Michigan

Michigan is a varied state, covered with forests and lakes, and with diverse citizenry. You can learn a lot of historical lessons here. Dearborn’s Henry Ford Museum is full of general Americana as well as info about the early auto industry. Another famous Ford, Gerald, is honored in Grand Rapids and has a museum there bearing his name. It covers his life in politics and the Watergate era overall, including a display of the burglary tools used in the infamous break-in, and Ford’s gravesite is on its grounds. The Motown Museum is set in the place where Berry Gordy started his legendary music label. You can see some of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River at Tahquamenon Falls State Park up north in the vicinity of Sault Sainte Marie. Get a rowboat, camp, or visit the brewpub! Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior is a completely peaceful, pedestrian-only area where you can watch wolves and moose herds prowl the woods.

You can eat Southern BBQ with a brisket, pulled pork, and chicken combo plate, or a meat-substitute chicken sandwich and okra fritters. Have a sweet potato-quinoa burger, Salvadoran pupusas, or Manchurian cauliflower in Ann Arbor. Berrien Springs has a Seventh-Day Adventist university with an all-vegetarian dining facility open to the public. Ypsilanti has the best-named Wurst Bar, a bratwurst and burger bar that also offers spicy seitan wurst, vegan tater tots, pretzel rolls, and drink specials. Rochester Mills Beer Company is a chill brewery with a full menu including gluten-free and vegan items. The beer is all locally made and there are organic varieties. Traverse City has a macrobiotic health food restaurant with a lounge that has Michigan craft beer and wine, plus organic cocktails. In Detroit, you can grab a lentil-walnut burger, pub food like shepherd’s pie or sandwiches made from local bread and farmers market produce, vegan soul food, or Syrian and Lebanese fare at Wayne State University. Kick it in Kalamazoo at an entertaining club and cafe where you can watch live Middle Eastern dancing while you have a cardamom tea or a fresh Arabic Desert Salad.