We asked you on Facebook. We went outside the studio (*gasp*) and asked people in the street. You tweeted us on Twitter. You told us 70 experiences every Michigander should have at least once.
These are in no particular order...except to note Sleeping Bear Dunes was, hands down, the most popular response.
Followed by "hunting for Petoskey stones."
Social Media Producer Kimberly Springer spoke with Cynthia Canty about the experiences, places and events you're most excited about in our state.
And don't get us wrong: there was a lot of grousing about potholes and MiDAS -- maybe rightfully so -- but we figure everyone needs a break. Time to stop and have just a little bit of gratitude for the positive things we see happening in communities around the state as we report the news and cultural happenings in Michigan.
So get out your pen/stylus, check off the things you've done, and find some new experiences to have in our state.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes, especially Pierce Stocking Drive #9 stop.
- Red Pop
- Bike along a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan on M-119/ a cruise along M-119, especially north of Harbor Springs.
- Kayaking, boating, hiking at Pictured Rocks
- Camp near the Lake Michigan shore in the Nordhouse Dunes
Credit Julianne Mooney / Twitter/TwitterSleeping Bear Dunes climb & Petoskey stone hunting - Pasties
- Go on a wine tasting tour in Leelanau County
- Tube down the Platte River until you hit Lake Michigan
- Get lost in a corn maze
- Grand Rapids
- Wild blueberry picking (especially the U.P. during blueberry season)
- Tahquamenon Falls
- The Detroit Institute of Arts
- Hunting Petoskey stones
- Campus Martius Park (ice skating, concerts)
Credit Rick Briggs | Flickr / Flickrhttp://michrad.io/1LXrdJM/Flickrhttp://michrad.io/1LXrdJM - The Keweenaw Peninsula
- The Headlands International Dark Sky Park
- Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ("where every race, ethnicity, gender etc. are all together and enjoying it together!")
- "Going up North"
- A sunset from Ludington Light
- Jumping off the breakwall in Petoskey
- Isle Royale National Park
- Mackinac Bridge (driving across it, going under it on a ferry)
- A fall color tour by train
- Visiting Whitefish Point Light
- Mackinac Island (a Carriage Tour, biking to Fort Holmes)
- Any activity on the Huron River
- Tip-Up Town (Houghton Lake)
- The Cheeseburger in Caseville Fest
- Lighthouse tours
- Art Prize (Grand Rapids)
Credit Steven Depolo | Flickr / http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM/http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM - Sunset in Grand Haven (during the spring, summer or fall!)
- A race at Michigan International Speedway
- Brockway Mountain Drive in the U.P.
- "A dune ride around Silver Lake in Mears, MI or take your own vehicle on the dunes. Either way, it's beautiful there."
- Crawling to the top of the Copper Peak ski flying jump (Ironwood, MI)
- Greek Town (Detroit)
- Gwen Frostic's studio in Benzonia
- Drive old 31 from Muskegon to Hart
- Tunnel of trees starting at Harbor Springs
Credit Bobak Ha'Eri | Wikimedia Commons / http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM/http://michrad.io/1LXrdJMSection of the "Tunnel of Trees" portion of M-119 between Harbor Springs and Good Hart - Sailing Tawas Bay
- Michigan beer
- Laughing Whitefish Falls
- M-22 drive (especially in fall)
- Peterson Beach on Lake Michigan
- Whitefish bay and birding
- Jeepin’ Marblehead on Drummond Island
- Camping along Lake Michigan in the northern part of the state
- Detroit Jazz Festival
- The Corktown Detroit celebration held the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day
- Presque Isle Lighthouse
- "The thrill of the catch! Fishing is or should be an equal mix of relaxation and exhilaration. Catch and release, if you please."
- Touring the Sault Ste. Marie locks
- Silver Beach (St. Joseph, MI)
- See Big Mac lit up at night!
- Kitch-iti-kipi Spring at Palms Book State Park
- AuSable River Canoe Marathon (Grayling, Michigan)
- Higgins Lake
- Saugatuck
- Jumping off the Black Rocks in Marquette
- Tecumseh’s River Raisin Run
- Great Lakes when they're frozen
- McCourtie Park's beautiful cement bridges (Jerome, MI)
Credit All Things Michigan | Flickr / http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM/http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM - Boating anywhere along Michigan shores and islands
- Yacht dreaming in Saugatuck
- Sunsets on Lake Michigan
- Hiking in the U.P.
- Ann Arbor Art Fairs
- Flint Institute of Art
- ...and by popular demand: Holland and the Tulip Festival!
Share your ideas for things every Michigander must do in the comments below.
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