Michigan's 12 Most Laid-Back Towns
Combing a simple beach, watching the boats and freighters cruise by, investigating surrounding scenic drives, nature trails, and historic sites; meandering around Michigan can be a laid-back affair.
Beginning in the southern reaches of the Lower Peninsula and tracing the shoreline of three Great Lakes up and around the Upper Peninsula, we will visit Michigan's low-key harbors, beach towns, river towns, and re-invented mining towns. Places like Marine City and Grand Marais may not draw the summer crowds, but that's part of the niche appeal for anyone seeking a laid-back layover.
Marine City
Nestled along the St. Clair River, midway between Detroit and Port Huron but well removed from either's hustle and bustle, Marine City is a laid-back place to visit.
Its decorative Main Street sits slightly above the water, with parks and pathways eager to expose the scenery and activity of this binational river. Park your keister on a bench and watch Great Lake freighters pass through en route between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair.
Afterwards, pop into the Mariner — a boutique collective where you can sip a coffee, sift through comics, sniff out candles and soap, and admire the works of rotating artists. Even more vendors, along with new age proprietors, musicians, and the like, bring the chill vibes to Marine City each September for the RiverSide Gypsy Hippie Fest.
Port Sanilac
This little Lake Huron harbor town comes and goes quickly along M-25, but pull over and park on Main Street and you'll discover its laid-back charms.
Depending on the time of day, you might grab a seat at one of Sanilac Coffee's few wooden tables, or take your caffeine fix of choice to-go so that you can admire the boats of Port Sanilac Municipal Harbor. Down on the water you'll find On Water Dining, which also enjoys lovely views of the marina from both its indoor and outdoor seating.
When it's time for adults to indulge, Alli Bar is a long-running local hang out. This quirky, decorative bar has dragged in all sorts of tables, chairs, couches, trolleys, sheds, green houses, road signs, light fixtures... you name it, in order to drive home its homely, laid-back approach. They even have a little stage in the outdoor area with live music on the weekends.
Port Austin
Marine City, Port Sanilac, and Port Austin (along with many other cool towns and parks) exist along a scenic route called the Thumbcoast. This easy-going drive follows first the St. Clair River, and then the southwestern shore of Lake Huron. Port Austin isn't quite the terminus, but it is the northernmost community.
Here, beach bums and paddlers fan out to their respective happy places, before reuniting at the shops and restaurants of downtown's T-intersection. Port Austin's public beach is complemented by a long, walkable breakwater.
Spend a care-free afternoon strolling, swimming, or suntanning. Or if you're feeling energized, rent a kayak or bike from Port Austin Kayak & Bike (how 'bout that?). I recommend the former, as it will allow you to paddle out to Turnip Rock and Tabletop Rock — enigmatic formations reminiscent of the Upper Peninsula's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (which we'll visit shortly) that can only be accessed from the water.
East Tawas
East Tawas continues this small-town Michigan trend of taking a coffee wander on the water. Situated on Tawas Bay, East Tawas (not to be confused with its neighbor, Tawas City), enjoys a cute downtown core and quick access to Tawas Point State Park.
Park on Newman Street, rather than Main Street, as the former functions as the true main street, and enjoy your pick of Cozy Cup Coffee Company or Tilly's Cafe and Tea House, perhaps with a sweet assist from Village Chocolatier. Then, make the four-mile drive around the bay to the peninsular trails, beautiful beaches, and namesake lighthouse of Tawas Point State Park. Following a light lunch in the park, scoot back into town to catch a matinee at the Family Theatre (just look for the classic marquee out front).
Oscoda
Offering one of the quintessential views along the Sunrise Coast Pure Michigan Byway, Oscoda is a great place to slow down. Oscoda Beach and its corresponding pier look due east, where the sun rises above Ontario's opposite shore, illuminating the vast fresh waters of Lake Huron.
The soft sands are backed by a boardwalk equipped with old fashioned street lamps, with just enough eateries and accommodations to support a beach vacation. If you're looking for a change of scenery, but not of pace, consider taking the River Road National Scenic Byway, which rolls 22 miles inland, through reclaimed forests high above the historic AuSable River. Along the way motorists are treated to multiple vistas, nature trails, river access, and interpretive turnouts explaining the history of logging and paddling in this valley.
Grand Marais
Given its isolation and abundant wilderness, it makes sense that Michigan's Upper Peninsula defaults to a laid-back state. In Grand Marais, this is particularly palpable. Sheltered from Lake Superior by West Bay, this eastern terminus of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore peppers in some personality to the wistful ambience.
Places like the Dunes Saloon and The Dream Bean are punctuated by novelties such as the Pickle Barrel House, multiple ice cream shops, and the Light Keeper's House Museum.
At the north end of Grand Marais, Agate Beach welcomes beachcombers, while nearby Sable Dunes offers another, albeit much more dynamic, barefoot adventure. As for the famous Pictured Rocks, the whole shoreline between Grand Marais and our next stop, Munising, presents trailheads, waterfalls, and jaw-dropping viewpoints of the sandstone landscape.
Munising
Munising oversees the west end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, offering scenic cruises and kayak tours of the expressive sandstone cliffs and accompanying shipwrecks.
Munising also operates ferries to the south side of Grand Island, where hikers and campers can sprawl out unencumbered by modern society. But even Munising proper has a restorative atmosphere. Its frontier facade, bigfoot statues, food truck scene, and social watering holes will keep you in the Munising mood long after your outdoor recreation has concluded.
If you're craving some classic Michigan craft beer, there are three breweries to hop between and if you're looking for a healthier, more reflective option, try Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore, where amongst the hot drinks and good reads you might also catch a folk jam circle.
Copper Harbor
Copper Harbor tops not only the Upper Peninsula, but its northernmost offshoot: the Keweenaw Peninsula. Marking the end of the line of the Copper Country Trail, and mainland Michigan for that matter, Copper Harbor is truly for those who want to get away from it all.
With that said, there is an appreciation for any fresh-faced tourists that roll into town. Copper Harbor attracts hikers and mountain bikers to its dense woods, most of which are second-growth stands following the logging boom, but some of which consist of old-growth white pines.
Copper Harbor is also one of Michigan's two ferry terminals servicing Isle Royale — the most remote national park in the Lower 48, but perhaps most of all, Copper Harbor offers a completely novel and natural setting in which to catch your breath, work on that novel, or tend to just about any of your "some day" desires.
Houghton
On your way down the Keweenaw Peninsula, float into Houghton for a bit of revamped mining town charm. This is the second Isle Royale access point, a major player in the sweeping Keweenaw National Historical Park, and a chill destination unto itself.
Start with a walk along Houghton's park-lined Portage Canal, where the robust Portage Canal Lift Bridge is quick to capture one's gaze. Then, loop back along the slow-going part of US-41 that serves as Houghton's main street. This red-brick strip is full of first and second-hand gear shops for forthcoming U.P. adventures, as well as a wine bar, brewery, and solid mix of American and ethnic cuisines.
Even if you don't want to make the six-hour trip to Isle Royale, you can get a feel for its beauty and ecological importance by watching the informative video at the National Park Visitor Center. One detour you definitely should make is the short drive up to Quincy Mine. With guided underground mine tours and self-guided tours of the above ground operations, echoes of the Copper craze can still be felt.
Saugatuck
Saugatuck is one of western Michigan's sneakier shoreline communities. Rather than wear its sandy beach on its sleeve, the commercial core of this community is tucked behind a minor mountain, opposite the Kalamazoo River.
Downtown Saugatuck is elegant, walkable, timeless yet progressive, and compartmentalized but still within a short drive of the ever-popular Oval Beach. Actually, an alternative to driving to the beach is to take the $3, circa-1857 Saugatuck Chain Ferry across the river, and then walk the wooden stairs up and over Mount Baldhead (i.e. a tree-covered dune system). Or you might be perfectly content to stroll past the converted house shops, Social District venues, and historic structures of downtown.
In Saugatuck, you can go with your own flow.
Empire
Another of Michigan's tranquil, near-beach villages worth sinking into is Empire. This 19th century time capsule welcomes a slow exploration of Front Street thanks to its clapboard town hall, pristine library, multiple studios, a touch of rare-finds retail, a couple of cafes, a surf shop, and a quirky local tavern.
From here, Empire Beach and its memorial lighthouse is just a stone's throw away. Striking out further by bike or car, the colossal dunes and preserved historic settlements of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore follow the eastern shore of Lake Michigan beginning from Empire's Philip A. Hart Visitor Center.
Alternatively, you might skip one mile south of town, to the Empire Bluff Trail. With its lush approach trail and inspiring turn-around-point panoramic, this easy hike showcases the crux of the national lakeshore: the Sleeping Bear Dune and legendary Manitou Islands.
Frankenmuth
With endless Great Lakes shorelines, it can be tempting to exclusively cover waterfront communities. Michigan, however, has a few tricks up its sleeve further inland. The Bavarian enclave of Frankenmuth could be fairly called a "tourist trap," but when it comes to carefree leisure, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Once you wander into the full-blown Bavarian ecosystem, there is good grub and good vibes to be found in all directions. Frankenmuth hugs the Cass River, which is crossed by a traditional covered bridge and regularly toured by the Bavarian Belle Riverboat.
On the southern bank, the River Place Shops lean into the Old Country aesthetic, while sporting cheat-day indulgences from various cultures. Main Street is much the same, boasting competing fried chicken restaurants, fudge, candy, and cheese shops, a wine bar and German brewery, and even a New Orleans beignet stall — because why not? Frankenmuth is a laid-back getaway for families, retirees, and anyone looking for a very different kind of Michigan vacation.
Keep It Casual
These 12 Michigan towns capture a different kind of Great Lake experience: an overlooked, under-rated, and laid-back one. From the far reaches of the UP to the sneaky river and harbor towns hovering just beyond the Motor City, there are plenty of scenic and easy-going spots to plug into your GPS this season.
