Other Michigan Attractions
Within 50 Miles of Grand Rapids
Fenn Valley Winery - Fennville
http://www.fennvalley.com/
Fenn Valley Winery offers wine tastings and tours of their grounds and winemaking process. Reservations are suggested for the standards tour and required for the extended tour.
City of South Haven
http://www.southhaven.org/content.cfm?m=44&id=44&startRow=1&
South Haven has become very well known for its wine, arts and orchards. The Web site above includes a list of shops and wineries in the area.
City of Holland
http://holland.org/
This city fully celebrates its rich Dutch history and culture from its architecture to the wooden shoe and delftware factory. Holland’s award winning downtown area is lined with exceptional boutiques, galleries and restaurants for your enjoyment.
Holland State Park – Holland
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=458&type=SPRK
Most visitors of Holland State Park come for the beaches and fishing or to view “Big Red”, one of Michigan’s most popular lighthouses among painters and photographers.
Hackley and Hume Historic Site – Muskegon
http://www.muskegonmuseum.org/hackley_hume.html
Hackley and Hume are two Queen Anne style Victorian homes that have been fully restored and now serve as attractions for tourists. A museum has been set up in the carriage barn that was shared by these houses.
South Pier Lighthouse – Muskegon
http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/muskegon/muskegon.htm
This is the closest lighthouse to the Grand Rapids area.
Rosie’s Diner – Rockford
http://www.rosiesdiner.com/
Rosie’s Diner, a classic diner built in 1946, was originally called The Silver Dollar Diner and was located in Little Ferry, NJ before being moved to its current location in 1991. Keeping to its classic dinner roots, Rosie’s served over 1 million customers within 5 years of moving to its new location.
Sport Fishing Charters - Grand Haven
http://www.michigancharterboats.com/page.php?lake=MICHIGAN&port=GRAND%20HAVEN
Grand Haven is very well known for its fishing industry and is home to many charter fishing companies. Follow the link to a list of local fishing charters courtesy of the Michigan Charter Boat Association.
Within 100 Miles of Grand Rapids
American Museum of Magic - Marshall
http://www.americanmuseumofmagic.org/
The museum’s two buildings make up the largest public museum of its kind, containing items from around the world dating back as far at the 1600’s. Its biggest attractions are the original “Milk Can” and “Overboard Box” that were used by Harry Houdini.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes – Hart
http://www.thinkdunes.com/sand-dunes-7/
With five miles of shoreline these sand dunes are the second most popular in the state. One of the unique things about these dunes is that not only can you climb them, but you can also rent an off-road vehicle and drive on the dunes.
Capitol Tours – Lansing
http://council.legislature.mi.gov/lcfa/capitol-tours.html
While on a guided tour of the State Capitol Building, you will learn historical and contemporary information about the buildings and Michigan’s Legislature. Tours of the restored Capitol are offered from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday.
Michigan Historical Museum – Lansing
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-54463_18595_18596-50965--,00.html
This museum consists of five floors of exhibits that include a variety of hands-on and interactive features, as well as audio-visual presentations.
Michigan State University – East Lansing
http://www.msu.edu
As the pioneer land grant university in the country, Michigan State University was the first university in the country to teach scientific agriculture. It is the only university in the country with three on-campus medical schools, graduating allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians, and veterinarians (DVMs).
Within 200 Miles of Grand Rapids
City of Frankenmuth
http://www.frankenmuth.org/
Frankenmuth is a Bavarian city that is home to world famous chicken dinners, served at Zehnder’s Restaurant and the Bavarian Inn, and Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Glen Arbor
http://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm
Sleeping Bear Dunes is the largest and most popular sand dunes in the state, boasting over 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The makeup of the dunes varies greatly from barren hills of sand, to dense masses of dune grass, to forests, providing all sorts of environments for exploration.
The Henry Ford - Dearborn
http://www.hfmgv.org/
The Henry Ford is made up of three main components: The Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and the IMAX Theater. The museum covers a vast array of transportation history including cars, planes, and trains, while Greenfield Village allows you to step back in time to a 1800s town and learn what life was like.
Ford Rouge Factory Tour – Dearborn
http://www.thehenryford.org/rouge/index.aspx
A new addition to The Henry Ford, the Ford Rouge Factory tour allows you to actually witness the process of manufacturing of a Ford F-150. This five part tour includes two theater presentations, an observation deck tour, an assembly plant walking tour, and a gallery that holds historic vehicles made at the plant as well as the 20,000,000th vehicle to come off the production line.
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
http://www.umich.edu/
One of the top universities in the nation and home to the Wolverines, UM is located in eclectic Ann Arbor. This is no ordinary college town as it is filled with gourmet restaurants, taverns, cafés, shops and museums.
The Ark – Ann Arbor
http://www.theark.org/
The Ark is a venerable club where folk and ethnic music have reigned for more than 37 years. The Ark is also a non-profit organization with a mission to enriching the lives of others through the music they provide.
University of Michigan Museum of Art – Ann Arbor
http://www.umma.umich.edu/
This newly extended, nearly 100,000 square-foot museum is devoted to bridging the gap between “visual art and contemporary culture, scholarship and accessibility, tradition and innovation.” The U of M Museum of Art is open to the public, and admission is free.
Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History – Jackson
http://www.ellasharp.org/
Not only is this a museum of art and history, the museum is located on a the property of a 19th century Hillside farmhouse, Dibble one-room Schoolhouse, log house and the Merriman-Sharp Tower Barn. Also included on this property are a woodworking shop, doctor’s office, general store, and a granary that has been transformed into a restaurant.
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – Traverse City
http://www.thevillagetc.com/
The historic buildings that make up The Village were once the Traverse City State Hospital, and before that, the Northern Michigan Asylum. Now these beautiful buildings have been repurposed into shops, restaurants and homes.
Cherry Republic – Traverse City
http://www.cherryrepublic.com/
Traverse City is known for its cherry orchards. Cherry Republic is the largest store in Traverse City in which anything that can be made from Michigan cherries can be purchased.
Detroit Institute of Arts – Detroit
http://www.dia.org/
This 658,000sqft museum includes more than 100 galleries, an art library, and a state-of-the-art restoration laboratory. The DIA’s goal is to create “experiences that help each visitor find personal meaning in art.” It is considered one of the finest art galleries in the country.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – Detroit
http://www.maah-detroit.org/
One of the main exhibits that will still be available in September 2010 is “Joe Louis: Hometown Hero”. This exhibit follows the heavyweight champion nicknamed “Brown Bomber” through his childhood all the way up to his death.
Motown Historical Museum – Detroit
http://www.motownmuseum.com/
One of Detroit’s biggest tourist attractions, the Motown Historical Museum, has taken up the responsibility to preserve the legacy of the Motown Record Corporation. The museum tells the stories of many prominent Motown artists and displays a large collection of historic artwork, music and costumes of the Motown years.
The Detroit Historical Museum – Detroit
http://www.detroithistorical.org/
The Detroit Historical Museum is proud to be among the oldest museums in the nation that caters to metropolitan history. It is also one of the largest museums in America, boasting 80,000 square feet holding more than 600 artifacts from Detroit’s past.
Detroit Science Center – Detroit
http://www.sciencedetroit.org/
This science center has fun and educational programs for children and adults alike and features a largely hands-on setting.
Other Michigan Attractions
Mackinaw City
http://www.mackinawcity.com/
While in Mackinaw City you can enjoy shopping in the many boutiques and fudge shops, or visit colonial Michilimackinac, a 1770’s fort and fur trade post. Another big attraction of this city is the beautiful views of the Mackinaw Bridge, longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
Mackinac Island
http://www.mackinacisland.org/
Upon arriving to the island by ferry, step back in time to a simpler way of life, before the hustle and bustle of automobiles. On this beautiful and historic island the only sources of transportation are walking, bicycling, horseback riding or horse-drawn carriage.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Munising
http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm
This National Lakeshore is along the coast of Lake Superior, the world’s largest fresh water lake by surface area. There are a variety of different environments to explore, including cliffs, waterfalls, beaches and forests with over 100 miles of trails throughout the park.
Isle Royale – Lake Superior
http://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm
A perfect stop for adventurous tourists, this prehistoric wilderness contains hiking trails through dense forests and along rugged coastlines. Shipwrecks on land and under the water are also open for visitor exploration.
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry lighthouse cruises – Mackinaw City and St. Ignace
http://www.sheplersferry.com/lighthouses/lighthouses.html
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry provides ferry services to and from Mackinaw Island and their two ports in Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula, as well as five different cruises of local lighthouses. Lighthouse cruises fill up quickly, so make sure to plan ahead and book your cruise soon online or over the phone.
