Five Great Michigan Vacation Ideas

Maybe you want to stay close to home this summer. Or maybe you want to go somewhere a little more economical than Disney World, where the sales tax is agreeable (6%) and the weather is temperate. No matter what your reason for considering Michigan as a vacation destination, Michigan has a lot to offer every kind of traveler. Here are five great Michigan vacation ideas to consider when planning your trip.

Michigan Vacation Idea #1: The Wine Tour

There are more than 50 different wineries in Michigan. If you've ever seen movies like Sideways and thought, I want to do that, now you can! You can turn a tour of Michigan's vineyards into a weekend road trip. If you're looking for a more structured vacation experience, you can take a bike tour, or you can even book a chartered limo tour. No matter how you decide to see Michigan's wineries, you're sure to come home with lots of stories and samples.

Michigan Vacation Idea #2: The Art Tour

Art in Michigan? Yes, art in Michigan! Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, and Flint all have excellent art museums. Surely you've heard of the Detroit Institute of Art or the Cranbrook Art Museum? Any major Michigan art museum you visit has the potential for art-themed side trips as well. For example, a trip to the Grand Rapids Art Museum might also include a visit the Frederick Meijer Gardens sculpture walk and the Meyer May House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Michigan Vacation Idea #3: An African American History Tour of Detroit

Detroit is a great place to take the kids for a lesson in African American history. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is a great place to start. Follow it up with a trip to the new Motown Museum and the Underground Railroad Living Museum. Because Detroit is right across the river from Canada, there are many Underground Railroad historic sites you can visit on a tour. At the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, you can also see the Rosa Parks bus and the chair in which President Lincoln was shot.

Michigan Vacation Idea #4: Campin' in da UP

Michigan has some beautiful state parks and quite a few decent private campgrounds. For a true Michigan vacation, consider camping in the Upper Peninsula. Between the forests, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and pictured rocks, there is so much natural beauty there it's no wonder the Yoopers (locals) are keeping it a secret. If sleeping in a tent is not your style, many state campgrounds also offer cabin rentals.

Michigan Vacation Idea #5: Great Lakes Cruises and Houseboat Rentals

Can't afford that Caribbean Cruise this year? You can cruise the Great Lakes instead! Great Lakes cruises offer all the amenities of a typical ocean cruise, with destinations that are a little more affordable and a little closer to home, with ports in Michigan, Canada, and other Great Lakes states. If you prefer privacy on the water, you can rent a houseboat and float on a smaller lake. Houseboat rentals typically sleep six to eight and can be rented from 3-7 days.

Check out www.michigan.org for more travel information.