The One Thing You Should Do in Michigan This Year

When tasked with the, uh... task of writing an article about the one thing you should do in Michigan this year, I had no question in my mind what I would be writing about. Last year, some of my best girlfriends and I gathered in the Motor City for a long-form sleepover, the kind where everyone drags in their weekend bags, someone brings too many snacks (it was me), and everyone realizes we’ve aged out of blowout nights but mastered the art of comfortable shoes. The trip was so enjoyable that I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun Michigan activity this year.

We all had the same favorite stop: Belle Isle. My main reason was to show them the aquarium I fell in love with on my first (and second) visits. It still feels like a tiny palace dedicated to fish with a fondness for dramatic lighting.

One of the gals on this trip has worked in zoos for years—real, behind-the-scenes experience—and she walked through the aquarium whispering things like, “Oh, they take such good care of these animals,” the same way people whisper at weddings. She pointed out the clarity of the water, the thoughtful enrichment in the tanks, the spotless glass, and even the health of the plants growing inside the habitats. She was so impressed that the next morning, we took her to the Detroit Zoo, and she came out just as delighted. Detroit knows how to treat its animals.

Belle Isle Aquarium remains my personal favorite, though. The knowledgeable staff talked with us about the animals with such joy that even the most introverted among us leaned in. We admired the worm-like bichirs: those long, prehistoric fellows that wriggle like animated pieces of spaghetti with opinions. We adored the axolotl, who looked like it was wearing tiny pink fireworks on the sides of its head and had the general vibe of a creature who is just happy to be included.

The piranhas surprised all of us with their size. My mental image of piranhas was shaped by dramatic movie scenes... You know, tiny and terrifying. The real ones looked like they’d been training for an underwater bodybuilding competition. And then there was the heartbreak of the day: the octopus wasn’t on display. I always look forward to chatting with the volunteer whose one job is to wipe the front of the tank so guests can see the octopus when it decides to play “spot the human.” She's a treasure, and the octopus is, too. I guess we’ll just have to go back.

The ceiling above us shimmered in green opaline tiles, arching like the polished interior of some enormous gemstone. Albert Kahn built the space with a theatrical confidence that makes you involuntarily pause—an architectural “wait, look at this” moment. The restored lighting casts a soft glow across the room, giving the whole aquarium the atmosphere of a beautifully illustrated fairy tale about regal sea creatures and their very tasteful palace. As staff told us stories about the building’s history, the meticulous restoration work, and the ongoing conservation efforts, it felt less like a tour and more like listening to someone speak lovingly about a friend. And that, somehow, is only one of the wonders this island holds.

Belle Isle Park spans nearly 1,000 acres on the Detroit River and is packed with historic, natural, and cultural destinations. One minute you’re in a lush wooded area, the next you’re staring at the Detroit skyline, and if you turn a little to the right, you’re suddenly looking at Canada like it’s a neighbor watering their plants. The island offers beaches, biking trails, paddling, fishing, picnic spots, a golf course, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum (sadly closed for an event the day we visited), the Ralph Wilson Gateway, and enough green space to make city stress dissolve like a dropped ice cube in July.

After the aquarium, we wandered toward the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, which is the oldest continually running conservatory in the country. It feels like stepping into an elegant botanical world built long before anyone had to worry about things like email. The five houses each have their own personality, but the Cactus House stole our hearts instantly... as did the stamp lady at the end of the journey. (In fact, we loved the Stamp Lady so much that, over dinner one night, we anonymously sent her some new stamp pads full of ink... because she kept apologizing for her dry inking pads. Hopefully she got 'em and is vibrantly stamping hands once again.)

We stepped inside and immediately found ourselves surrounded by towering succulents and dramatic forms that looked less like plants and more like sculptures carved by patient desert winds. Some cactuses stood tall and direct, like skyscrapers practicing excellent posture; others spiraled and looped in shapes that seemed to politely dismiss the rules of physics. My zoo-friend surveyed the room and said, with the satisfied authority of someone who knows, “These are some phenomenally well-cared-for cactuses.” Honestly, it felt like the botanical equivalent of winning an Oscar.

We drifted through the room slowly, circling each plant like we were at a gallery opening for eccentric desert celebrities. The textures, the colors, the improbable shapes... every new angle revealed a tiny alien metropolis waiting to be appreciated. I didn’t expect a cactus to give me emotional joy, yet there I was, assigning personalities and backstories as if they’d been part of my social circle for years.

We made a whole day of Belle Isle. We ate hot dogs and lemonade under the pavilion near the aquarium while geese strutted past like local celebrities who knew how to work a crowd. A few of us tried geocaching for the first time under the guidance of an experienced friend. Although the island has more than 20 caches, we found exactly one... because we had too much else to get to, and also because several of us are directionally optimistic rather than directionally skilled.

Detroit is a city that excels at surprising you, Belle Isle is an island that quietly enchants you, and together the aquarium and conservatory create an experience where history, nature, and imagination braid themselves together. If our long-form sleepover taught me anything, it’s that some places make you feel like you’ve stepped sideways into a story you didn’t know you were meant to be part of.

Create your next story-worthy vacation using Only In Your State's Travel Planner!