RV Explorer's Guide To Michigan A shoreline dotted with maritime museums and more than 129 picturesque lighthouses. A car-less island where historic sites recall Colonial America. Michigan has activities to keep families entertained, from speedways to roller coasters, water parks to zoos and aquariums. The Great Lakes State truly relishes water. Flanked by lakes on nearly every side, Michigan boasts more coastline than any other state except Alaska. 3,000 miles of lake-shore spangled with bays, beaches, sand dunes, and sandstone cliffs. Henry Ford Museum Binder Park Zoo Oswald's Bear Ranch Prepare to be astounded by the An African adventure awaits you at This is a sanctuary for several black attractions and resources: Henry Binder Park Zoo! Discover bears that visitors can see up close. Ford Museum of American spectacular views of wild animals Everybody can go around the outdoor Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford from elevated boardwalks. Get habitats, fenced-in and situated on a Rouge Factory Tour and Benson Ford nose-to-nose with one of the largest lake in the woods - a perfect place for Research Center. giraffe herds in the country as you bears. explore Wild Africa and hand feed a giraffe! 20900 Oakwood Blvd. 7400 Division Dr. 13814 County Road 407 Dearborn, MI Battle Creek, MI Newberry, MI (313) 982-6001 (269) 979-1351 (906) 293-3147 Varies $0-$14.25 $10-$20 thehenryford.org binderparkzoo.org oswaldsbearranch.com Open daily 9:30 AM - 5 PM Mon.-Fri. 8:30 AM - 5 PM Memorial Day - September Sat. 9 AM - 6 PM 9:30 AM - 5 PM Sun. 11 AM - 6 PM Belle Isle Park Belle Isle Aquarium Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Rich with history and natural beauty, The Belle Isle Aquarium Thunder Bay Island sits just three Belle Isle Park is a Detroit gem and was designed by famed Detroit miles East-northeast of the north became Michigan's 102nd State Park in architect, Albert Kahn, and opened point of Thunder Bay, and thirteen 2014 as part of a lease agreement with on August 18, 1904. It is the oldest miles from the harbor at Alpena. This the City of Detroit. aquarium in the country. 215-acre limestone island is the outermost of a group of islands. 99 Pleasure Drive 900 Inselruhe Avenue Thunder Bay Island Detroit, MI Belle Isle State Park Alpena, MI Detroit, MI, (844) 235-5375 (313) 402-0466 (800) 425-7362 Free Free Free belleisleconservancy.org/bell belleisleconservancy.org/bell michigan.org/property/thund e-isle-park-attractions e-isle-aquarium er-bay-island-lighthouse Open daily 5 AM - 10 PM Fri-Sun. 10 AM - 4 PM Any time Big Bay Point Lighthouse Nichols Arboretum Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Originally, this housed Throughout the Arb you’ll find The Kelsey houses a collection of the keeper (and his family) and an many special places to discover, more than 100,000 artifacts, of assistant keeper with family as well. including extensive but dispersed which approximately 1,500 are on As the country moved to eight-hour collections of native and exotic permanent display; in addition, the shifts, a frame building with trees and shrubs masterfully Museum mounts 2-3 special outhouse was built at the bottom of crafted into a naturalistic exhibitions annually. the hill for a second assistant landscape begun by O. C. Simonds keeper. in 1907. 4674 Co Rd. KCB 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. 434 South State Street Big Bay, MI Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor, MI N/A (734) 647-7600 (734) 764-9304 Free Free Free N/A mbgna.umich.edu/nichols- lsa.umich.edu/kelsey arboretum Any time Open sunrise-sunset. Visitor Tues.–Fri.: 9 AM–4 PM Center open daily mid-May- Sat. & Sun.: 1 PM–4 PM Labor Day – Sat. & Sun. through mid-November Gerald R. Ford Museum Mackinac Island Sleeping Bear Dunes At the core of the Museum is the For centuries, visitors have found National Lakeshore permanent exhibit, which allows this national landmark to be the High dunes afford spectacular views visitors to experience highlights from ideal vacation spot. No cars. No across the lake. An island lighthouse, President and Mrs. Ford's lives. The chain hotels. Just world-famous US Life-Saving Service stations, exhibit teaches democratic Mackinac Island Fudge, historic coastal villages, and picturesque citizenship and allows for quiet Fort Mackinac, unique shopping farmsteads reflect the park’s rich reflection. and diverse dining. maritime, agricultural, and recreational history. 303 Pearl Street NW Tourist Bureau: Visitor Center: Grand Rapids, MI 7274 Main Street On highway M-72, 500 feet Mackinac Island, MI east of M-22 in Empire (616) 254-0400 (906) 847-3783 (231) 326-4700 $0-$10 Free $15-$25 for vehicle fordlibrarymuseum.gov mackinacisland.org nps.gov/slbe Mon.-Sat. 9 AM - 5 PM Any time Any time Sun. noon - 5 PM Tourism Information: Road Trips: Local Flavors: Detroit Mexicantown International Highway 31 down the Gold Coast Cherries: half a million people flock to the Welcome Center (Lake Michigan) from Mackinaw National Cherry Festival in Traverse City 2835 Bagley Ave. City to New Buffalo (365 mi.) each July to eat cherry pie, cherry jam, Detroit, MI dried cherries, cherry salads, just about (800) 338-7648 Cooper County Trail (US 41) anything and everything with this little red visitdetroit.com between Houghton and Cooper fruit. Harbor (47 mi.) Pannukakku: Finnish immigrants River Road National Scenic Byway introduced these Scandinavian pancakes along the Au Sable River between (topped with fresh berries) to the Upper Alcona Dam in Huron National Peninsula more than 100 years ago. Cafe Forest and Oscoda on Lake Huron Rosetta in the Copper Country offers (22 mi.) several varieties. 104 5th St., Calumet Highways 25 and 23 along the Whitefish: the Cove Restaurant in Sunrise Coast (Lake Huron) Fishtown serves this Great Lakes delight a between Mackinaw City and Port half dozen ways, from smoked and stuffed Huron (400 mi.) to garlic and Parmesan flavored to campfire whitefish with roasted peppers and onions. 111 River St., Leland Presented by: National RV Owner's Association.