The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 1

Tahquamenon Falls is but one of the many natural wonders found in Michigan’s Chippewa County (Photo: Josh Webb)

*Post updated on July 25, 2022

The Mitten State of Mind: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Michigan is full of majesty, mystery, and might, each of which comes in many forms. From the classic architecture of Detroit to the pristine waters of the Grand Traverse Bay; from the perpetually awe-inspiring sight of the Mackinac Bridge to the far-flung forests of the Keweenaw Peninsula; from the sunset-soaked sands of the west coast to the lighthouse-lined shores of the east coast, there is no shortage of inspiration to be found.

This three-part series highlights just some of what the Mitten State has to offer, county by county. Welcome to Part One, which covers the first 29 counties alphabetically, from Alcona to Gratiot. Let’s get started.

Alcona

Alcona, the “first of 83” (alphabetically, that is), is a rural county located in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. While it lays claim to about 25 miles of Lake Huron shoreline, it’s also home to Hubbard Lake, one of the state’s larger inland lakes. Along its northern shore, you’ll find Churchill Pointe Inn, which offers a premiere waterfront dining experience. Just 22 miles away, the beachfront surrounding the historic Sturgeon Point Lighthouse is a great spot to catch the sunrise.

Alger

I love a county that makes it easy, and Alger has got to be near the top of the list in that respect, because it doesn’t get any easier than recommending a visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The nation’s first-ever national lakeshore stretches 42 miles along Lake Superior’s southern shore, including 15 miles of colorful sandstone cliffs, water-carved caves, arches, and other rock formations, as well as five miles of sandy dunes decorated here and there with jack pine forests.

Allegan

With roughly half of Michigan’s counties containing stretches of shoreline along one of the Great Lakes, this is going to be the first beach recommendation on this list, but likely not the last. Allegan County’s Oval Beach, found in the city of Saugatuck, is considered one of the state’s best. This Lake Michigan gem even garnered mention in Condé Nast Traveler a few years back as one of ten “Perfect Lake Vacations Across America.”

Alpena

There are things to do on land, of course, but one of Alpena County’s signature attractions is Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary just offshore. Board the Lady Michigan, a 65-foot, glass-bottomed boat, and wade into the heart of Lake Huron’s Shipwreck Alley. Passengers are welcome aboard from early summer through mid-fall.

Antrim

A prototypical “up north” county, Antrim is lucky enough not only to have a sizable stretch of shoreline along the Grand Traverse Bay, but to also be home to the second largest inland lake in the state: Torch Lake. And that’s exactly where you should be headed if you’re coming this way. Rent a cottage, kick back, and relax (but make sure you don’t get caught off guard by the Torch Lake Monster).

A group of kayakers paddles toward Lovers’ Leap, one of the most prominent natural features found along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County

Arenac

I’m a sucker for random, little, out-of-the-way islands, which is the precise reason Arenac’s Charity Island is getting the shoutout here. At 222 acres, Charity is the largest island in Saginaw Bay, but also one of the least visited islands in all of Michigan. Other than seasonal residents, the place is uninhabited. But if you do venture here, it’s likely because you’re an avid bird watcher, or you needed to check the Charity Island Lighthouse off your bucket list.

Baraga

Welcome to the western U.P. and Baraga County, home of Mt. Arvon, the highest point in Michigan (by just 11 inches). Rising nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, Arvon can be found in the Huron Mountains, about 27 miles from the city of L’Anse. You don’t need to be an expert climber to reach the peak either; on the contrary, you can drive all the way up to the half-mile trail that leads you up there.

Barry

Detroit’s history with, and connection to, cars and trucks is well-documented, but over in Barry County is where you’ll find the Gilmore Car Museum, whose stated mission is to tell the story of America through the automobile. It does so by showing off its collection of more than 400 classic cars, and by inviting visitors to check out its 90-acre campus, featuring a restored 1941 diner, a recreated 1930s Shell gas station, six on-site partner museums, and more.

Bay

Bay County is home to another decorated museum — the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum — but we’re going to turn our attention to what is obviously the biggest draw here: the bay itself. Getting out on the water is the name of the game, and BaySail has the vessels to make it happen. The company offers all kinds of options, from afternoon cruises to sunset sailing and its ever-popular autumn color tours.

Benzie

All right, this is a tough one. With quaint, little towns like Frankfort and Beulah; miles of lakeshore along Lake Michigan, as well as multiple inland lakes (including Crystal and Platte); and Inspiration Point offering some of the best views anywhere along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Benzie County has a lot to offer. But it’s difficult to bet against Crystal Mountain, a year-round resort near Thompsonville that draws thousands of skiers and snowboarders in the winter, and golfers galore in the warmer months.

SEE ALSO: 7 Must-Do’s for Your Trip to Northern Michigan This Summer

Berrien

When it comes to Berrien County, we’re heading back to the beach — the beach at Warren Dunes State Park, that is. In addition to three miles worth of Lake Michigan shoreline, the park also contains six miles of hiking trails and two campgrounds. The dunes rise 260 feet above the big lake, providing panoramic views and the opportunity to hang glide, should you be so adventurous.

The sun sets at Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien County (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Branch

Step back in time in Branch County with a visit to the Capri Drive-In Theater, one of the few drive-ins still operating in Michigan. Found along highway U.S.-12, the Capri got its start in the summer of 1964. It features a pair of screens, one measuring 150-by-75 feet and the other 80-by-40 feet; a large snack bar for your movie munching needs; and enough space to hold roughly 900 vehicles.

SEE ALSO: Drive-In Movie Theaters Around Michigan That Would Love to See Your Face Right Now

Calhoun

Who’s ready for a trip to the zoo? Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek is one of the better-known zoos/aquariums in Michigan, right up there with the Detroit Zoo and Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo. Open seasonally, Binder Park is home to over 40 different species of animals, typically earning high marks for its Wild Africa exhibit area.

Cass

Take a walk in the woods in Cass County with a visit to the Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary. The 384-acre nature preserve is good for a visit anytime of year, but springtime, when the wildflowers are blooming, might trump all the others. A 1.5-mile loop trail allows visitors to take in the sights and sounds of the forest, which, by virtue of never having been plowed or clear-cut, serves as a living museum of undisturbed nature.

Charlevoix

Home to “Charlevoix the Beautiful” — the nickname for the county seat — Charlevoix County also lays claim to the largest island found in Lake Michigan: Beaver Island. Just a short, two-hour boat ride from the mainland, the island is a great place to get away from it all, whether you plan to stay a couple nights or simply take a day trip. In the summertime, Beaver Island Hideaway Campground comes alive as the annual Beaver Island Music Festival kicks into gear (typically held the third weekend of July).

Cheboygan

Okay, this may be a controversial statement, but I’ve never been all that wowed by Mackinaw City. Obviously the Mighty Mac and Mackinac Island are great, but the city on the tip of the Lower Peninsula? Not impressed. Which is why, for Cheboygan County’s top attraction, we’re turning our attention inland to Black Mountain Recreation Area. “With over 30 miles available for hiking, 60 miles for off road vehicles, and 80 groomed miles for snowmobiling, the area is ideal for any type of outdoor adventure,” say the fine folks over at cheboygantrailways.com. Oh, and there’s also the famous Scramble area for off-roading.

Chippewa

It’s tempting to go with Sault Ste. Marie and the Soo Locks here, but Chippewa County is also home to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, where the Upper and Lower falls of the Tahquamenon River have been drawing thousands of visitors for decades. If you like to go big or go home, the Upper Falls (technically located in neighboring Luce County) stretch over 200 feet across the river and send 7,000 gallons of water, on average, cascading nearly 50 feet per second, and are probably going to be your choice here. But who says you can’t do both?

SEE ALSO: U.P. Adventures: A Stop in Paradise, Tahquamenon Views, & Superior Trails

The scene on Beaver Island in Charlevoix County as the ferry pulls into St. James Harbor

Clare

The middle of Michigan can feel bleak and desolate at times, especially in the dead of winter, but if ever you’re feeling down, there’s a fairly famous bakery in Clare County that’s just waiting to bring those spirits back up. Cops & Doughnuts, found in the city of Clare, is a mid-Michigan staple owned and operated by officers and former officers of the Clare Police Department, nine of whom helped save what was formerly known as the Clare City Bakery from going out of business altogether in 2009.

Clinton

Bless the good people of Clinton County for giving us another easy one. Here, in this mostly rural county just north of the state capital, the spot to write down is Uncle John’s Cider Mill. Located up near the county line, Uncle John and co. have been holding down the fort along the side of US-127 in central Michigan since the 1970s. Aside from making apple cider, donuts, pies, syrup, and other goodies, they also have a fairly busy schedule of events during the season, such as the Mid Mitten Cider Fest and the Fall Craft & Gift Show.

SEE ALSO: 7 Michigan Cider Mills That’ll Help You Get in the Autumn Mood

Crawford

Even though they spelled my last name wrong, Crawford County’s top honor goes to Hanson Hills Recreation Area just outside Grayling. Formerly known as Grayling Winter Sports Park, among other names, Hanson Hills claims to be the first downhill ski area in Michigan (having originally opened in 1929), and the second to open in the Midwest. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing are on tap throughout the winter months, while the summer brings hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and archery.

Delta

What would a trip to Delta County be without a stop in its semi-famous county seat, Escanaba, which serves as the primary setting for Jeff Daniels’ 2001 comedy “Escanaba in da Moonlight”? Even if you’re not trying to bag your first buck and avoid bringing shame upon the family name, there’s plenty to see here, including Fayette Historic State Park, Northern Sun Winery & Vineyards, and Ludington Park on Little Bay de Noc. Of course, snowmobiling is also mighty popular in these parts.

Dickinson

While Alcona prides itself on being the “first of 83”, Dickinson owns the distinction of being the newest county in Michigan, having formed in 1891 from pieces of three surrounding counties (Marquette, Menominee, and Iron). Thankfully, the state’s youngest county is also hip when it comes to this list, giving us easy pickings in the form of Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort in Iron Mountain. Here you’ll find downhill skiing for all skill levels, two terrain parks, a half pipe — oh, and one of the highest artificially-created ski jumps in the world.

Eaton

Eaton County may not be home to Beer City (that would be Grand Rapids in Kent County), but it does have a handful of watering holes worth checking out. The triumvirate can be found in the county’s northeast corner. Start at Dimes Brewhouse in Dimondale, a lively local spot in an otherwise sleepy little town, and then make your way north to Grand Ledge, where BrickHaven Brewing and Sanctuary Spirits await.

Snowmobile trails like this one near Escanaba in Delta County can be found throughout much of the Upper Peninsula (Photo: visitescanaba.com)

Emmet

Sharing space at the top of the Mitten with Cheboygan County, Emmet more than holds its own with perhaps its top attraction, Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Home to approximately 550 acres of woodland, over two miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline, and all of the Great Lakes-based flora and fauna you could ever dream of, the park is free to the public (save for select special events) and open 24 hours a day so you can catch those stars whenever the opportune moment may arise.

Genesee

Flint gets a bad rap because of the 2014 water crisis (the effects of which still linger today), but it has a lot to offer visitors who are willing to give it a shot. Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad and Stepping Stone Falls are fun spots, but the winner in Flint — and, by extension, Genesee County — is historic Saginaw Street in the heart of downtown. As one TripAdvisor reviewer put it: “Imagine a brick street lined with good restaurants, mural art, and classic stone architecture.” Make sure not to miss the Anthony Bourdain mural between 1st and 2nd streets.

Gladwin

No matter the time of year, it’s always a good time to get spooky, and in that regard, you’d serve yourself well by paying a visit to Hard Luck, a ghost town in eastern Gladwin County. That is, if you can find it. The Internets will tell you it’s located about 14 miles northeast of the city of Gladwin, buried deep within the Au Sable State Forest, but it’s exact location is a mystery — even to people who have gone out of their way to find the place, such as nailhed, a Michigan-based blogger who prides himself on exploring all of the state’s most unusual nooks and crannies.

Gogebic

Michigan’s natural wonders are on full display in Gogebic, the westernmost county in the U.P. Up here, waterfalls and rustic campgrounds dot a sparsely-populated landscape, but the main attraction in what is known as Big Snow Country would be the slopes. Specifically, those found at Big Powderhorn Mountain and the two main areas of Big Snow Resort: Blackjack Mountain and Indianhead Mountain. Fortunately, all three are just a hop, skip, and jump from Bessemer, the county seat.

Grand Traverse

Traverse City, the heart of Grand Traverse County, is truly a gem in Northern Michigan, but the shiniest component of that jewel might just be a peninsular offshoot that juts out into the Grand Traverse Bay. Old Mission Peninsula is a 16-mile strip of land brimming with historical buildings, wineries and vineyards, and fantastic views of the West and East legs of the bay. For fans of the spook-tacular, there is also a supposedly haunted inn.

Gratiot

Anyone up for a 42-mile bike ride through the woods? That’s what’s in store when you hit the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, a paved trail that runs from Greenville in Montcalm County to the city of Alma in northern Gratiot County. The trail, paved over a former railroad route, is open to bicyclists, skaters, joggers, walkers, and, in the wintertime, cross country skiers, offering plentiful chances to catch a glimpse of wildlife, no matter the time of year.

-LTH