Aerial view of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in fall showing Lake Michigan shoreline, inland lake, and autumn foliage from the overlook

Sleeping Bear Dunes Camping: Best Campgrounds + Booking Guide (2026)

Sleeping Bear Dunes camping is at the top of every Michigan bucket list, and with good reason. Set along the stunning shores of Lake Michigan of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Glen Arbor and Empire Michigan, this is one of the most popular camping areas in the lower peninsula.
Filled with inland lakes, the picturesque Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a towering dune climb and endless miles of sandy Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of northern Michigan’s top tourist attractions.

road winding through a tunnel of trees in autumn

Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees: Complete Guide to the M-119 Scenic Drive

It’s one of northern Michigan’s not-so-best-kept-secrets: a beautiful drive north of Harbor Springs that takes you under a leafy ceiling of leaves…deep greens in the spring and summer and beautiful reds and golds in the autumn months. Michigan’s tunnel of trees is a perfect spot for Michigan fall color tour, and it’s worth exploring in the summer and winter months, too.

lake huron beach in oscoda michigan

The Best Things to Do in Oscoda, Michigan (From Someone Who Keeps Coming Back)

In search of the perfect beach day, we headed to northern Michigan and one of our favorite vacation destinations: the sandy beaches of Oscoda, MI. This fun Lake Huron beach town has the perfect setting for all kinds of recreational activities from swimming and kayaking to hiking and biking to fishing and paddle boarding to…you get the picture

tents along a river

Michigan River Camping: 10 Best Rivers to Paddle and Camp (2026)

River camping is a fun and exciting way to experience the many beautiful bodies of water Michigan offers.
There’s something so enticing about packing up, situating yourself in a canoe or kayak, and floating down the river to experience Michigan’s natural beauties. Whether you enjoy fishing, rowing, or just want to take on a challenge, river camping is sure to provide something for you to enjoy.
There are so many rivers to choose from in Michigan, and it may be overwhelming to narrow down which ones you want to visit on your trip.
This list compiles ten of our favorite spots you should consider on your next river camping trip, with suggested boat launching coordinates to accompany the descriptions.

michigan bucklet list places incuding mackinac bridge, leland michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes

12 Best Things to Do in Michigan on the Coast (A Local’s Guide)

No matter where your interests lie, there are fun things to do in Michigan. Michigan attractions range from the natural (think towering sand dunes or Isle Royale) to popular tourist attractions like the Detroit Institute of Arts or the Henry Ford Museum. You kind visit a Michigan museum or discovery center, or try exciting outdoor activities like boating, swimming, hiking, and even dog sledding.

Best Places to connect with nature in Michigan

Best Places to Connect with Nature in Michigan: A Local’s Guide

Natural Michigan means clean freshwater lakes, endless streams and rivers, waterfalls, forests, and even towering sand dunes.  The natural wonders of pure Michigan are endless, an ongoing outdoor adventure with endless opportunities for hiking camping, horseback riding or simply relaxing in Michigan’s natural communities. From the upper peninsula to the lower peninsula, Michigan’s natural features inventory is endless.

south haven lighthouse on lake michigan near one of the top south haven campgrounds

Best Camping in South Haven, MI (Campgrounds, RV Parks, Tent Camping, Glamping, Cabins)

Planning some camping in South Haven, Michigan?
It’s that time of the year, when the days are longer and warmer and all you want to do is spend all day basking in the sun. It’s when any whiff of campfire smoke sends a wave of nostalgia through your bones and all you can think about is how badly you want to cook some s’mores.
It’s time to go camping.

Sign for a Saugatuck bed and breakfast

15 Best Hotels in Saugatuck, MI for Every Kind of Getaway

If you’re in need a romantic getaway or relaxing beach vacation, the cozy Saugatuck hotels and Bed and Breakfast’s are just what you need.

The winning combination of stunning landscapes studded with sandy dunes and Lake Michigan combined with a vibrant downtown filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques and wineries, breweries and restaurants has everyone planning an escape to this vacation hideaway in west Michigan, not far from Grand Rapids, MI.

michigan peak fall colors map

Michigan Peak Fall Color 2025: Where and When to See It

Discover the most accurate 2025 Michigan Peak Fall Color Prediction Map—your trusted guide to the best times and places to see peak fall foliage across the Great Lakes State. As Michigan’s original fall color authority, I combine expert insights, the latest weather trends, and years of on-the-ground experience to bring you the state’s most reliable forecast for leaf-peeping, scenic drives, and autumn getaways.

hotel room in mackinaw city michigan

Best Hotels in Mackinaw City Michigan (Beachfront + All Options)

There is no shortage of hotels in Mackinaw City, one of the top tourist destinations in Michigan.The challenge is finding the right place for your stay, whether you’re headed for Mackinac islands historical sites, crossing the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace, or simply visiting downtown Mackinaw City. Mackinaw City, MI, is set at the tip of Michigan’s mitten, on the shores of Lake Huron. It overlooks the straits of Mackinac, where you’ll see a Mackinac Island ferry or two going back and forth across the water all day long.  

saugatuck travel michigan

Saugatuck Michigan Travel Guide: Beaches, Things to Do & Where to Stay (2026)

Information and tips about visiting Saugatuck and Douglas. Find the best beaches in the Saugatuck and Douglas area. Find information about Lake Michigan beach activities and beach amenities in the Saugatuck and Douglas and Lake Michigan area. Learn where to swim, eat, stay and play in the Saugatuck and Douglas and Lake Michigan area.

traverse city harbor

25 Best Things to Do in Traverse City Michigan: A Local’s Guide for Every Season

Traverse City is located in Michigan’s Northwest Region of the Lower Peninsula and is home to miles of picturesque hiking and biking trails, endless local breweries and wineries, miles of sandy shores along turquoise blue waters, and a quaint downtown life perfect for shopping, enjoying local restaurants, and family fun!

charlevoix Michigan lighthouse

25 Best Things to Do in Charlevoix, MI (2026 Local’s Guide)

Information about ADA-Compliant, Dog-friendly and family-friendly beaches in Charlevoix and Petoskey and Harbor Springs and activities for visitors. Find information about Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay beach activities and beach amenities in Charlevoix and Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Information about hotels, cottages and other lodging accommodations in Charlevoix and Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Information about where to eat and dining options in Charlevoix and Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Find information about recreational activities in the Charlevoix and Petoskey and Harbor Springs as well activities for visitors such as Kayaking, Hiking and Biking and more.

An abandonded haunted house in black and white

30 Haunted Places in Michigan

As summer winds down and the fall season stares us down from around the corner, the time to get into the spooky spirit is upon us.

What better way to embrace that eerie feeling than with some ghost stories scary enough to keep you up at night?

Luckily, we have no shortage of ghost stories here. From populous Wayne County to the most remote destinations in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan is full of unique haunted destinations. These Michigan spooky spots lay claim to bone-chilling ghost stories and there’s enough evidence of paranormal activity to make you believe them.

Pour yourself some hot cider and grab a cinnamon donut, curl up in a blanket and read on to learn about Michigan’s most haunted attractions.

an old, haunted house in Michigan on a grey cloudy day

20 Best Haunted Houses in Michigan (2025 Guide + Map)

Looking for haunted houses in Michigan? Be prepared to be scared!Fall in Michigan means cooler weather and beautiful fall leaves, but there’s another side to the fall season…
In October, the atmosphere grows increasingly spooky as michigan-halloween-activities, with scary stories of ghosts and goblins that gobble up children, or spellcasting witches and wild werewolves who wander the woods at twilight on haunted trails.

Then, we take it one step further and visit haunted houses to become part of these stories and become frightened by our own imaginations in real life.

pumpkins on halloween in michigan

Best Things to Do in Michigan for Halloween (2025 Edition)

Looking for a Michigan Halloween event or haunted attraction? You don’t have to travel Michigan to find fall fun, whether you’re in Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Saint Clair or even Tahquamenon Falls.

We’ve got all the Michigan haunted spots, both spooky and fun for you. Whether it’s a fall festival or other holiday events, we’re sharing the best things to do to celebrate Halloween in Michigan HERE.

a gunch of trick or treat pumpkins for things to do in metro detroit for halloween

Best Halloween Events in Metro Detroit 2025 (Family-Friendly & 21+ Fun)

It’s that time of year again and it’s time to start thinking about how to celebrate Halloween.

We have got you covered with our 15 Best Things to Do in Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor to Celebrate Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year in Michigan. The fall weather is in full effect, and the leaves are turning. It really is the best time of year; a perfect time to celebrate and take in the natural beauty of Michigan.

It’s true: there is plenty to do all over the Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor areas this Halloween season. With plenty of our famous fall attractions like cider mills, hayride, and corn mazes converted into haunted attractions, there is no end to the fun.

I’ve put together this list hoping to get everyone ready for the Halloween season and start planning your Spook-tober. I’ve included family-friendly activities as well as some spookier ideas for just the adult, so let’s dive in!

the neterance to a dark and mysterious-looking corn maze in Michigan

10 Best Haunted Corn Mazes & Hayrides in Michigan (2025 Guide)

Do you love haunted houses? Give the Top Ten Haunted Corn Mazes in Michigan a try. With Halloween just around the corner, there are plenty of fun – and scary – themed attractions to visit across Michigan.

If you’re a fan of haunted houses, try the next best thing: haunted corn mazes. It has the same fear factor as a haunted house or mansion, but the brisk, autumn air, and pitch black night sky mixed with the moonlight make it that much spookier. Make sure you bring a friend, or two. You won’t want to venture off in these mazes alone.

apples on a tree in michigan

55+ Best Michigan Cider Mills, Apple Orchards & Fall Farms (2025 Guide + Map)

Michigan Apple Orchards and Cider Mills

Fall is apple season in Michigan, and there is no better way to spend a sunny fall afternoon than biting into warm donuts and sipping fresh apple cider.

From quiet, rolling orchards rich with ripe, red fruit to busy, family-friendly cider mills brimming with fun activity – Michigan IS the land of the apple in the fall months.

beautful fall foliage alonf a Michigan fall color drive

Best Michigan Fall Color Drives for 2026 (Map)

The best fall color drives in Michigan can be found just about everywhere this season, from the lower peninsula to the peninsula.
There are some scenic drives though, where the fall color is just breathtaking, whether it’s a scenic byway like M-22 in northern Michigan, Brockway Mountain drive in Copper Harbor, or Petoskey Michigan on the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan.
A scenic drive or fall getaway to see the changing colors seems to be on everyone’s Michigan fall bucket list this year, so we put together a list of the 9 of the best scenic fall color drives in Michigan.
Read on to start making your Michigan travel plans to see the beautiful fall foliage in Michigan

A corn maze

25+ Best Michigan Corn Mazes to Visit This Fall (2025 Guide)

Looking for a Corn Maze in Michigan? You’re in the right place. It’s fall in Michigan, and that means it’s time to round up some friends and head to the nearest farm.
Getting lost in a corn maze is one of the top fun family fall activities and we’re sharing some our favorite spots to visit this season. The Michigan corn mazes are much more than a field of corn stalks, though: some are true works of art; carefully carved by farmers to share messages, logos, and fun designs.

The Cut River Bridge in Michigan

30 Unforgettable Michigan Fall Scenic Overlooks (2026 Guide)

Want the best fall views and scenic overlooks in Michigan? I’m sharing 30 of my favorite spots for Michigan fall foliage, just in time for the 2024 fall leaf-peeping season.

Pure Michigan is our state’s slogan for a reason, and that reason is obvious when you stop by
some of Michigan’s scenic overlooks. These overlooks and turnouts are little breadcrumbs
hinting at the rest of the beauty Michigan has to offer, and they act as sneak peeks to your
actual destination.

2023 Michigan peak fall color map

2025 Michigan Fall Color Map & Peak Color Prediction Guide – Updated

We’ve got some great news for Michigan fall leaf-peepers: an unseasonably warm September and early October has extended the color change in Michigan.

That means even MORE time for you to get out and see some of the spectacular, vibrant colors as the leaves continue to turn from green to brilliant reds, yellows, and golds… and find them in peak conditions.

Temperatures – which play a factor on the foliage color change – are predicted to be in near 80 degrees in some parts of Michigan the second week of October, which is very rare.

We’ve been out scouring the state, and discovered first-hand that the color change is just now getting started in Michigan’s northern peninsula

railroad tracks surrounded by colorful fall trees

Michigan Fall Train Rides: 11 Amazing Scenic Tours for Autumn Color

Now is the time for stunning fall foliage and fall train rides in Michigan are one of my favorite ways to celebrate fall in Michigan.
The vibrant colors of fall in Michigan can’t be missed and what better way to see them than with a fun-filled train ride through the Great Lake State? Steam trains might be a thing of the past in some places but not in Michigan!
Fall color train tours are a perfect way to see Michigan’s fall color in action, with the added bonus of the special feeling that comes when traveling by train. It’s a perfect way to explore Michigan in style!
Where to Find Fall Color Train Tours in Michigan

pumpkins in a fall display

Best Fall Festivals in Michigan: 2025 Guide

Fall festivals in Michigan are the best way to celebrate the arrival of autumn, which is arguably the prettiest season in our state. All of the leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and fresh, and the family-owned fruit stands along M-22 and other scenic highways are starting to switch out the berries and jams for apple cider and fresh vegetables. Fall festivals here include pumpkin patches, apple harvests, arts and crafts, and much more. Check out this list to find an amazing fall festival near you.

Sleeping Bear Dunes with lake michigan in bakcground

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: Complete Visitor’s Guide (2026)

Information and tips about visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. Find the best beaches in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. Find information about Lake Michigan beach activities and beach amenities in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area and Lake Michigan area. Learn where to swim, eat, stay and play in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area and Lake Michigan area.

View of bay with colorful leaves on old mission peninsula

Exploring Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan: My Perfect Day Trip Itinerary

Are you ready for a journey through the 15+ best things to do and see on Old Mission Peninsula? If you’re looking for wine-ins, dine-ins, and the good life in old Michigan, you’re in luck: Old Mission Peninsula has everything you need for a perfect getaway all year long.
In the summer, the Lake Michigan breezes are refreshing, and the fall colors in the vineyards are stunning against the backdrop of the bay.