fishing available. Hikers can travel along some 330 miles of trail. Huron and Manistee National Forests are two forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes.

Manistique provides access to 300 lakes, numerous streams and 135 miles of maintained snowmobile trails. Visitors will enjoy the unique shops, activities at Indian Lake State Park and the scenic Boardwalk.

Mears is home to Silver Lake State Park.

Mac Wood's Dune Rides began in 1930 when Mac began the Dune Scooter Rides. Today, passengers enjoy 40 minute scenic rides over 7 miles of shifting sand dunes.

Silver Lake State Park contains over 1,500 acres of "Sahara Desert-like" sand dunes. The dunes can be explored by off-road vehicles to the north and by foot in the center section. Silver Lake offers fishing, swimming and boating opportunities.

Bowens Mills is a 19 acre historical park that includes an 1864 cider and gristmill, a plank house from the 1840's, the Victorian House built by the Bowens in the 1860's, a covered bridge, and the sawmiller's cabin.

The mill is still in operation and includes a blacksmith shop and a water powered machine shop on the lower level. The post and beam barn houses farm animals and Belgian Draft Horses.

Mio is a popular departure spot for fishing and canoeing expeditions. It is surrounded by the Huron-Manistee National Forest and has the Au Sable River nearby.

This massive Shrine-Grotto is a composite of all the major Marian shrines of the world.

The Michigan Transit Museum is housed in the depot that was built for the Chicago, Detroit & Canada Grand Trunk Junction Railway. The depot has been restored to its appearance in 1900 and features exhibits highlighting railroading of that era.

Originally a hunting ground for the Chippewa Indians, this site was called Ojibway Besse. Mount Pleasant became a major lumber center due to the many pine and hardwoods nearby. The town is also home to Central Michigan University.

The Museum of Cultural and Natural History houses a time line of Michigan's history from glaciers and Native American history to the lumbering trade and electricity. The dioramas feature mammals, birds and fish that are native to the area.

Negaunee was established in 1844 by a group of miners who were led to the ore beds by an Indian chief from Keweenaw county.

From 1848 to 1855, the Jackson Iron Company and others manufactured wrought iron from local ore. This was the seed of the Michigan iron industry that flourished for 125 years and still produces nearly one-quarter of the iron ore mined in the United States.

Ontonagon was named Place of the Bowl by American Indians due to the shape of the river's mouth. The area was visited frequently from the 1600s to the mid-1800s by voyageurs and Jesuits.

The Ontonagon County Historical Museum houses mining, logging, marine and social memorabilia, all displayed in various room settings and cases. The Ontonagon Lighthouse is part of the museum attractions.

Oscoda is a resort community that providing a popular fishing and canoeing spot on the Au Sable River. Sport fishing is also a major attraction along Lake Huron.

Narrated tours along the Au Sable River are offered with historic and scenic points of interest. The round-trip cruise lasts approximately 2 hours.

Located at the mouth of Devil River, Ossineke was the site of an American Indian village in 1839. It was named for a native word, wawsineke, meaning "image stones". These prominent landmarks, a pair of boulders, were thought to hold the spirit of Chief Shinggabaw who promised to return after death.

Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo features nature trails and life-size reproductions of prehistoric creatures on 40 acres of forest.

Over 50,000 acres remain wilderness and 35 waterfalls are found within the Ottawa National Forestt. Woodland trails allow for access to many areas for wildlife viewing.

Housed in the former Oxford Savings Bank, built in 1922, the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum has over 2,000 items on display. Some of the items include antique quilts, furniture, musical instruments and numerous old tools. The main floor has a Victorian parlor, dining room, bedroom and a music section containing a square grand piano set up as they would have appeared early in the 20th C.

Petoskey is a four season resort center on Little Traverse Bay. Recreational activities include boat cruises, skiing, golfing and fishing.

The Little Traverse History Museum is housed in the former 1892 Chicago and West Michigan railroad depot with displays of Odawa Indian, pioneer and Victorian exhibits.

Pinconning was an important railhead during the lumber era. It is known as the cheese capital of Michigan and also serves the surrounding agricultural and dairy region.

Sculptured life-size Mother Goose characters are found in the Dear Acres Storybook Park along with deer and other animals that can be hand fed. Train, antique car and safari rides are also available.

The settlement was first named "Bark Shanty Point." The village was originally settled when lumbermen built a shanty on the lake's shore where they worked with tan bark and made shingles. In 1857, the village was renamed Port Sanilac. According to legend, the origin of the name is derived from Chief Sanilac, a Wyandotte Indian chief.

The 1875 Loop-Harrison House, a restored Victorian mansion has original furnishings. A carriage barn, general store, dairy shrine, lush gardens and log cabin are also located on the grounds.

The Train Barn Museum in Portage includes a model railroad exhibit, a hobby shop with trains dating back to the late 1800s, and a 2800 S.F. Lionel Train layout.

Presque Isle Harbor was an active lumber port in the mid-1800s. Presque Isle is located on the eastern shore of Grand Lake and is a supply center for the surrounding resort area.

The original lighthouse was erected in 1840 but then replaced in 1870. The bottom of the tower is stone (and conical) while the top is brick (and cylindrical). A 3,200-lb bell made of bronze is also on display.

Rochester Hills Museum is a 16 acre museum complex with structures that date from 1840 to the early 20th century. The property was home to Taylor and Van Hoosen families dating back to 1823.

The restored 1927 Dairy Barn features settlement, agriculture, industry, and community cultural evolution exhibits.

Located near the Victoria dam, Old Victoria is a late 19th centry company town that was originally settled by miners from Cornwall, England. The settlers came to the area to work the copper mines - one of the first sites ever mined for copper. Old Victoria is being restored, with four houses, a sauna and a barn open to the public.

Originally known as Indian Village, Romeo was settled in 1830 on the former winter campgrounds of a band of Chippewa Indians. The village became an agricultural and mercantile center with many of its early settlers from New England and upstate New York.

Saugatuck is a popular resort town. Its location near the dunes of Lake Michigan and the countryside around Lake Kalamazoo make it a well-known art colony.

The Star of Saugatuck is an authentic sternwheeler paddleboat which offers 1-hour cruises on the Kalamazoo River to Lake Michigan.

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Museum is housed in the old pump house at the foot of Mount Baldhead. Exhibits at the museum feature photos and artifacts that are pertinent to the history of the area.

Educational exhibits and displays of gem-producing equipment are featured at Shelby Man-Made Gemstones as well as the gems that are made on the premises. A 50- seat theater with hourly shows about gemstones and jewelry is available.

Shelby Man-Made Gemstones is known for their incredible variety of of man-made gems (genuine small gems are melted and fuse them into larger-more valuable gemstones). They are perhaps the only actual factory that really makes gemstones.

In 1872, hopeful miners settled in Silver City to search for the source of the silver nuggets sold to traders by local Indians. By 1876 the search was abandoned.

Sixty-three thousand acres of wilderness offers camping, skiing, backpacking and natural history program opportunities. Lake of the Clouds scenic overlook offers a scenic view.

Upper Michigan's Wilderness is visited on a 24- inch gauge railroad. Ride 5 1/2 miles through the habitat of bear, deer and many other animals and birds. The train brings passengers to the Tahquamenon River where the Riverboat waits to take you on a 21 mile narrated cruise along the river to the rapids 1/2 mile above the Upper Tahquamenon Falls.

The Copper Range Historical Museum is housed in the former State Bank building, built in 1900. Exhibits and collections of historical artifacts and documents are on display such as copper mining equipment, household items and photographs.

Harry C. Sutton settled with his crew of woodsmen, in 1854, to supply fuel to wood-burning steamboats. The village had grown to 250 by 1880. The community has changed little since its early beginnings.

Tecumseh Area Historical Museum is housed in a restored 1913 fieldstone church, St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church. The Tecumseh Area Museum features displays of area history and artifacts such as 19th century dresses, Civil War items, arrowheads, quilts, and surveying equipment.

The greenhouse complex at Hidden Lake Gardens displays plants from arid, tropical and temperate climates. Hidden Lake Gardens houses the diverse variety of plants in the tropical conservatory, dwarf conifer collection, hosta hillside and perennial garden. The Visitor Center has educational displays, classrooms, an auditorium and the gift shop.

Formerly a depot for the Grand Trunk & Western Railroad, Vicksburg Depot Museum currently houses more than 10,000 historical and genealogical items. The historic village of buildings, found on the grounds, were important to the development of Vicksburg.

The White River Light Station, made of Michigan brick and limestone, guards the entrance into White Lake. It contains artifacts of Great Lakes origin, stories of the Robinson family, and items which provide a look back on the history of the White Lake Area. Captain William Robinson was the first lighthouse keeper and the man responsible for the construction of the White River Light Station in 1875.

Named for Demetrios Ypsilanti, who held the entire Turkish Army at bay and escaped without losing any of his men. Located on the Huron River, it is an industrial center. The historic district encompasses over 40 blocks and contains 700 restored buildings of Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne and Tudor Revival architectural styles.

Founded in 1853 by George Wiard, the 200 acre working farm has apple orchards, pumpkin patch and a cider mill.

Exhibits include the Pioneer Room with items the settlers brought from the Netherlands in the mid 1800s; a log cabin, one-room school from 1910; Victorian parlor with an antique Frisian Staartsklock; a neighborhood grocery store and the first Zeeland bank. Displays of Delft pottery, war memorabilia and Dutch costume dolls are also on display.