Do you love the hustle and bustle of city life with a hint of small-town charm? Large metropolitan areas can be overwhelming with bright lights and city noise through all hours of the night. If you’re looking for a place to visit in the Great Lake State that isn’t too big or too small, but just right, visit these medium-sized cities in Michigan.
Starting off the list with a population of just over 20,000, Ypsilanti has one of the most charming and walkable downtowns in Michigan. A combination of delicious restaurants and eclectic shops makes this small city an excellent day trip destination.
At 10,000 residents, Grand Haven is the perfect city to enjoy the quaintness of small-town life but with a thriving downtown. You can walk the Grand Haven South Pier and view two breathtaking lighthouses that light up Lake Michigan.
Alpena is the second-largest city in the Northern Michigan region, with 10,000 residents. You can book an incredible shipwreck tour, view the awe-inspiring dark sky park, or visit the Alpena Light, otherwise known as the "Little Red" lighthouse.
Over 12,000 folks call this Upper Peninsula city home, and we can see why. Nestled on the shores of Little Bay de Noc, Escanaba has the historic Sand Point Lighthouse and impressive ice fishing and is home to the largest fair in the Upper Peninsula.
This list wouldn’t be complete without featuring one of the best cities in Michigan, Traverse City, with a population of 15,000 people. Known for its many wineries, a cherry festival, and a historic asylum that now houses shops and restaurants, this vacation destination has something everyone will enjoy.
Coldwater is toward the southern border of Michigan, with a population of nearly 14,000 residents. This city will be popular among history buffs as there are many historic attractions, such as the Little River Railroad, Lanphere-Pratt House, and Tibbits Opera House.
The largest city in the Upper Peninsula with a population of 20,000, Marquette has beautiful waterfalls, a delightful downtown, and the gorgeous Marquette Harbor Lighthouse.
Have you visited any of these "just right" Goldilocks cities? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments! Do you have a city or small town that you would like to see featured? Submit a nomination form!
These days, we're so obsessed with getting to the destination that the journey is overlooked. We tend to hop in our cars and just cruise on the freeway, oblivious to our surroundings. When will we ever slow down to enjoy the scenery? Lucky for us, we have plenty of options for traveling by train in Michigan. And we're not talking about your typical commuter train. Think vintage locomotives that date back to the early 20th century, where you can maybe enjoy a unique dining experience, catch a beautiful countryside view, or venture to a far-flung place accessible only by rail. Here are three such experiences to be had on these scenic train rides in Michigan.
Take a ride on the longest continually operating dinner train in North America. This special line has dining cars that date back from the 1930s to the 1950s. Trips consist of two-hour rides and depart from Charlotte. You'll enjoy a journey through the countryside of the Grand Valley Rail Road and dine on a variety of cuisine while enjoying these scenic places in Michigan. During the summer and fall, sightseeing excursions are available on Saturdays. This train also operates lines out of Blissfield and Kalamazoo. For more information, visit the official Old Road Dinner Train website.
Take a 14-mile excursion out of historic Coopersville through Marne, where you’ll traverse over creeks, the highway, and an open deck girder bridge. Each car dates back to the early 20th century, and there’s even room for two passengers in the locomotive. This line operates trains for Santa, the Easter Bunny, and pumpkin season. Charters of 30 or more are treated to lunch, and children’s groups are sometimes treated to access to a caboose. For more details, visit Friends of the Coopersville and Marne Railway on the web.
You'll travel from Tecumseh through the country, along the River Raisin basin. Spectacular views are offered when you cross over a bridge during your journey. These are some of the best train trips in Michigan; they last about two hours and offer stops for apple cider and donuts at Kapnick's Cider Mill. For more info, click visit the official Southern Michigan Railroad website.
All aboard! Makes you want to pack your bags now and book your ticket, right? Next time your family is contemplating what to do, pack up the car, head to one of these amazing train stations, and have a unique adventure by rail while enjoying one of these fantastic scenic train rides in Michigan.
Summer is still in full swing, so traveling to Michigan in August is absolutely stunning as our State Parks are lush and green, our lakes are warm and sparkling, and our state is ripe for discovery! There are so many things to do in Michigan: Farmer's markets, zoos, beach towns, festivals, and museums are waiting for your visit.
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Cons of Visiting Michigan In August
If you’re not a fan of heat and humidity, you may not enjoy an August in Michigan, but after that...there aren’t many downsides! After all, there's still a ton of Michigan coastlines to enjoy.
Michigan Weather in August
We’re seeing record highs, and that goes for Michigan, too. Be ready for temperatures in the 80s, lowering to the high 70s at the end of the month.
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At Not Your Average Bucket List travel podcast by OnlyInYourState, we aim to find the best things for readers to discover in the United States. In addition to that, now we are going to help you find the best things to do in your state each month.
We are going to explore the top 10 best things to do in Michigan during the month of August, but if we missed something good... let us know! You can call or text 805-298-1420 and tell us what we need to know (or reach out to us via email at [email protected]).
Ready to dive into a month full of exciting things in Michigan? Check out the episode on Spotify:
Or you can watch your hosts break down the month on our YouTube channel:
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Important Event Note:
Thanks to our loyal readers and listeners, we were made aware that the following events have already occurred or were cancelled. They have been removed from this article, but still are mentioned in the podcast episode. Please make note when making your plans for August events and always check the event website for up-to-date details!
Annual Michigan Pirate Festival
The East Lansing Folk Festival
Top Michigan Attractions In August
1. Historic Biking Tours of Sleeping Bear (Maple City) - throughout August
Embrace the historic beauty of Michigan when you take a Historic Biking Tour of Sleeping Bear. The path isn't too challenging at 5.5 miles in length, so it's worth the effort to see the cultural landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes along the Heritage Trail and through the scenic, rural roads of Port Oneida. This particular tour will stop at seven locations of interest, including spots with epic views of Lake Michigan as well as historic farm buildings.
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2. Explore Oscoda, Au Sable River, & Huron National Forest
Looking for an absolute gem of a peaceful getaway? Then Oscoda might be just perfect for you. You can rent canoes, kayaks, tubes, and paddlewheel boats for an adventure on the AuSable River. You can also explore Lake Huron and the trails within Huron National Forest. Get ready for incredible views and sugar sand beaches! This is one of our favorite things to do in Michigan this summer.
At the vintage Capri Drive-In, you'll step back in time as you take in double features on the outdoor big screen. You can watch from your car, or set up blankets and camping chairs to enjoy the show -- all while chowing down on everything you get from their concession stand!
Top Michigan Events In August
4. Lansing JazzFest (Lansing) - July 31st to August 3rd
Love jazz (or just a good music festival)? Then you should definitely check out Lansing JazzFest. The festival offers hours of live jazz on three different stages, as well as clinics, workshops and children’s activities. It's a free event that we think is so worth the drive. August festivals in Michigan offer so many fun ways to enjoy the state!
Not only does it have a good name, but Suds on the Shore Craft Beer and Wine Festival has been running for seven years! For 2024, the event will be on August 17th at City Park near Lake Michigan in downtown Ludington. If you love craft beer, hard cider, and local Michigan wine, then you'll be a happy camper at this event that raises funds for the United Way of Mason County.
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6. Rollin’ on the River (Allegan) - Fridays until August 30th
Nothing says "summer" like weekends full of live music! You can find Rollin' on the River on the Allegan Riverfront as a free, weekly Friday night concert series. Touring musicians from across the country will grace the Allegan Riverfront Stage and it's a family-friendly event you won't want to miss.
7. Skip's European Farmers Market (New Buffalo) - Saturday and Sunday during August
Running through mid-October, this incredible farmer's market offers locally produced vegetables, fruits, jellies, jams, salsas, bread, and more! Sure, there are plenty of farmer's markets in our great state during the summer, but if you're looking for a farmer's market that has a TON of offerings (and some fairly unique), then you should take a trip over to Skip's!
Even if you're not an elite car enthusiast, you will enjoy the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world's largest one-day automotive event. This classic car parade in the motor city takes place on Woodward Avenue in the Detroit area, so swing by if you want to check out vintage and muscle cars cared for by some of the most passionate people in the industry.
9. Michigan Renaissance Festival (Holly) - August 17th to September 29th
The town of Holly is transformed into "Hollygrove" during The Michigan Renaissance Festival, a Renaissance fair and interactive outdoor event that the whole family will love. Even if you've never been to a "ren faire" before, it's worth checking out. You'll feel like you're stepping back in time to the 16th century! It’s one of our favorite summer festivals in Michigan.
Have we inspired you to make an end-of-summer to-do list for Michigan? With whatever itinerary you put together for August, we hope you have a blast! And make sure to check out some of our favorite outdoor activities in Michigan!
Need somewhere to stay while you’re visiting? We love the options on VRBO.
