Carefree Travel Guide 2023

Nature is amazing and so is fall in West Michigan. As our days grow colder and shorter, and the bright rays of summer’s sun start to dim, nature puts on a terrific display of reds, oranges, browns, and yellows. This is the time to drive, bike, hike, and paddle to see the vibrant colors on display. Each vista is uniquely different with the rolling road, the leaf-strewn valley, the tranquil lake reflecting, like a glassy mirror, a panoramic image of spectacularly painted forests. Let the tours begin!

Awesome Autumn

Paula Liimatta | Houghton

Want to beat the rush? Then venture north and make the Keweenaw Peninsula your very first stop. It’s colder here, so this is where the show begins. Drive, hike, or ride the chairlift up Brockway Mountain for the most amazing views of blazing forests and Lake Superior. M-26 is a must see, as is the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. Venture south across the Mackinac bridge and find colorful routes through Harbor Springs, Alanson, Petoskey, Boyne City, and Boyne Falls. Try C-81 for a north-south route running from just east of Harbor Springs, north to Mackinaw City. Another favorite is the

C-77 which begins in Harbor Springs and goes north to Cross Village. Be sure to grab a bite at the legendary Leg’s Inn. The famous M-22 runs along the lakeshore from Manistee to Leland. Along with breathtaking views along the water, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, intriguing small towns, wineries, shops, and galleries will offer you lots to see and do on your tour. Muskegon and White Lake have created a fantastic driving or biking tour to witness all the fall colors. The route stretches from the Muskegon South Pierhead Light to the White River Light

Station, allowing you to witness vibrant colors through woods, dunes, and water. Further south, the Saugatuck and Douglas area will delight with great boutiques, galleries, and eateries, but the best show is from the top of Mount Baldhead, a mere 302-step hike to the top. Fall is also the perfect time to visit a local u-pick farm, like Crane’s in Fennville, for delicious apples and cider – you’ll want to be sure to make a stop on your driving tour! For the more fall color driving routes in West Michigan, visit WMTA.org/ FallColorTour .

CAN’T-MISS WEST MICHIGAN FALL COLORS

DRUMMOND ISLAND RESORT DRUMMOND ISLAND Escape your everyday lifestyle and enjoy the majestic fall beauty of island life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. DrummondIsland.com

GREATER LANSING AREA Lansing offers u-pick farms, kayaking and 20+ miles of trails with stunning foliage. Cheer on the MSU Spartans with football and tailgating. Lansing.org/things-to do/reasons-to-visit/

BARDEN’S FARM MARKET SOUTH HAVEN Get your fall produce fix with a stop to Barden’s Farm Market! Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin to carve, or delicious, crisp apples, they’ve got you covered with all your fall favorites. BardensFarmMarket.com

SHANTY CREEK RESORT BELLAIRE See the fall colors from a new vantage point on a chairlift ride at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire. Enjoy 360 degree views of the changing leaves as you ascend Schuss Mountain - be sure to bring your camera! ShantyCreek.com

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West Michigan Tourist Association | WMTA.org