Enjoy Uniquely Michigan Fall Fun With These 13 Autumn Activities
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Fall in Michigan means many different things to scores of Michiganders. Sports fans celebrate the return of college football and Detroit Lions football. Outdoor enthusiasts rejoice at cold temperatures and the crunch of leaves underfoot. Families look forward to trips to a local apple orchard and foliage fans hop in the car for colorful scenic drives.
We asked members of the Day Trips in Michigan Facebook group “What are some unique Michigan fall activities and/or attractions” and Michiganders responded in kind with their best recommendations.
So if you’re looking to make this fall one to remember, add these uniquely Michigan autumn activities to your fall bucket list…
Labor Day Bridge Walk
Perhaps the most uniquely Michigan fall activity is the Mackinac Bridge Walk each Labor Day. Since 1958, it’s the one day a year people can walk across the Mighty Mac and thousands take advantage of the opportunity — accompanied by the current Governor of Michigan.
The estimated record for a single walk was estimated to be 85,000 walkers in 1992 when President George H. W. Bush joined the event.
The walk starts at 7 a.m. and visitors can walk anytime until 11:30 a.m. Walkers can start in either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace and go as far as they’d like.
Tunnel of Trees
Scenic drives can be found all over Michigan, but few if any are as popular or as pretty as the Tunnel of Trees Scenic Drive on M-119 in Northern Michigan.
Extending from Cross Village to Harbor Springs for about 20 miles, travelers are treated to a brilliant spectrum of color on a two-lane road that runs along a scenic bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.
Going the speed limit, travelers can finish the route in about 45 minutes, but odds are good you’ll want to go slower to soak in the views.
Lewis Adventure Farm
A visit to Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo is perfect for a fun family fall day trip. It’s a family favorite because visitors can enjoy a petting zoo, a corn maze, a farm market, and more.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy the sights and sounds of the zoo as they encounter kangaroos, lemurs, camels, alpacas, parakeets, goats, and many other animals.
Guests can also have a memorable day as they slide down a giant slide, go round and round on a carousel, snap selfies, enjoy tasty treats, and navigate a corn maze.
Fall Foliage
The Tunnel of Trees Scenic Drive is arguably the most popular spot in the state to see fall colors, but there are many more spots to soak up the incredible views only fall can offer.
- Copper Peak in Ironwood is an impressive spot. This ski-flying hill towers 241 feet up — so high that it’s marketed as The Eiffel Tower of the North. On a clear day, visitors can see three states and Canada!
- SkyBridge is one of Michigan’s newest attractions, but this 1,200-foot-long suspension bridge has already drawn rave reviews and offers incredible vistas when fall’s beautiful colors arrive.
- Houghton Canal Road, also known as “Covered Road” near Houghton offers a drive that locals say rivals the Tunnel of Trees along Lake Superior.
- M-26 from Copper Harbor to Eagle River offers beautiful views of Lake Superior on one side of the road and fall colors on the other for about 20 miles and there are plenty of scenic overlooks to stop at.
RELATED: Catch up on 2024 fall color predictions in Michigan here.
Apple Picking/Apple Orchards
Apples and Michigan go together like peanut butter and jelly and Michigan orchards are brimming with tangy apple cider, freshly-made donuts, apple butter, and plenty of U-pick apple opportunities.
Spicer Orchards, Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, and Crane Orchards are some of the many popular spots around the state to visit in the fall and chances are good you don’t have to go far to find an amazing orchard.
Corn Mazes
If apples are a sure sign of fall in Michigan, corn mazes may be a close second or third. These whimsical, intricately designed structures are perfect for exploring (or getting lost in).
It’s the perfect family activity and the places with the best mazes in the state go all-out in creating fun designs each year, including Detroit Lions-themed mazes, Peanuts-themed mazes, and mazes for youngsters.
Cadillac Scenic ORV Ride
Whether you’re a total novice or a seasoned pro, one of the best ways to enjoy fall in the Cadillac area is on an ORV scenic ride. Introduced in 2024, the ORV Scenic Ride consists of a network of over 100 miles of open roads.
ORV Scenic Ride tours treat visitors to the beauty of the Manistee National Forest while being close to modern comforts. Riders can rent an ORV and explore the beauty of the area at their own pace — maximum speed is 25 miles per hour.
It’s a fun and exciting way to experience fall’s beautiful colors — just make sure to dress for the occasion (especially in clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty).
Wine Tours in Petoskey
Petoskey has many hidden gems to explore in the fall, but some of the best are wineries — places where visitors of appropriate age can savor local vintages and enjoy scenic views.
- Boyne Valley Vineyards: Located just outside Petoskey, Boyne Valley offers intimate wine tastings in a beautiful setting. Guests can enjoy tastings on a treehouse deck, on an outdoor patio, or in the main tasting room while listening to live music.
- Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery: The first maple winery in the nation invites visitors to sip tasty maple-infused syrups and wines.
- Petoskey Farms Vineyard: This charming vineyard beckons visitors to soak up the views and enjoy both heated outdoor covered patios and indoor seating as they sip delicious coffees, wines, and hard ciders with meats and cheeses to snack on.
Fall Color Boat Tours in Saugatuck
There’s plenty to explore along the Lake Michigan coastline in the fall, but an experience on Lake Michigan can take your fall color tour over the top.
In Saugatuck, you can bundle up and hop aboard the Star of Saugatuck — a sternwheeler — for a narrated tour. The voyage starts on the Kalamazoo River and continues to Lake Michigan (weather permitting).
Visitors can also take guided leaf-peeping tours on a pontoon or rent a classic fiberglass runaround boat for self-guided eco-friendly rides.
ArtPrize Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a major cultural hub in Michigan and its commitment to arts and culture is on full display each fall during ArtPrize Grand Rapids. This international festival welcomes artists from across the globe across all mediums and provides a platform for artists to showcase their talents.
For nearly three weeks each fall, the city comes alive in celebration. Visitors can enjoy pop-up events around every corner, including concerts, dance parties, art-making, and mini-festivals.
Apple Festivals
Apples aren’t just a sign of fall in Michigan, they’re a cause for celebration and Michigan does it right with plenty of festive apple festivals.
One of the state’s largest apple festivals is the Michigan Apple Fest in Sparta, just outside Grand Rapids, and features a slew of events including the crowning of an Apple Queen, an apple pie baking contest, an apple slingshot, live music, and more.
Festival-goers can find a little bit of everything at these celebrations while enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of freshly made apple goodies.
Fall Festivals
Apples aren’t the only thing Michiganders celebrate in the fall. From the Michigan State Fair to Oktoberfest to harvest festivals, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate fall’s arrival in Michigan and the festivals present something for everyone.
- The Romeo Peach Festival is a Labor Day weekend tradition with peach cobbler, peach pies, craft shows, and more.
- The Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly invites visitors to travel back to medieval times with knights and artisans galore.
- Paul Bunyan Days in Oscoda celebrates the legendary giant and his blue ox with corn hole, chainsaw carving, a beard competition, a car show, and more.
Terror on Tillson
Fall is welcomed with open arms in Michigan, but so too is Halloween and one of the best (and most frightening) events of the season is Terror on Tillson in Romeo.
The residents of this street have committed themselves for years to creating terrifying Halloween displays. It’s a completely voluntary event where those involved are committed to carrying on a tradition by creating a frightening experience for all.
Make the Most of a Michigan Fall This Year
Whether you’re itching to get lost in a corn maze, savor that first sip of sweet cider, or attend as many festivals as possible, fall in Michigan is one of the best times of the year. So break out your flannels and your sweatshirts, put your boots on, and get ready to make the most of fall this year in Michigan!
Appleumpkin Festival and Kapnick Orchards Apple Festival October 12 & 13, 2024, Tecumseh, MI