Overview

Michigan is a Midwestern state in the United States of America. It is named after Lake Michigan and is comprised of two peninsulas separated by the Straits of Mackinac. There is quite a bit of history to the state and the land has been fought over more than once. It became a U.S. territory in 1805 and the nation's 26th state on January 26, 1837.

However, long before the arrival of European settlers, the Michigan area was home to about 15,000 Native Americans; mostly Anishinabe, Ottawa and Potawatomi. The first European to discover the area was Etienne Brule in 1620.

Activities & Attractions

Tourism in Michigan is a major source of income. Most of the state is forest and there are a lot of vacationers from all over the world that come to visit them. Along with forests are miles of beaches, which are another top attraction of Michigan.

Metropolitan Detroit is a major tourist attraction with many sites worth visiting. The Henry Ford, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Zoo, and Detroit Historical Museum are some of the most popular attractions. The area also has four major casinos; the MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown, Motor City, and Caesars Windsor.

Apart from having many parks, recreation areas and state forests, it also has the largest state park and state forest system in the country. Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are some of the beautiful and protected sites in the state. The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a famous attraction connecting all the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Ann Arbor, Mackinac Island, Frankenmuth, Saginaw Valley, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, and Alpena are some of the other major attractions in the state.

From roughly August to October is the Michigan Renaissance Festival. It is full of fun and excitement and features racetracks, wineries, exhibits, tours and amusement parks. In the warmer months activities like fishing, water sports, hunting, scuba diving and camping are also popular.

Lodging

There are many hotels and motels throughout Michigan that have reasonable rates. There are also some historic inns which may prove to be interesting. The Avon House in Flint is a festive colored Victorian Inn complete with wraparound porch. There are also bed and breakfasts, resorts, wood cabins, lakeside cottages, campgrounds and condos all over the state. For advance booking or more information on accommodation in Michigan, check out the links found below in the resources section.

Transportation

There is plenty of public transportation available throughout Michigan. There are nine international crossings, five class-I railroads, and many interstate routes. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is Michigan's busiest airport and has many daily domestic and international flights. Three companies provide regular intercity buses that connect with other local transit. There are also passenger rails and ferry services available.