8 Close-Knit Towns to Visit in Michigan
Inspired by the Ojivwa word “meicigam” which translates to “large lake/water” as a nod to either Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, or even Lake Huron, the Mitten State of Michigan is certainly a large state with a number of remarkable attractions worth visiting. But the best places you ought to see are the close-knit towns to visit in Michigan. Regardless of whether you will adore Munising’s lakeside amenities, Mackinac Island’s natural beauty, or Marshall’s historic anecdotes, you will be smitten by the Mitten State’s communal ties and connectivity. Feel at home and at ease in the “Great Beer State” of Michigan, especially in the close-knit towns of Michigan worth visiting this year.
Munising
On the South Bay of Lake Superior lies the remarkable and memorable small town of Munising. Between scuba-diving for ancient shipwrecks from the 19th to 20th centuries at the bottom of the Alger Underwater Preserve or journeying through scenic regions such as the Hiawatha National Forest and Grand Island, you will have a hard time picking which destinations to head towards first. Come winter, you ought to go visit “the Curtains,” a frozen waterfall perfect for ice-climbing in addition to skiing and going through a snowshoe trail known as the “Snowman” at Valley Spur. Most importantly, you will be mesmerized by the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s colorful rock striations beside Lake Superior. Should you ever be in need of simple necessities to make your vacation in Munising more comfortable, then look to the Munising Motel, Roam Inn, and Pictured Rocks Inn & Suites for whatever you desire.
St. Joseph
As the “Riviera of the Midwest” and about 90 miles from the city of Chicago, the small town of Saint Joseph entertains newcomers with its many panoramic parks and beaches that overlook Lake Michigan, these being Lions Park Beach, Lookout Park, Tiscornia Park, and Silver Beach. Get a better view of Lake Michigan and the Saint Joseph River from atop the Saint Joseph North Pier Lighthouse, or admire a more artistic representation of the land and beyond with the Krasl Art Center’s exhibits and artworks. To learn all about the town’s humble genesis, you can always pick up a historic book at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library. And if you wish to stay a lot longer in Saint Joseph, you can definitely book a room in welcoming establishment such as The Boulevard Inn & Bistro, Silver Beach Hotel, or South Beach Inn.
Traverse City
Situated beside several smaller lakes such as Elk Lake, Long Lake, Torch Lake, and Lake Leelanau, travelers will find all manner of traveling opportunities in the small town of Traverse City. From sand dunes at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to over 40 cherry wineries dotted between the East and West Arm of Traverse Bay, you will undoubtedly find all manner of new experiences to savor in Traverse City. Particularly, the National Cherry Festival from June 29 to July 6 or the Village at Grand Traverse Commons with its historic structures. No need to be worried about accommodations, especially if you intend to spend your evenings at either the Cambria Hotel Traverse City, Bayshore Resort, or Wellington Inn.
Frankenmuth
About 80 miles from both Lansing and Detroit, Frankenmuth is frankly one of the best places in Michigan to get a good idea of what Germany looks like if you were actually in Europe. Each year, the townsfolk celebrate their German heritage with the Osterbrunnen, a Easter-like festival from Franconia Germany or Northern Bavaria that occurs from March 15 to April 14. You should also celebrate in the largest beer sampling event in the third weekend of May in addition to Zehnder’s Ragtime Festival in April 24 - 26.
If you are not one for festivities, you can control your own pacing in your vacation by visiting Michigan’s Military & Space Heroes Museum with its exhibits of Medals of Honor and US military flight gear. And to learn all about the German immigrants that founded Frankenmuth, look to the Frankenmuth Historical Museum for historic insights. The Frankenmuth Aerial Park promotes magnificent ziplines for you to soar in the air, while the Heritage Park near the Cass River often hosts a few live performances. As for fine lodgings like the Bavarian Inn, Marv Herzog Hotel, or Zehnder’s Splash Village, you will feel right at home in the German-themed town of Frankenmuth.
Holland
While Frankenmuth is based on Germany, the town of Holland is based on the Netherlands and even assumes the old name of that particular European nation. One can clearly see a stalwart connection to cultural heritage with De Zwaan or “The Swan,” a gigantic Dutch windmill found at the Windmill Island Gardens. The Holland Museum and the Cappon House Museum discusses the immigrations of the Dutch people from the Old World to the New World. Most of all, you can see the townsfolk celebrating the remarkable Tulip Time Festival from May 4 - 12, a celebration almost reminiscent of the Tulip Mania that occurred in the Netherlands.
Aside from all the Dutch delights, one can enjoy simple leisurely strolls along Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, or even panoramic views from the Big Red Lighthouse. Lovers of the outdoor might also want to pitch a tent at the Holland State Park Macatawa Campground, whereas those who like hotel amenities can certainly find their needs met at either the Holland Farmhouse Inn B&B or the Tulyp Hotel.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island, located where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, is one of the few destinations in America where you can ride horse-drawn carriage towards the many attractions in the island. First, there is the Mackinac Island State Park, which National Geographic lauded as one of the ten best parks in America. Second, the military bases of Fort Mackinac and Fort Holmes that survived the War of 1812. Third, the Buddle House in the Mackinac Island Native American Museum that talks about the Anishnaabek people who were abundant throughout Michigan.
Then there are local artisan galleries like a blacksmith’s workshop at Benjamin Blacksmith and Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum’s bohemian masterpieces. Most of you, your steadfast carriages can take you to unique limestone Arch Rock formations in the area or towards the venues that host the Fudge Festival on August and the Lilac Festival on June. Once your merry tour of Mackinac Island is over, you can end your fairytale adventure in resplendent abodes like the Hotel Iroquois, Grand Hotel, Chippewa Hotel Waterfront, or Lilac Tree Suites.
Saugatuck
Saugatuck, about 12 miles south of Holland, can be found on the Art Coast of Lake Michigan next to its close neighbors, Douglas and Fennville. The Art Coast is renowned for its award-winning breweries and wineries, and in Saugatuck not only can you sample scrumptious beverages at your leisure but also admire the dozens of art galleries dotted all over town. Whether you are admiring the natural splendors of the Northern Lights in the winter or rolling through the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area and the Saugatuck Dunes State Park for their sand dunes, you will undeniably fall in love with Saugatuck’s close-knit communities and connections. Go canoeing through the Kalamazoo River or brave the arduous ascent to Mount Baldhead. Savor your experiences with a hefty drink while gawking at Saugatuck’s artistic side on Lake Michigan’s Art Coast. But most of all, refresh yourselves for a new day at the Hotel Saugatuck, Serendipity Bed and Breakfast, or Wickwood Inn.
Marshall
As an hour-away getaway from both the cities of Chicago and Detroit, Marshall will have you marshaling your calendar for a longer vacation in this historic town. Formerly a fur-trading town built in 1830, Marshall’s 19th and 20th century buildings such as the Honolulu House and the Governor’s Mansion have survived the turmoil of the American Civil War even when its inhabitants had abetted in the escape of slave named Adam Crosswhite who fled to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The Marshall Historical Museum at GAR Hall chronicles this communal chapter in Marshall’s history, whereas the American Museum of Magic, “the Smithsonian of American magic,” highlights the progression and evolution of American magic since the year 1978. Currently, Marshall is in the process of being the site for the Ford Motor Company's BlueOval Battery Park, but for now you can be accommodated by the lavish lodgings of The Royal Hotel & Apartments, the National House Inn, or Arbor Inn.
Michigan, the Lighthouse Capital of the World with over 115 lighthouses scattered throughout America’s Great Lakes, shines its myriads of lights towards the close-knit towns and communities worth visiting this year. From artistic sceneries and sensibilities in coastal towns like Saugatuck all the way to pockets of Europe in the middle of America as seen in Holland or Frankenmuth, these destinations glow with strong communal appreciation and social amicability that you will feel like you are walking through a hometown than an unknown and unfamiliar territory. So whether your destination happens to be beside Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, or Lake Superior, you will still be greeted and warmed by the same hospitability widespread throughout the Mitten State of Michigan.
