5 MI Road Trips: Auroras, Pictured Rocks, The Thumb, Small Towns, More

MICHIGAN — This has shaped up to be a stellar year to chase the northern lights, and the farther north your road trip takes you in Michigan, the greater the chance of seeing the jaw-dropping curtains of pink, purple, green and yellow.

Forecasting when the aurora will dip outside the Arctic Circle range is tricky, but displays have been fairly frequent in Michigan this year because the sun is experiencing what’s called “solar maximum” in its 11-year cycle.

Forecasts are usually a day or so out, The Space Weather Prediction Center aurora dashboard from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows how far south auroras might dip after geomagnetic storming activity.

Mackinaw City is worth visiting in any case, but if you want to see the northern lights — or meteors or any celestial occurrence — without interference with artificial light, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a great place to be. The 600-acre parcel of old-growth forest sits on two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline in Emmet County. Signs point visitors to dark sky viewing areas.

Camping isn’t allowed, but the park is open around the clock and is about 2 miles west of downtown Mackinaw City, a favorite Michigan vacation destination with historic parks, sandy beaches, unique shopping and restaurants, and natural beauty.

• Related: Why You May See More Aurora Borealis Displays

Mackinaw City is located at the base of “The Mighty Mac.” The longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, it connects Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas at the straits of Mackinac, the point where Great Lakes Michigan and Huron meet.

St. Ignace is on the other end. From there, two ferries depart daily for Mackinac Island, a 3.8-square-mile resort area whose crowning glory is the Grand Hotel. The entire island is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Mackinaw City is about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.

Pictured Rocks Road Trip

If this road trip to see the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (the mostly untouched natural area also a great place to chase the aurora) isn’t on your bucket list, it should be.

With sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest and wild shoreline, it’s unlike any other part of Michigan.

The name for this rich tapestry of geological layers comes from the streaks of mineral stain that decorate the cliffs. The best way to see red, orange, blue, copper, brown, black and white mineral streaks on the face of the cliffs is from the water. Fall is a great time to visit the UP in general. Autumn oranges, yellows and reds are a stunning finish on the Pictured Rocks.

The 42-mile park along Lake Superior’s south shore is located between the towns of Munising and Grand Marais. For those who don’t want to rough it the park’s campsites, either town is a great place to stay, with plenty of options ranging from motels to boutique hotels to private rentals. Both of these towns have dining and other businesses to support tourists. Among points of interest are the Au Sable Light Station in Munising; the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, which sits in the shadow of the Whitefish Light Station, which has run continuously since 1861, making it the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior; and Sable Falls, which tumbles 75 feet over a cascading slope of sandstone on its way to Lake Superior.

Thumbs Up On This Road Trip

Up North and the state’s “west coast” rightly claim their share of Michigan tourism attention with the seemingly limitless opportunities for fun, adventure and relaxation on the shores of Lake Michigan.

But don’t turn down your Thumb (if you know, you know) on the east side of the state. This area of central Michigan north of metro Detroit, but very different. There are plenty of things to do while exploring the small towns in this agriculture-rich part of Michigan.

Tucked inside Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, Bay City has plenty to offer with one-of-a-kind boutiques, antique shops, coffee houses, taverns and waterfront eateries. The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum aboard the U.S.S. Edson DD-946, a Vietnam War-era destroyer ship requires a reservation. The Delta College Planetarium & Learning Center is one of the most technologically advanced in the country and has a rooftop observation deck for telescope viewing or just looking at the city below.

In Port Huron, visit sites like the Blue Water Bridge crossing Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes Maritime Center. The historic downtown offers interesting shopping and dining experiences. The boardwalk offers excellent views of Lake St. Clair and passing freighter traffic, and is a link in the Bridge to Bay Trail System. Be sure to check out Lighthouse Park, one of the most historic parks in The Thumb with 900 feet of Lake Huron waterfront beach (the water is clean, but it’s not recommended for swimming due to its depth and swift current) and, of course, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.

The small town of Caseville may be best known for its 10-day Cheeseburger in Caseville festival the first full weekend of August. Inspired by Jimmy Buffett, the festival includes parades, games, lots of live music and, naturally, cheeseburgers. Caseville celebrates Shanty Days in February, and also offers wintry fun with festivals offering broom ball hockey, snow races, ice fishing contests, a Polar Bear Dip and a chili cook-off.

Albert E. Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park are both perfect paces to soak up the sun, hike wooded trails, paddle, fish and camp. In the winter, both parks offer cross-country skiing and winter camping.

Turnip Rock, situated at the tip of The Thumb at Port Austin, is a stunning and unique rock formation that’s a popular destination for experienced kayakers with an emphasis on “experienced,” as Lake Huron’s waters can be unpredictable. But those with skills can discover hidden sea caves and other notable formations, such as Thumbnail Point. Summer is peak season for kayaking, but adventurous paddlers can enjoy it in the fall to view spectacular colors.

FLW In ‘The Great Swiftness’

The Meyer May House in Grand Rapids is one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most elegant Prairie residences. Built in 1908 for a prominent Grand Rapids clothier, it is nestled in the Heritage Hill Historic District, which was saved in 1968 from urban renewal projects that would have wiped out 75 percent of the neighborhood.

The Frank Lloyd Wright house is the undisputed crown jewel. Light streams through hand-crafted leaded glass windows to fill the room, exposing intricate woodwork in a seamless integration with nature, the hallmark of Wright’s style. The home, which has original furnishings and carefully executed reproductions, is open to the public at no charge, offering a rare opportunity to experience a Prairie house exactly as Frank Lloyd Wright intended. Tours should be reserved ahead of time.

If you’re staying overnight, there are plenty of accommodations from budget to spendier. While you’re in town, be sure to check out multiple attractions, including the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the 158-acre Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and Calder Plaza and “La Grand Vitesse,” a 42-ton sculpture whose French name translates to “the great swiftness” or “the grand rapids.”

Locally, it’s called “The Calder” in deference to its creator, Alexander Calder, who is widely respected as one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century.

Beer aficionados are cheating themselves if they don’t stop by Founders Brewing Company, one of a couple that helped build Grand Rapids’ reputation as “Beer City USA.” There are more than 50 breweries along Ale Trail. It has a great Michigan comeback story, opening in 1997 in the first major wave of brewery openings but nearing bankruptcy after some of its beers fell flat with consumers.

Founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers came back with brews like the now-famous Dirty Bastard and KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) and others that led to many years of double-digit growth.

Where The City Meets Country

Metro Detroiters who want to slow things down on the fly should head to Washtenaw County. Historic tours focus on the women’s suffrage movement, local foods, historic barns, Greek Revival architecture, German heritage and The Willow Run Arsenal of Democracy Tour, where “Rosie the Riveter” emerged as a symbol of the women who built B-24 bombers in World War II at a factory in Ypsilanti.

Chelsea feels like home people want to come back to — in fact, celebrated actor Jeff Daniels is regularly pulled back to his hometown by The Purple Rose Theatre Company, which takes its name from the 1985 film, “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” which gave Daniels his first Golden Globe-nominated role. (He was also nominated for “Something Wild” (1986), “The Squid and the Whale” (2005) and the television show, “The Newsroom.”

Saline, named for its natural salt springs, is known for its exceptional artistic scene and blend of small-town charm with leading edge opportunities. Don’t miss Dexter, the perfect getaway for people who enjoy bringing art and nature together. Dexter may be best known for the annual Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival (Aug. 12-17, 2024), which draws hundreds of artists and spectators to the four-day-long challenge in which artists paint outdoors in the Dexter area.

5 More Michigan Road Trips

• The Go To Hell Road Trip
• Explore Michigan’s Gold Coast
• Tour The UP’s Lighthouses
• Enjoy Christmas In Frankenmuth All Year
• Visit Michigan’s Spookiest Places

Traveling out of state? Check out more Patch Road Trips.