American as apple pie: Summer vacations in Michigan

Cameras required: Surreal sands of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Credit: Harry Dillon

By Kristin Dillon

With its Great Lakes, Motor City and world’s longest suspension bridge (talk to the mitten, Golden Gate) there’s plenty of pixel-perfect scenery on a summer vacation in Michigan. Cherry pick your way through Traverse City, indulge your sweet tooth on Mackinac Island, and cruise Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. And here’s even more incentive for booking your Michigan vacation by Aug. 21:

Save up to 30 percent off at participating Michigan hotels and $100 instantly when you book a qualifying Michigan flight plus hotel package with the promo code MICHIGANSUMMER100. Consider these top places to visit in Michigan for your summer getaway.

Detroit
Cuff your jeans and comb that pompadour for the Woodward Dream Cruise (Aug. 20). Park your chair (with 1.5 million spectators) on Woodward Avenue to see muscle cars, street rods and vintage beauties loop the famous strip. Make time for hi-octane shopping — the Somerset Collection in Troy and downtown Birmingham offer plenty of retail vroomvroom. Add casinos, spas and gourmet dining to the mix at the MGM Grand in Detroit.

Traverse City
Take a wine tour through the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas, and enjoy shopping, dining and microbreweries in downtown Traverse City. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa offers plenty of to-dos such as world-famous golf courses, including The Bear designed by Jack Nicklaus, an indoor water park and a 16th-floor restaurant overlooking the bay.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
This natural beauty outside Traverse City is hypnotic. Hike steep dunes that slope down to Lake Michigan, and walk across dramatic lookout points. And don’t be surprised by the otherworldly vibe — feeling like you crawled out of theBook of Genesis or just landed on the moon is all part of the experience.

Mackinac Island
Hop a ferry through the Straits of Mackinac to this horse-filled island. Visit during the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival (Aug. 19-20) for a near-endless supply of fudge, beer tastings, dinner specials, dancing and more. Enjoy picturesque bike trails, snap pics of the Mackinac Bridge and take a romantic carriage ride under the stars.

Harbor Springs and Petoskey
Buy an ice cream and stroll through Petoskey streets chockablock with Victorian architecture, cuddly shops and vintage charm. Take the kids to Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs to feed barnyard animals, enjoy weekend hayrides and farm-to-table dining.

Related resources

• Family vacations
• Golf vacations
• Michigan hotels
• Detroit hotels
• Traverse City hotels

Kristin Dillon is an editor at Orbitz Worldwide. A Midwesterner at heart, she and her husband keep a summer routine visiting Michigan, Wisconsin and charming Third Coast towns.

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