We’ve just finished putting content from our Moon Michigan [1] guidebook, by Laura Martone, online yesterday. In addition to all the things you might expect to find in a guide to Michigan—like Detroit’s Motown Historical Museum [2], Ann Arbor’s Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum [3], The Henry Ford in Dearborn [4], Mackinac Island [5], and rich ethnic enclaves like Greektown [6] and Hamtramck [7]—Laura includes many unexpected gems, too, like the annual late-March Sugar & Shearing Festival [8] and the annual Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Powwow [9] held every August.
I’ve never traveled to Michigan, and I’m not a scuba diver, so perhaps most unexpected were the amazing number of scuba diving opportunities from the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary [10] to the Alger Underwater Preserve [11]. You can find more great Michigan dive sites here [12].
I was also surprised to learn that the length of Michigan’s coastline is second only to Alaska and its historic lighthouses [13] are a huge draw for travelers. In addition to the lighthouses, Michigan has some truly stunning beaches like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore [14]. Rock hounds will love the shoreline along the Keweenaw Peninsula [15] where unusual gemstones like porcelaneous datolite, mohawkite, and chlorastrolite can be found. You can explore more Michigan beaches here [16].
Laura Martone has recently begun blogging for us here at Moon. Be sure to check our her American Nomad [17] blog to get her unique insights on her travels across America.
Gayle Hart
Moon.com Content Editor
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/books/moon-handbooks/moon-michigan-third-edition
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/detroit/sights/downtown-detroit/new-center-district/motown-historical-museum
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-heartland/grand-rapids/sights/gerald-r-ford-presidential-museum
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/detroit/excursions-detroit/dearborn/the-henry-ford
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/northeast-michigan/mackinac-island
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/detroit/sights/downtown-detroit/greektown
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/detroit/excursions-detroit/hamtramck
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-heartland/jackson/festivals-and-events
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-heartland/mount-pleasant/entertainment-and-events/saginaw-chippewa-tribal-powwow
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/northeast-michigan/rogers-city-alpena/thunder-bay-national-marine-sanctuary
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-upper-peninsula/the-eastern-upper-peninsula/munising-area/alger-underwater-preserve
[12] http://www.moon.com/activities/22/65325
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/discover-michigan/explore-michigan/michigan-s-historic-lighthouses
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-upper-peninsula/the-eastern-upper-peninsula/pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore
[15] http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-upper-peninsula/the-western-upper-peninsula/the-keweenaw-peninsula
[16] http://www.moon.com/activities/20/65325
[17] http://www.moon.com/blogs/american-nomad