We've all heard Tim Allen's voice drift out of our radios and televisions, telling us the wonders of "Pure Michigan." With the first official day of summer this week, let's go over some of the activities that make summertime in Michigan truly spectacular. You know it's officially summer in Michigan when...
1. Lake days take up most of your weekends...
Our great state has more than 11,000 inland lakes (take that, Minnesota), and you're never more than 6 miles from one. All that water is just begging for fun; from fishing, tubing, skiing, swimming or just floating on the pontoon, a lake day is full of unbridled potential.
2. Especially if you're able to take a trip to one of the Great Lakes.
Michigan borders Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior and just a sliver of Lake Erie (The big three are the truly great ones, let's be honest, Erie and Ontario are just "okay" lakes). You're never more than 85 miles from a great lake, so taking a day trip to one of their beautiful beaches is always a possibility. The best part? Ocean-quality beaches without the sharks!
3. Mackinac Island is packed with tourists...
We usually just call it, "The Island," because it's every Michigander's favorite summer vacation destination. Visitors take a short ferry ride and immediately go back in time as they are lured to fudge shops downtown by the clip-clop of horse hooves. No cars are allowed on the island, so horses and bicycles are the main modes of transportation. My personal favorite place on Earth, Mackinac Island always leaves you wishing you could stay longer.
4. And it's always rush hour on the Mighty Mack.
The Mackinac Bridge provides a link between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. Summer is prime time for visiting the Upper Peninsula (or U.P.). Likewise, this is when the five mile long suspension bridge gets a majority of its traffic. It sure does make for a beautiful picture.
5. The Tigers are playing in front of a full house nearly every night.
When the temperatures start to rise, Comerica Park starts to fill up with fans cheering on the boys of summer. On good nights, the Tigers play in front of sold-out home crowds of nearly 45,000.
6. You can't get that Kid Rock song out of your head.
Love him or hate him, every Michigander has found themselves singing along to Michigan-native Kid Rock's "All Summer Long." We just can't resist nodding our heads and raising our beverage of choice when it comes on the radio (which is all the time), because we know exactly how awesome Michigan is in the summertime.
7. You go camping "Up North" at least once...
Every kid's favorite part of summer vacation was heading to that mystical land known as, "Up north." No matter what part of the state you're from, the best places to camp are only found by hitting the road and pointing the car north. There's just so much the state has to offer.
8. And soak in the great outdoors on miles of trails and forests.
With six state forests, four national parks and 97 state parks, Michigan offers plenty of wilderness to explore. From the Porcupine Mountains to Belle Isle, there's plenty of nature to explore here.
9. Floating down a river becomes one of your go-to activities.
If you couldn't tell, water is a major theme in the mitten. On hot days (We do have some of those) there is no better way to cool off than to float down one of Michigan's many rivers or streams. Whether it's by tube, raft, canoe or kayak, Michigan's rivers offer a perfect way to relax and get back in touch with nature.
10. There's a festival every weekend.
Since nobody really likes to be outside much in the colder months, summer is prime time for festivals in Michigan. Every weekend there is something different; with the lilac, tulip, balloon, cherry and blueberry fests just to name a few.
11. You get excited about berry picking.
During the summer, Michigan has a plethora of berries ripening. One family favorite activity is going strawberry, blueberry, raspberry and cherry picking at you-pick farms. Nothing beats supporting local farmers while getting delicious fruit at the same time.
12. Every nighttime social event consists of a bonfire.
Was it really a party if there wasn't a bonfire? Not in Michigan. Whether it's on the beach, in a field or just in your back yard, the best way to get down is by dancing around the fire.
13. Family cookouts occur almost daily.
Since we only get to do it for a few months out of the year, Michiganders never miss an opportunity to fire up the grill. Any day that isn't raining is a perfect opportunity to invite family and friends over for some burgers, steaks or hot dogs on the grill before we have to go back inside for hibernation.
Sounds pretty perfect, huh? In my humble opinion, there is no better place to spend the summer than my home state of Michigan. For more information, please visit Pure Michigan to plan your next excursion.
