Ports and marinas are a mainstay here and the horizon is speckled with sailboats, fishing boats and cruise ships. The lakes themselves have a deep impact on Michigan weather and have assisted the state’s farming efforts. Michigan leads the country in blueberries, cherries, and grapes and also has its fair share of vineyards and orchards.

The Great Lakes in Michigan give the state over 3,200 miles of coast including beaches and cliffs. The diversity of the land near the Great Lakes offers visitors everything from sand dunes to beaches to gorgeous waterfalls. Some of the best beaches in Michigan include the Oval Beach in Saugatuck, the beach at Ludington State Park, and Esch Road Beach. Lighthouse lovers can enjoy the over 120 lighthouses that populate the Great Lakes coasts.

Tourists spend over $17 billion a year visiting the Great Lakes in Michigan. Michigan is a global destination for scuba divers because of the Michigan Underwater Preserves that include 11 underwater areas where divers can explore protected shipwrecks. Nature lovers will enjoy the Pictured Rocks of Lake Superior, multicolored sandstone cliffs that go for 15 miles.

While in Michigan take a look at the state’s lone national park, Isle Royale National Park. This national park is actually an island located in Lake Superior. The park includes the Isle Royale and over 400 smaller islands. Other protected areas in Michigan include the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and the Keweenaw National Historical Park.

For history buffs, a trip to Mackinac Island should be on the to do list. This island was a pivotal place during the Revolutionary War as the British sued it to control the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

The list of attractions and things to do when visiting the Great Lakes in Michigan is endless. You may find yourself needed to take multiple trips to soak it all in. If you truly want a Great Lakes experience, Michigan offers it all.

Bordered by the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, it connects with Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac in the north. It is 321 mi (517 km) long and up to 118 mi (190 km) wide, with a maximum depth of 923 ft (281 m); it occupies an area of 22,300 sq mi (57,757 sq km). The first European to discover it was the French explorer Jean Nicolet in 1634; the explorer La Salle brought the first sailing ship there in 1679. It now attracts international shipping as part of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway. The name is derived from the Algonquian word michigami or misschiganin, meaning “big lake.”

- Henry Ford Museum’s “100 Years of the Automobile in American Life” exhibit
- Mackinac Island where automobiles have yet to intrude, setting a different pace of life
- Motown Historical Museum, home of the Motown sound
- Sleeping Bear dune climb on Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the Pierce Stocking scenic drive and the life-saving Station Museum
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s cliffs, beaches, waterfalls and forests on Lake Superior
- Charter fishing for King Salmon on the Great Lakes, plus 11,000 inland lakes for pan-fish, boating or relaxing
- Numerous manufacturers’ outlet malls – shopping at up to 70% off designer name brands