12 Magnificent Hidden Gems To Discover In Michigan This Year
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Emily Tieman
Author
The best way to discover new wonders in Michigan is to plan an exciting trip every month. While there are plenty of mainstream attractions to visit, why not try out one of the many hidden gems in Michigan? There’s something for everyone including America’s oldest aquarium, a unique winery, and a 125-year-old library above a fudge shop.
January - Hanson Hills Recreation Area
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, 7601 Old Lake Rd, Grayling, MI 49738, USA
Embrace winter by visiting this underrated ski area in Grayling that offers downhill skiing, snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoe trails, and groomed cross-country skiing trails. Don’t know how to ski or snowboard? Learn something new this year; join Hanson Hills professional snow sports school, and discover a new hobby.
Let's go tubing at the Hanson Hills Recreation Area in Grayling, MI in this video from Andy Kowalczuk:
Let's go tubing at the Hanson Hills Recreation Area in Grayling, MI in this video from Andy Kowalczuk:
February - Belle Isle Aquarium
Belle Isle Aquarium, 3 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207, USA
Opened in 1904, the oldest operating aquarium in the United States is located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit. The historic building’s interior is impressive with green opaline glass tiles lining its vaulted ceiling. The aquarium is wheelchair accessible and children will love looking at the different species of fish in the collection.
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March - Harbor Springs Library
Harbor Springs Library, 206 S Spring St, Harbor Springs, MI 49740, USA
The lovely small town of Harbor Springs has many popular attractions such as the Tunnel of Trees and Pond Hill Farm. But there is a charming and secret spot that very few tourists know about. Above the fudge shop is a 125-year-old library with a gorgeous interior complete with multiple old-fashioned library ladders. Looking out the windows you get a birds-eye view of downtown and it’s a perfect place to sit and unwind after a day of traveling.
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April - Crazy Quarters Arcade
Crazy Quarters Arcade, 401 Center Ave, Bay City, MI 48708, USA
Feel like a kid again when you step into the Crazy Quarters Arcade with over 70 retro games. The basement has a speakeasy-style pinball room where you can spend hours playing games, plus it's wheelchair accessible. This is an affordable rainy-day activity for the whole family.
May - Japanese Cultural Center
Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House, and Gardens of Saginaw, 527 Ezra Rust Dr, Saginaw, MI 48601, USA
Cherry blossoms are blooming in May and there’s no better place to view them than the Japanese Cultural Center in Saginaw. The stunning gardens opened in 1971 and are just as breathtaking today. There is also a tea house on-site which makes for a very relaxing experience.
June - Brunette Park
Brunette Park, Gay Lac La Belle Road, Mohawk, MI 49950, USA
Pack a picnic basket and some meat to grill at this quaint roadside park in the Upper Peninsula. There is a combination of sandy and rocky shores at this park and it’s a great place to view majestic Lake Superior.
Take a look at more Michigan hidden gems in this video of Brunette Park from @WiRoadtrippers:
Take a look at more Michigan hidden gems in this video of Brunette Park from @WiRoadtrippers:
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July - Round Barn Winery
Round Barn Winery & Estate, 10983 Hills Rd, Baroda, MI 49101, USA
This family-owned and operated winery in Baroda has live music and concerts all summer long. You can enjoy a delicious wine tasting while you view the beautiful turn-of-the-century Amish round barn that looms over the lush vineyard.
August - Krafft Beach
Kraft Road Beach, Krafft Rd, Port Huron, MI 48060, USA
Take a dip in Lake Huron at this secluded beach in Port Huron. When you park there is a 600-foot walk to the beach but the hike is worth it when you take off your shoes and sit down on the warm sandy shores. There is limited street parking so get here early and enjoy a gorgeous sunrise.
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September - Estivant Pines
Estivant Pines Wilderness Nature Sanctuary, Burma Rd, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, USA
Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary is a 508-acre sanctuary in Copper Harbor. You can hold on to the last few days of summer and get a glimpse of fall when you explore the winding hiking trails.
October - Gull Meadow Farms
Gull Meadow Farms, 8544 Gull Rd, Richland, MI 49083, USA
A wonderful place to get lost in a corn maze is Gull Meadow Farms in Richland. Everything you’re looking for in an October day is here like award-winning apple cider, freshly baked donuts, a petting zoo, and a pumpkin patch that will keep your family busy all day long.
November - Pine Street Mercantile
Pine Street Mercantile, 866 Pine St, Muskegon, MI 49442, USA
Kick off the holiday season at Pine Street Mercantile antique store in Muskegon. This delightful shop is filled with vintage finds like shabby chic furniture, mid-century-modern decor, and vintage clothing. The entire shop transforms in November for the annual Christmas open house and you’re sure to find a few nostalgic Christmas decorations from your childhood.
December - Critter Barn
Critter Barn, 2950 80th Ave, Zeeland, MI 49464, USA
Kiddos will love visiting this non-profit farm with over 200 animals to view, pet, and feed. During December, there is a live nativity seen in a heated barn. Friendly sheep, goats, cows, pigs, donkeys, chickens, ducks, and turkeys await your visit.
Check out the Critter Barn in Zealand, Michigan in this video from the Critter Barn itself:
Check out the Critter Barn in Zealand, Michigan in this video from the Critter Barn itself:
Have you visited any of these hidden gems in Michigan? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comment section! Then, pick out one of these waterfalls and wineries to enjoy for a fun day trip.
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More to Explore
Explore Michigan Natural Wonders
What are some of the best hidden gems in Michigan?
From natural rock formations to awe-inspiring waterfalls, Michigan has plenty of hidden gems worth exploring. Here are a few of the best hidden gems in Michigan to add to your bucket list:
- Port Austin, MI: Just off the shoreline of Pointe Aux Barques in Lake Huron is a fascinating hidden gem in Michigan. Turnip Rock is a wonderful rock formation rising out of the water with a shape that resembles a giant turnip. This natural wonder is even more strange because there are numerous trees still growing from the top, yet the base is solid rock. To reach the rock legally (the nearest shoreline is private property), you have to take a seven-mile kayaking trip - but the extra effort is worth it.
- Sable Falls, Seney, MI: This 75-foot cascade rushes over several tiers of Jacobsville and Munising sandstone into Sable Creek, which flows into Lake Superior. It is only a short hike to get to this hidden waterfall - about 500 feet and 168 stairs. Even though the hike is short it is still a beautiful hike through old-growth forest with the whisper of the falls leading you on.
- Sugar Loaf Rock, Mackinac Island, MI: Mackinac Island itself is a wonderful hidden gem in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Since there are no cars allowed, it is a nice quiet place to explore on foot or via bicycle. Sugar Loaf Rock is a unique rock structure that rises 75 feet into the air having been left that way from centuries of erosion. It is a true natural wonder that these rock formations develop like they do. It was created more than 11,000 years ago when Lake Algonquin eroded the softer rock and sand leaving behind the more durable limestone breccia.
Hop in an RV and go on one of these epic Michigan road trips to discover even more hidden gems and natural wonders.