If you are in or near Michigan and are in the vicinity, the lure of nature is difficult to ignore. In a state of such beauty, it’s just natural to desire to take some time and visit one of the stunning getaway spots our state has to offer.
From stunning shorelines that rise above the wild ocean to charming tiny towns and picturesque islands, Michigan is full of interesting places to explore.
Best Weekend Getaways in Michigan
There are many options for how Weekend Getaways in Michigan could turn into one of the most memorable vacations that you’ll ever have. From the traditional Victorian appeal of Mackinac Island, where life is at a slow pace, to the awe-inspiring thrill of running along the sand dunes in summertime across Lake Michigan, and the revitalization of the city of Detroit each Michigan vacation is special.
You can have a weekend with water or food or plan your trip by location to visit an area that you’ve not visited before. From the romantic appeal to the city of Jackson as well as the action and sports action of Ann Arbor, check out our list of some of the Best Weekend Getaways in Michigan.
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Weekend Getaways in Michigan: your Favorite Spots
We've assembled an assortment of our top Weekend Getaways in Michigan and an assortment of the top getaways for weekends and vacation spots that include Michigan hotels to stay at If you're planning an overnight trip.
If it's a planned spring trip or summer vacation or for an autumn festival weekend or a Winter getaway we've found a place for you.
Learn more to find out our favorite places to make the most of your Weekend Getaways in Michigan.
Best (Romantic) Weekend Getaways in Michigan:
1. Traverse City
The appeal of Traverse City throughout the year is that it offers the perfect road journey. Take your time exploring through the back roads, and stop by an outdoor cafe. Pack a picnic lunch, and take a trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in which you can enjoy one of the most beloved northern Michigan activities: climbing the dunes made of sand.
Take a stroll along the Lake Michigan shoreline and enjoy the numerous types of species that have made this area home. Plan a trip all the way to Leelanau Peninsula or the Old Mission Peninsula and visit the Mission Point Lighthouse. The peninsula stretches for 16 miles to Grand Traverse Bay and is home to the most vibrantly colored trees in the fall which makes for a gorgeous autumn getaway.
Traverse City is a great place for couples who want to escape or an escape for themselves for a meal that is farm-to-table or for a family trip in which you stay at the Great Wolf Lodge or a hotel such as Great Wolf Lodge and enjoy the many activities that kids, as well as parents, enjoy.
Top 15 Best Waterfalls in Michigan
2. Petoskey
There is no better place to spend a perfect winter weekend holiday than Petoskey. It is located in northwest Lower Michigan and on Little Traverse Bay the conditions are ideal for snow-lovers who require their daily dose of snow during winter months. Three ski areas are available which together offer greater than 160 downhill ski trails along with snowboarding and cross-country ski courses.
Resorts such as those at the Inn at Bay Harbor in Boyne allow you to be easy and comfortable to concentrate on a particular area of interest while you travel and then enjoy a relaxing meal and resort facilities following an afternoon at the ski slopes. Another alternative is to ski different ski areas each day in Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, and Nub's Nob.
3. Grand Rapids
To indulge your creative side you can plan a themed weekend getaway to Grand Rapids, where the public art, music, and food create a fun atmosphere. At night, take a look at the variety of music options featuring hundreds of live performances. Complete your Grand Rapid arts and culture weekend by sampling some innovative cuisines in one of the many local eateries that specialize in fresh, local food on the Grand Rapids Food Trail.
To save even more you can purchase the three-day Culture Pass GR with savings on seven popular attractions within the region. Stay for a weekend stay in the chic and artistic Amway Grand Plaza Hotel with wooden and iron sculptures, as well as interior decor throughout. It's the ideal setting for your creative getaway while you visit the three art museums located in Grand Rapids, including the amazing Frederik Meijer Gardens and the Sculpture Park. You can also browse the art on display within the city.
4. Jackson
For those who love history, there is an event that is themed at Jackson within South Central Michigan. The rich history of Jackson begins with the place of birth of the Republican Party at the corner of Franklin and Second Streets. Explore the parks and monuments that are dedicated to the most important events of US history.
You can go on a Civil War tour with several locations that include Washington Park, Evergreen Cemetery, Ella Sharp Museum, Michigan Military Heritage Museum, and Under the Oaks Park. You can also plan a day for visiting Cell Block 7, which is a museum that takes through the history of Michigan's prisons in the site of a prison that is currently in operation.
Enjoy your weekend in the Cascades in the Cascades region, where Cascade Falls, a spectacular man-made waterfall, can be illuminated in the evening with fireworks and music during the summer.
5. Gaylord
An unforgettable outdoor weekend trip in Michigan is a trip from Gaylord which is located in the northwestern region of Michigan. Gaylord is famous for its numerous outdoor activities throughout the year. You can spend a whole day or even the whole weekend exploring the 90 lakes that are inland, or any among the five river systems within the region to enjoy water sports.
It is possible to mix your water adventure with hiking along numerous trails through forests and parks. For those who think "outdoors" in your mind is playing at the links, you are able to spend your vacation in the Treetops Resort, which has five of the best golf courses. This should give you enough time for you to work on your game. Make sure you enjoy a relaxing evening or two admiring the sunset from the downtown area downtown, where you can walk through unique stores and restaurants in the area.
6. Bay City
Enjoy a relaxing weekend by the water at Bay City, Michigan where everything from eating to entertainment has an element of water to make the most of Bay City's most sought-after tourist attraction which is the freshwater Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. The city's waterfront awaits by inviting you to get onto the Bay City Boat Lines for an excursion along the water.
You can go on a tour on the water or reserve dinner aboard for an evening cruise, or a stargazer tour. To prolong your time in the water, you can plan an excursion on BaySail's Appledore Tall Ships. You can take pleasure in a unique sailing experience, and help BaySail's conservation efforts for The Saginaw Bay and the Great Lakes.
If you're ready for some activities to enjoy on at the beach, check out the Sunrise Pedal Trolley, where you'll make new acquaintances on your trip Don't forget to savor the fresh fish in the restaurants along the water.
7. Detroit
If you've not visited Detroit in recent times, you've not witnessed the dazzling changes that have taken over Detroit, the Motor City, worthy of an exciting weekend getaway. The city tour begins with the culture of Detroit and includes visits to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation as well as Motown Museum, Motown Museum, and the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium.
Spend some time at the world-renowned Eastern Market within downtown Detroit. You can go on your own or go on an organized tour around the neighborhood on biking or walking. Take advantage of the local vendors as well as the artists, culinary expressions, and the rich historical background of the area.
Enjoy a day in the city like a local, and go to a Detroit Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park and enjoy a famous Detroit Coney dog. It is possible to purchase the D Discount Pass for discounts for major tourist attractions within the city.
8. Munising
If your weekend plans are about stunning views or photography and photography, then you'll need to be in Munising the city that is among the top beautiful regions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The weekend is filled with spontaneous visits at Pictured Rocks, Hiawatha National Forest, Horseshoe Falls, and Laughing Whitefish Falls.
You should plan your day trip before you depart to make sure to capture as many beautiful spots as is possible. To experience an unforgettable winter getaway you should schedule your trip around Munising Ice Fest, which attracts more than 1,000 people who climb ice in the region in order to scale the rock walls which form upon Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
9. Mohawk
A weekend trip to Mohawk Michigan can be both historical and outdoor adventures. The location is characterized by its mining history, beginning with Mohawk Mining Company. Mohawk Mining Company settled in the late 19th century.
It is possible to spend a portion of your vacation exploring this special area in the Upper Peninsula with a mine tour of The Delaware Copper Mines and visiting the Central Mine Museum. For outdoor activities in the region, you can spend the remaining portion of your journey near Mount Bohemia, where you can ski during winter and take a hike cycling, kayaking, or bicycling during the summer.
10. Frankenmuth
A visit to Frankenmuth is similar to a mini trip to another country. The whole town is like tiny Bavaria that offers German-themed accommodations as well as food and experiences. Indulge yourself in the Frankenmuth mood by enjoying a roll of pretzel at The Bavarian Inn Restaurant or, better than that, register for a pretzel-rolling course.
You must plan the greater portion of the afternoon to go to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Frankenmuth. It's the world's biggest Christmas shop, in operation since 1945, and decorated with more than 300 Christmas trees.
The Frankenmuth village has a few outdoor activities to take advantage of when you want to get away from the numerous shops which line the streets of the village. You can hire kayaks and go for a paddle on the Cass River or book a game on The Fortress Golf Course.
Frankenmuth is among the getaways that are action-packed and unforgettable, featuring indoor water parks, shopping and Bavarian-themed activities and all set in German architecture and exquisite food.
