The Michigan Bucket List

The only time I’ve ever spent in Michigan was for work, so it’s been high on my list to go back and explore some of the best areas in the state. Check out my bucket list below.

Detroit

Type of visit: City, historical - The birthplace of Ford, Motown, and some of the most iconic and historic buildings in the country!

WHERE to stay

• Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney

• Corktown Inn

• Detroit Foundation Hotel

• El Moore Lodge & Residences

• Element Detroit at the Metropolitan

• Shinola Hotel - Check out the speakeasy in the hotel!

• The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel (Dearborn)

• The Henry, Autograph Collection

• The Inn on Ferry Street

WHERE to dine & drink

• Bad Luck Bar (Capitol Park) - Speakeasy

• The Shelby (Capitol Park) - Speakeasy

• Flowers of Vietnam (Central Southwest)

• BARDA (Core City)

• Green Dot Stables (Corktown)

• Ima (Corktown)

• Michigan & Trumbull (Corktown) - They also have gluten-free crust!

• The Sugar House (Corktown) - Cocktail Bar

• Ottava Via (Corktown)

• Candy Bar (Downtown Detroit) - Speakeasy

• Cliff Bell’s - (Downtown Detroit) Dinner and a show!

• Standby - (Downtown Detroit) - Speakeasy

• Vertical Detroit (Downtown Detroit)

• The Oakland Art Novelty Company(Ferndale) - Speakeasy

• Dime Store (Fort Cass)

• London Chop House (Fort Cass)

• The Apparatus Room (Fort Cass)

• Pegasus Taverna (Greektown)

• Mabel Gray (Hazel Park)

• Marrow (Indian Village)

• Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails (Midtown)

• Grey Ghost Detroit (Midtown)

• Selden Standard (Midtown - Eastern Market)

• Treat Dreams (Midtown - Eastern Market)

• The Whitney (Midtown - in an old mansion) - Also check out the speakeasy!

• Warda Pâtisserie (Midtown)

• Willis Show Bar (Midtown) - Speakeasy from the 1940s

• Oak & Reel (Milwaukee Junction)

• Saffron De Twah (Pingree Park)

• Clique (Rivertown)

• The Rattlesnake Club (Rivertown)

• Giovanni's Ristorante (River Rouge)

Things to see & do

• Automotive Hall of Fame

• Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit

• Belle Isle Park

• Detroit Eastern Market

• Detroit Institute of Arts

• Detroit Masonic Temple

• Detroit Opera

• Detroit Public Library

• Fair Lane, Home of Clara and Henry Ford

• Fisher Building

• Ford House

• Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum

• Fox Theatre

• Greektown

• Guardian Building

• Henry Ford Museum

• Monument to Joe Louis “The Fist”

• Morley Candy Factory

• Motown Museum

• Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

• Old St. Mary's Catholic Church

• Penobscot Building

• The BELT

Frankenmuth

Type of visit: Historical - It’s a fun little Bavarian town for the weekend!

WHERE to stay

• Bavarian Inn

• Frankenmuth Country Bed & Breakfast

• Frankenmuth Hotel

• Main St. Loft

• Marv Herzog Hotel

• Recently Renovated 1950's Themed Historic Homestead In Downtown Frankenmuth

• The Historical Franklin House

• Viola’s Place

WHere to dine & drink

• Bavarian Inn Restaurant

• Fischer Platz

• Harvest Coffeehouse

• Honey B’s Eatery - Known for their breakfast!

• Le Crepe du Jour

• Prost Wine Bar & Charcuterie

• The Comet Classic Diner & Creamery

• Zehnder's of Frankenmuth

Things to see & do

• Bronner's Christmas Wonderland - The largest Christmas store in the world!

• Castle Shops at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant

• Frankenmuth Historical Museum

• Frankenmuth River Place Shops

• HOLZ BRÜCKE Covered Bridge

• St. Julian Winery

Grand Rapids

Type of visit: City, historical - It’s a great place to explore for a weekend!

where to stay

• AC Hotel by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown

• Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton

• Canopy by Hilton

• JW Marriott Grand Rapids

• Morton Hotel

• The Leonard At Logan House - top-rated!

• The Parsonage Inn

where to dine & drink

• Amore Trattoria Italiana

• Bistro Bella Vita

• Buffalo Traders Lounge

• Butcher's Union

• Cherie Inn

• Divani

• GRNoir Wine & Jazz

• Grove

• Linear Restaurant

• Little Bird

• Marie Catrib’s

• Reserve Wine & Food

• Roam by San Chez

• San Chez A Tapas Bistro

• Sidebar - Speakeasy

• Stella's Lounge - GQ Magazine said Stella’s has the best burger in the country!

• Terra

• The Chop House Grand Rapids

• The Green Well

Things to see & do

• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

• Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

• Grand Rapids Art Museum

• Grand Rapids Crime Tours

• Grand Rapids Public Museum

• Heritage Hill Historic District

• Meyer May House - Another Frank Lloyd Wright design!

• Pump House

• Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery

• Steelcase Pyramid

• Tanglefoot Co - The now abandoned factory where most of the world’s flypaper was made.

• Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

Kalamazoo

Type of visit: Historical - it’s a great place to explore for a weekend, especially for wine lovers!

Where to stay

• Jade Estate Inn

• Kalamazoo House

• Stuart Avenue Inn Bed & Breakfast

where to dine & drink

• Blue Dolphin

• Brick and Brine

• Comensoli’s

• Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery

• Crow's Nest

• Elysium

• Mezzo Coffee House

• Middle Eastern Appetite

• Nina’s Cafe

• Nonla Burger

• Principle Food and Drink

• Rustica

• Sweet Waters Donuts

• The Park Club of Kalamazoo

• Theo & Stacy's Downtown

• Toba Sushi and Grill

• Zooroona

Things to see & do:

• Alligator Sanctuary

• Brookside Farms

• Caruso Candy & Soda Fountain Since 1922

• Choppin Co. - An Axe Throwing Center!

• Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery

• Confections with Convictions

• Corey Lake Orchards

• Dr. Nathan Thomas House - Underground Railroad

• Fenn Valley Vineyards & Wine Cellar

• Fort St. Joseph Museum & Chapin Mansion

• Gilmore Car Museum

• Gull Meadow Farms

• Haunted History of Kalamazoo Tours

• Henderson Castle

• Kalamazoo State Theatre

• Kalamazoo Valley Museum

• Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail

• Lavender Hill Farm

• Lawton Ridge Winery

• Leila Arboretum

• North Kalamazoo Mall

• Pop City Popcorn

• Reindeer Ranch

• Round Barn Winery, Brewery, Distillery

• Scooters Malt Shoppe

• Silver Beach Carousel

• VerHage Fruit Farms & Cider Mill

• Vicksburg Historic Village

• W.K. Kellogg Manor House

Mackinac Island

Type of visit: Historical - It makes for a relaxing weekend getaway!

where to stay

• Bayview Bed & Breakfast

• Chippewa Hotel Waterfront

• Cottage Inn of Mackinac

• Grand Hotel

• Haan's 1830 Inn B & B

• Hotel Iroquois

• Market Street Inn

• Metivier Inn

• Small Point Bed & Breakfast

• The Mackinac House

where to dine & drink

• Carriage House

• Cupola Bar

• Grand Hotel Main Dining Room

• Kingston Kitchen at the Village Inn

• Lucky Bean Coffee House

• Millie’s On Main

• Pink Pony - Has gluten-free sandwiches!

• Sanders Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppe

• Watercolor Cafe

• Woods Restaurant

Things to see & do

• American Fur Company Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum - John Jacob Astor’s former store.

• Arch Rock

• Grand Hotel Stables

• Historic Downtown

• Joann’s Fudge

• Little Stone Church

• Round Island Lighthouse

• Sainte Anne's Catholic Church, Mackinac Island

Traverse City

Type of visit: Historical, outdoor adventure - it’s a great place for a weekend of relaxing and sipping wines.

where to stay

• Alexandra Inn

• Bayshore Resort

• Cambria Hotel

• Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn

• Grand Beach Resort Hotel

• Grey Hare Inn Vineyard Bed and Breakfast

• Neahtawanta Inn

• Oviatt House Bed and Breakfast

• Silver Lake Cottage

• The Baywatch Resort

• The Inn at Chateau Grand Traverse

• Wellington Inn

• Whaleback Inn

where to dine & drink

• Amical

• Boathouse Restaurant

• Cousin Jenny's Cornish Pasties

• Farm Club

• Hexenbelle

• Milk & Honey

• Moomers Homemade Ice Cream

• Oakwood Proper Burgers

• PepeNero & Ballaro Wine Lounge

• Raduno

• Red Ginger

• The Cook's House

• Trattoria Stella

• Wren

Things to see & do

• Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

• Chateau Grand Traverse Winery

• City Opera House - Built in 1892

• Gallagher’s Farm Market and Bakery

• Old Mission General Store

• State Theater - Opened in 1916

• The Fairy Trails

• The Hippie Tree

• The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

• World's Largest Cherry Pie Pan