Things to Do in Michigan

It may look modest from the outside, but the Motown Museum in downtown Detroit—known as Hitsville, USA—created a tidal wave of a legacy in the music industry whose impact is still felt today. Visitors can step inside legendary Studio A, the spot where songs like the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love” and other chart-toppers were recorded.

Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation—part of the Henry Ford, the largest indoor and outdoor museum complex in the US—traces the Industrial Revolution and rise of the automobile in history. Notable artifacts include the chair where Abraham Lincoln sat when he was shot and the bus where Rosa Parks refused to yield her seat.

Enter a world of creativity at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Michigan. Located in Auburn Hills, this interactive LEGO®-themed entertainment park offers the ultimate indoor adventure for kids and features attractions and activities including rides, games, build-and-play areas, workshops, and a 4D cinema.

Named the number one thing to do in Detroit by TripAdvisor reviewers, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is home to one of the largest and most significant art collections in the US. The DIA features more than 100 galleries that showcase 65,000 works, from prehistory to modern day, including Diego Rivera’s 1930sDetroit Industry Murals.

Greenfield Village is the 80-acre (32-hectare) outdoor portion of the Henry Ford, the largest indoor and outdoor museum complex in the United States. The sound and smell of the village steam train signals that you’re stepping back through 300 years of Detroit and American history, with more than 80 historic structures.

The Kalamazoo Nature Center brings an unlikely array of environments to the middle of Michigan. Walk through an indoor tropical forest, then wander around an arboretum. Or, explore the nature trails scattered throughout the 1,100-acre (445-hectare) preserve and spot native animals at wildlife viewing areas.