If you have lived in Michigan for a while you have probably been to some of the most popular tourist towns like Mackinaw City, Frankenmuth, and Petoskey.  Traveling around the state I have found many wonderful little towns that you will enjoy visiting if you are looking for someplace different.

Newaygo

Nestled at the south end of the Huron Manistee National Forest Newaygo is a historic little town with quaint little shops and a variety of restaurants. Be sure to visit the Newaygo Brewing Co. in the heart of Downtown.

Manchester

West of Ann Arbor next to the River Raisin sits the historic town of Manchester. The town is busy throughout the summer with its many festivals, a canoe race in May and a Chicken Broil serving over 14,000 chicken dinners in one day.   You can also visit the historic Sharon Mills which is not far away.

Owosso

Located near the Center of the Lower Peninsula Owosso is a perfect location for a day trip from many large cities in southern Michigan. There is a plethora of shopping and restaurants in downtown. You can also walk across a suspension bridge over the Shiawassee River and see the magnificent Curwood Castle which is now a museum open on the weekend.

Rockford

North of Grand Rapids, Rockford is the perfect place to get away from the big city. You can go for a walk on the boardwalk along the Rouge River which runs next to the downtown area. Or you can stroll along the blocks of stores and restaurants in Downtown. Whenever I am near Rockford I have to stop and get a coney dog from the Corner Bar.I am looking forward to it being re-opened this summer after the devistating fire.

Lexington

Lexington is located on the shoreline of Lake Huron north of Port Huron and is a little-known gem on the east side of the state. It’s an Idyllic little town and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. You can enjoy listening to music in the park on Friday nights in the summer or at many of the local bars and pubs. You can stay down the street at the Lexington State Park or in many of the local Bed and Breakfasts in the area.

Alden

Next to the beautiful crystal clear waters of Torch Lake is the town of Alden. It’s a wonderful place to go if you want to get away from the busy streets of Traverse City. The biggest attraction is the Alden Mill House full of specialty blends of spices and seasonings. If you are looking for a quiet little town in Northern Michigan for a place to relax and get a bite to eat you need to visit Alden.

Frankfort

Frankfort is one of the bigger towns on my list but I think it gets overshadowed by Traverse City and Ludington. Located on Lake Michigan, Frankfort is the perfect place to go shopping for the day and relax at one if it’s fine dining establishments and at the end of the day you can take in a sunset over the lighthouse while sitting on a beautiful sandy beach.

Mason

Mason is located south of Lansing and is your classic Midwestern town with a town square and a beautiful courthouse in the middle of it.  Surrounding the courthouse is a variety of antique and gift shops and you can satisfy your hunger at one of the local restaurants.

If you have never visited one of the towns on this list I hope you will adventure out and explore someplace new. You will be surprised at what you will find and may find a new favorite place to visit.

If you are looking for interesting places in Michigan check out my Lost In Michigan book full of locations from around the Mitten State. Books are ON SALE on Amazon HERE

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