Greetings!
We’re Tony & Peggy Barthel and we’re working to help you be a StressLess Camper.
We’re Tony & Peggy Barthel and we’re working to help you be a StressLess Camper.
What is there to do in Michigan for RVers? What are some of the highlights of a Michigan destination? We have destinations, highlights and tips for visiting Michigan after spending a month researching on our own journey. Here are a collection of things to see and do in Michigan.
Michigan boasts a treasure trove of enchanting tourism destinations that beckon travelers year-round. With its pristine Great Lakes shoreline, the state offers idyllic beach getaways like the stunning Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where sandy shores meet towering bluffs for breathtaking vistas.
History enthusiasts can explore the timeless charm of Mackinac Island, where horse-drawn carriages replace cars, while adventure seekers can revel in the rugged beauty of the Upper Peninsula's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a haven for hiking and kayaking. For vibrant urban experiences, Detroit's renaissance as a cultural hub and the artsy vibe of Ann Arbor await. Michigan's diverse landscapes, rich history, and cultural offerings make it an SEO-friendly paradise for every traveler.
There are over 100 links to in-depth stories, videos and more on this page. Click the various links to be taken directly to that content.
We also have a complete list of all our articles about visiting Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
Copper is a big part of Michigan’s history and you can visit several parts of what made Michigan a huge copper mining resource for the US.
The Quincy Mine is a guided tour of the mine that is credited with bringing much of the copper wiring that we use in the US today as the country industrialized.
This rich copper mining history is how Michigan got the Copper Harbor.
Overlooking Copper Harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
One of our favorite things to see in Michigan is the Henry Ford.
Frankenmuth is a town in Michigan that has strong German heritage and the buildings and food reflect that. There’s also an historic brewery there that claims to be the oldest microbrewery in the US. And, most importantly, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is thought to be the largest Christmas store in the entire world.
Lighthouses are common in Michigan what with the Great Lakes being right there and all. We enjoyed touring the Mission Point Lighthouse and the Hessler log home - both on the same site.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is another place many people enjoy seeing when visiting Michigan. While in this part of Michigan you’ll also want to traverse Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Stocking was a lumberman who wanted access to the gorgeous coastline so he built a private road, and now we all get to enjoy it.
Apparently there are two Michigans - the Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. People in the Upper Peninsula are called “Yoopers” whereas those in the lower portion are called Trolls because they live below the Mackinac Island Bridge.
We truly enjoyed our day trip to Mackinac Island. We got there by ferry and the trip was delightfully pleasant. Mackinac Island is an unusual destination in and of itself that’s well worth going to.
When you’re in the Upper Peninsula don’t miss the Glass Bottom Shipwreck tour. It was fantastic.
We love, love, love roadside Americana and a great example of that is Lakenenland in Marquette. Tom Lakenen is both a welder and a creative soul who has created a drive-through park with an incredible array of metal sculptures.
Another example of this, albeit smaller, was Da Yoopers Tourist Trap. Yep, they actually called it that.
Another thing we truly cherished on our journey was Kitch-iti-kipi spring. This remarkably clear natural spring is best viewed from a human-powered barge with an open center section from which you can marvel at the natural springs and amazingly clear water.
Checking out Michigan’s most popular pasties in beef and chicken variants.
While not a restaurant, we really loved buying jams and breads from the monks at The Jam Pot.
Pasties - pronounced pah-steez - are a staple in Michigan, apparently. Their history goes back to the miners who brought them for lunch. They’re essentially the precursor to the Hot Pocket for lack of a better description. We had Pasties in two places - Mr. Foisie’s Pasties and Muldoon’s Pasties & Gifts, the latter being voted best pasties in Michigan.
One of our absolute favorite places that we ate in Michigan was Slab Town Burgers in Traverse City. These stuffed burgers were incredible.
Another thing we enjoyed so much that we enjoyed it twice was Moomer’s Ice Cream. Even President Biden stopped there.
By the time we had reached Market 22 it was getting late and the lonely road meant fewer choices. But this was another absolute highlight of the trip with sandwiches that would make a New York deli proud.
Tony’s been aware of the fudge on Mackinac Island since he was a wee lad. We happened to be there on Fudge Day and tried plenty. Which was our favorite? We have the story here.
While we were in Munising we stopped at Eh! Burger. In fact, it was so nice, we ate there twice.
Our first night was spent at the KOA in Ypsilanti.
While we didn’t stay there this time, we have stayed at Camp Dearborne which is very close to The Henry Ford.
One of our favorite Harvest Hosts has been Leaman’s Green Applebarn. They’re known for their donuts and apple creations but the sites are huge and level - one of our favorite stops.
With more than 200 sites for everything from large RVs to tents our stay at Interlochen State Park was nice and the park is right on one of the Great Lakes.
When visiting Mackinac Island (ya’ just gotta!) we recommend staying at Lakeshore RV Park in St. Ignace.
We really enjoyed the Bay Furnace Campground in Munising which is a first come, first served campground with some tree-shaded spots and a few wide open ones for those of us with solar and starlink.
One of our final days in Michigan was in Hancock City Campground.
