18 Unique Places to Visit in Michigan This Spring
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With spring comes lots of opportunities to get outside and explore. It’s certainly easier to avoid a snowstorm. If you have some time, you may be looking for some unique places to visit in Michigan in spring.
Whether indoors or outdoors, numerous locations throughout the state are well worth visiting during this season. Keep reading to learn more!
Unique Michigan Places to Visit in the Upper Peninsula
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in Copper Harbor Michigan opens in May each year and creates the perfect place to watch flowers bloom and trees come to life.
Depending on weather conditions, you can tour the two lighthouses that date back to the 1860s and view the rocky shoreline. Some people visit for early fishing too. With 700 acres to explore, it’s certainly well worth a visit.
Sault Ste Marie Michigan
Whether you want to fish on the St. Mary’s River system to catch walleye, salmon, or pike, or you’re interested in booking a boat charter to locate musky, you’re sure to find lots to do in Sault Ste Marie if you’re an adventure lover.
Also, it’s a great time to bike the Soo Trails and watch the freight ships come into the harbor. Though the beaches may be a bit cold, several of the golf courses open up when the weather dries out enough.
Drummond Island Michigan
Drummond Island is an excellent choice for those who want to get their feet wet at the end of the spring season. It’s on the Upper Peninsula coast on Lake Huron. It’s a large lake, but it’s also one of the most tourism-free areas, especially during the spring season.
There are many scenic trails to explore, and watching the sunrise over the waterfront is the perfect start to a lazy Sunday morning. Some people come just for bird-watching at this time of the year.
While it’s too cold for kayaking most of the time during spring, you can do some fishing, and the golf courses tend to open up on warm, dry days.
Mackinac Island Michigan
Take the first boat ride to Mackinac Island this spring. Early in the season, there are fewer tourists, and most of the fun stuff is underway, whether that’s fishing, the nightlife, or the fantastic restaurants.
If it’s going to be a warm weekend, it is a great Michigan destination to bike around the town, taking in the various landmarks. Horses may be available for a stroll too.
On a cooler day, spend time at the spa getting a massage, or tour the art galleries, fudge shops, and other fabulous downtown shops.
Northern Michigan Places to Visit in Spring
Michigan Legacy Art Park
Michigan Legacy Art Park in Thompsonville Michigan brings together nature with a bit of history and beautiful art. It’s open throughout the year, but springtime brings with it a vibrance that’s hard to match any other time of the year.
This 30-year wooded preserve features a hiking trail to spot beautiful sculptures throughout the path. Various events take place throughout the year, but many come to watch the birds and see the new exhibits on display.
The Dennos Museum Center
Plan an early afternoon visit to The Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City Michigan. This affordable experience allows you to tour a fine art museum and cultural center. The Spring Art Market begins in May, but there are often other events, including concerts, films, and educational activities.
Stop by for a guided tour if you’re an art lover. You can take in the sunset on the water afterward, and catch dinner at one of the unique restaurants downtown, such as Cherry Republic.
Places to Visit in West Michigan This Spring
Historic White Pine Village
Opening in May, the Historic White Pine Village in Ludington Michigan makes for the perfect combination of education and hands-on fun. This family-friendly location is a living history of the area from the late 19th century.
You can tour a wide range of exhibits here, including the Hamline Lake Habit, the school, the print shop, and the barns, to see what the area was like as a working farm at the turn of the century. You can also do some geocaching on the property grounds.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum in Grand Rapids is an excellent attraction to visit in West Michigan when you’re facing cooler weather and want to learn something while having some fun.
The museum is home to permanent exhibits with a large number of artifacts, including footballs from the President’s youth and a large display of the 1976 presidential campaign.
You can also view many of Betty Ford’s dresses and gowns while taking in the various gifts given to the President throughout his lifetime.
Book a guided tour to really explore the history of this President and his legacy.
Windjammer Marina
The spring brings with it the opportunity to head out onto the water, especially during the warm weekends late in the season. The Windjammer Marina in Oden Michigan is an excellent place to visit when you’re ready for a day on the water.
You can rent pontoons, WaveRunners, and Tri-Toon Sports events to take to the waterfront. Located on the Inland Waterway and serving the community since 1910, this is the type of place people visit to enjoy the waterfront during the summer.
With fewer crowds, a weekend in late spring is an excellent time to make this location home. You can even do some fishing on Lake Huron.
Kalamazoo Michigan
What if you’re in Kalamazoo and want to find fun things to do during the spring? There are several considerations.
You can catch a show at the Kalamazoo State Theatre, which could mean a live performance or a concert. On the weekend, you can visit the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, which is excellent for kids who love hands-on displays.
You can shop in the downtown area too. And, the Kalamazoo Nature Center provides an opportunity to walk 15 miles of trails while seeing interactive exhibits. It’s in blossom throughout the spring!
Unique Mid-Michigan Places to Visit in Spring
Impression 5 Science Center
Not all days in spring are warm, but you can visit the Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing Michigan just about any day to enjoy a science museum noted for its hands-on experiences.
You could spend some time in the toddler area or take in the current exhibits, which change regularly so that visitors always have something new to discover.
Nano, Throwing Things, and Build Zone are even more fun things to do throughout the season. It’s the type of place that encourages education through creation and play, and it’s ideal for the whole family.
Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden
Another of the best Michigan places to visit in spring is the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden in East Lansing Michigan. From Butterfly Day in late April to the Garden Geocache Event in early June, there are lots of fun things to do at the museum.
It may be geared towards teaching children about conservation and nature, but there’s much to love about the location, including the nearly 100 themed gardens on-site. Many of them will be just blooming for the season, bringing the entire area to life.
Jackson Fairy Festival
The annual Fairy Festival in Jackson Michigan takes place each April. It’s a time when everyone — young and old — gets to explore the wonders of the fairy world.
You can choose the type of experience you want to have, including a VIP day that includes a kids’ dance party, an aerial hoop performance, a theater performance of “Neverland,” and a juggling performance. There are numerous outdoor ventures, including pony rides and artisan shops, to check out as well.
From face painting to fairy tea, it is the time of day that anyone who loves arts, culture, and music can enjoy. Check out the fairy dancer performers and the various play areas and characters throughout the location. It all takes place at the Jackson School of the Arts.
Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum
Have some fun at the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum in Saginaw Michigan this spring. It’s a fantastic place to spend some time playing and learning.
The property offers a range of interactive, hands-on displays that are designed to support gross motor skill development. Some of the best exhibits and attractions include the Tinker Track, Art Mart, aMazing Tot Spot, and Solar Spot.
You can book events here, or simply visit to have some fun. During the warmer days, kids are sure to love the Water, Water Everywhere exhibit, and there’s always Aunt Sugar’s Farm & Uncle Pickles Barn.
Deerfield Nature Park
With 8 miles of trails to hike in Isabella County, Deerfield Nature Park in Mt. Pleasant Michigan is an excellent place to visit during the spring season. You can run, hike, or bike over the bridges, including two swinging bridges.
Also, you can spend some time on the disc golf course if you like. Though some people come for camping, that may be a bit too wet to do during the early spring. You can still bike the more than 590 acres of land, and enjoy the spring fishing season.
Places to Visit in Spring in East Michigan
Flint Institute of Arts
The Flint Institute of Arts in Flint Michigan offers a number of late March events for families and adults, as well as additional exhibits throughout April, May, and June that are well worth experiencing if you enjoy the arts.
If you visit on the weekends, you can watch free glass-blowing demonstrations. Also, the institute plans various lectures throughout the spring.
While you’re here, check out the permanent collection of artwork, walk through the galleries, and grab something to eat at the Palette Café. Various films and videos offer an educational experience, some playing throughout the season. On a cool day, spending a day embracing the arts can be magical.
Detroit Zoo
Spring is the perfect time to visit the Detroit Zoo — it may even be a good time to get a membership that you can use all summer. With new babies on the horizon and blossoming flowers to see, the zoo seems to be full of life.
You can check out the Australian Outback Adventure, though it is not open when weather conditions are bad. You can always visit the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, Avairy, and the Butterfly Gardens.
Bunnyville is an event held the first weekend of April, and you can check out Greenfest: In With the Old exhibit during the whole month. There are always conservation activities taking place at the Belle Isle Nature Center as well.
Nichols Arboretum
Typically just called The Arb, the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor Michigan is home to native and exotic trees, flowers, and plants on the campus of the University of Michigan. The landscape was started in 1907 by O. C. Simonds and has continued to grow, becoming more geologically complex each year.
There are various things to do on the grounds in the spring, including exploring Healthdale, What’s in Bloom, and the Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden, most of which will be in full bloom by mid-April and early May. In addition, you can check out Shakespeare in The Arb, depending on when you visit.
Explore More Awesome Michigan Places to Visit in Spring
These are some of the best Michigan places to visit this spring, and there are certainly more. No matter where you are, there are plenty of spring things to do in Michigan.
