{"id":65879,"date":"2018-04-10T11:57:54","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T16:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=65879"},"modified":"2018-04-10T11:57:54","modified_gmt":"2018-04-10T16:57:54","slug":"5-reasons-to-never-underestimate-michigans-stunning-coastline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/5-reasons-to-never-underestimate-michigans-stunning-coastline\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons to never underestimate Michigan’s stunning coastline"},"content":{"rendered":"

You don\u2019t have to go to California or Florida this summer to soak in sun and sand. The Wolverine State<\/a> boasts an impressive 3,288 miles of shoreline\u2014second only to Alaska\u2019s\u2014and the longest freshwater coastline in the United States. Michigan is loaded with lakes, sandy beaches, quaint lighthouses, majestic waterfalls and even historic shipwrecks.<\/p>\n

So before you book your next beach vacation, check out what Michigan\u2019s epic coastlines have to offer\u2014you might find that a Great Lakes road trip is in order. Here are five destinations you won\u2019t want to miss along the way.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 5 awesome island vacations\u2014in the Midwest!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Lake

Lake Huron shipwreck<\/p><\/div>\n

Shipwrecks at Lake Huron <\/strong><\/p>\n

The lake that forms Michigan\u2019s mitten shape is also the fifth largest freshwater lake on Earth. While Lake Huron is known for its beautiful scenery and lighthouses, what gives the area a mysterious edge is what lies beneath the surface. Hundreds of century-old shipwrecks, considered protected historical sites, litter the floor of the lake, and are accessible to snorkelers and kayakers. Thunder Bay<\/a> is a great jump-off point for wreck-diving; its Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary includes about 200 historic shipwrecks, many of which are meticulously preserved, thanks to the lake’s cold, fresh water.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Sleeping Bear Point<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Sleeping Bear Point at Sleeping Bear Dunes \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

This spot on Lake Michigan’s coast, less than three hours north of Grand Rapid,s has been called the \u201cmost beautiful spot in America\u201d by Good Morning America, <\/em>and was named one of National Geographic<\/em>\u2019s 21 best beaches in the world<\/a>. So why all the acclaim? Simple: Sleeping Bear<\/a>‘s 450-foot cascading sand dunes offer the lucky traveler a sweeping view of the glassy lake. Punctuated with hiking trails, the area also features a maritime museum to satisfy your history fix.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan<\/p><\/div>\n

Spray Falls at Pictured Rocks<\/strong><\/p>\n

The entire Pictured Rocks<\/a> area on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (aka “The UP”) could fill a feature of its own, but its crowning jewel is Spray Falls. In an area thundering with waterfalls, Spray Falls features 70 feet of white, misty water that cascades right into Lake Superior. Although it can be seen from trails nearby, the best vantage is arguably right in the water. And if that\u2019s not enough to \u201cfloat your boat\u201d (so to speak), directly under the waterfall is the \u00a0gravesite of \u00a0steam boat Superior<\/em>, a famed 1856 shipwreck.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light, Lake Michigan<\/p><\/div>\n

The Lighthouse at Grand Haven<\/strong><\/p>\n

With more lighthouses than any other state, Michigan is a dream for poets and beachcombers alike. But if you only visit one, the lighthouse at Grand Haven<\/a> is a pretty good bet. Built in 1893, it sits at the end of a long pier stretching into Lake Michigan and is said to be one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Midwest. With lights stretching the length of the pier, it\u2019s a great spot for an evening stroll and a magnificent view of this Great Lake\u2019s watery horizon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Turnip Rock at Lake Huron \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Layers of prehistoric limestone mark Lake Huron\u2019s scenic coast, but this otherworldly wedge-shaped rock formation is the piece de resistance<\/em>. Looking a bit like an upended portico, the remote mini-island near the town of Port Austin<\/a> was formed by thousands of years of erosion. It sits near Thumbnail Point, another dramatic formation jutting out from the rocky coastline. Both are accessible only by kayak \u2013 and both, as visitors will tell you, are worth the journey.<\/p>\n

ALSO:<\/strong> Say yes to pure travel rewards with Orbitz Rewards! Join today.<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course, there\u2019s much more to see. If you\u2019re crazy for lighthouses, there\u2019s a myriad to choose from. The floating White Shoal Lighthouse in Mackinaw city sports fetching red stripes, and the brick-laden Eagle Harbor Lighthouse offers front-row seats to see the Northern Lights<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pack your car and hit the open road in one of our nation\u2019s most beautiful states. No matter which way you turn, Michigan will not disappoint.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of these Third Coast gems have to be seen to be believed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":237,"featured_media":69997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2826,21],"tags":[304,287,898],"class_list":["post-65879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan","category-midwest","tag-beach","tag-family","tag-road-trip"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":"","yoast_head":"\n5 reasons to never underestimate Michigan's stunning coastline | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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