The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Michigan, USA

Michigan is bound by four of the five Great Lakes, creating beautiful scenery and great locations for recreational boating. From beaches to cities and even German villages, discover the must-see destinations for your next visit.

Ontonagon County, home of the Porcupine Mountains, contains the communities of Ontonagon, Silver City and White Pine. With breathtaking waterfalls and dazzling beaches, the Porcupine Mountains have something to offer in every season. Hike almost 90mi (145km) of beautiful trails, fish for trout and salmon, kayak or canoe in Lake Superior, tour picturesque lighthouses or snowshoe and cross-country ski through the trees. The Porcupine Mountains, on the shores of Lake Superior, contain the largest territory of old-growth hardwood woodlands west of the Adirondacks and are home to black bears, river otters, moose and deer. Ontonagon County also offers the Lake of Clouds, one of the most beautiful locations in the state, and miles of beautiful beaches at Union Bay.

Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, showcases beautiful views of the Huron River. In the summertime, the lake offers a multitude of enjoyable outdoor activities, from picnicking and exploring nature trails to canoeing in the river. Ann Arbor’s Main Street is one of the best in America and it attracts many visitors throughout the year. The city’s nickname, Tree Town, derives from the thick forest; several of these parks border parts of the Huron River, creating a breathtaking atmosphere and an incredible ambience for a day out in the city.

Frankenmuth, aka Little Bavaria, is an enchanting, old-world German town in Saginaw County and home to the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Frankenmuth’s beauty derives from the incredible Franconian-style buildings prevalent throughout the town, its myriad of museums and festivals and its cultural German influences. Frankenmuth holds many festivals throughout the year, including the World Expo of Beer, the Bavarian Festival, Oktoberfest and the Frankenmuth Snowfest. Visit the beautiful Zehnder’s Holz-Brücke (a wooden bridge) or Heritage Park, Frankenmuth’s most popular park.

Marquette is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, alongside Lake Superior. Beautiful in every season, the city has a number of parks and recreational activities and two well-loved beaches – McCarty’s Cove and South Beach Park. Marquette offers an array of walking paths and is a popular destination for leisure activities such as fishing, golfing, skiing and biking; the town is known as the top biking destination in the nation. Marquette is also known for the large number of festivals held in the town, from concerts to festivals of blueberries, old cars and beer.

Charlevoix, aka Charlevoix the Beautiful, offers waterfront views of Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix, as well as art galleries and shopping areas, watersports and biking and walking trails. Other popular activities include fishing, hiking, zip lining, sailing, horseriding and golf at one of the city’s many courses. You can also visit the South Pier Light Station, or take a short boat ride to Beaver Island.

Isle Royale, the largest of the group that comprises the Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, is home to wild moose and wolves, a large forest and beautiful waters, including its own lakes. Only reachable by boat, ferry or float plan, it is an unspoilt living laboratory. Recreational activities here include camping, boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and exploring the numerous wilderness trails.