Michigan boasts more than 11,000 inland lakes and over 300 named rivers. The major rivers are the St. Clair, Detroit, St. Joseph, Kankakee, Kalamazoo, Grand, Muskegon, Manistee, Saginaw and Menominee.

The Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Onterio are known for their beauty and wealth of resources around them. The Great Lakes region contains not only the five main lakes themselves, but also numerous minor lakes and rivers, as well as approximately 35,000 islandsThe Great Lakes contain roughly 22% of the world’s fresh surface water: 5,472 cubic miles. The combined surface area of the lakes is approximately 94,250 square miles. The Great Lakes coast measures approximately 10,500 miles (16,900 km), however, the length of a coastline is impossible to measure exactly and is not a well-defined measure, but more than any other state except Alaska.

Michigan features three national forests:

About 50 percent of the state's land is covered with 19.3 million acres of forests, two-thirds of which is birch, aspen and oak. Michigan timberland, or forest lands capable of producing commercial timber, accounts for 18.6 million acres of forest land, representing the fifth-largest timberland acreage in the continental United States.

The Ottawa has over 50,000 acres in three wildernesses. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass almost 1 million acres of public land in lower Michigan, more than 879,000 acres of the Hiawatha National Forest in the Upper Peninsula.

Michigan campgrounds:

Michigan’s nearly 100 state parks, its state and national forests, and hundreds of private campgrounds offer tens of thousands of sites for campers to pitch their tents, park their RV’s, or reserve a RV or trailer.

Michigan is the great outdoors. With more than 3,200 miles of shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes, 5,600 miles of snowmobile trails, dozens of downhill ski resorts and four national parks—there’s no need to miss out on a moment of outdoor fun. Search the entire "Outdoors" directory or select the sub-category tab above that best fits the get-away you want to experience.

Light houses:

Michigan is the only state bordered by four of the five Great Lakes and with over 115 lights and lighthouses you're sure to find one along your travels.  Many of the lights still guide ships through treacherous waters. Others have been abandoned, some to be later rescued by renovation and restoration.

 Dunes:
The windswept dunes gracing Michigan's Great Lakes shoreline represent the largest collection of freshwater dunes in the world. A quiet leisurely walk along our beaches with the dunes on one side and the impressive Lake Michigan on the other will soon make all of your cares melt away

 Beaches:
Spend just a few glorious minutes on a Michigan beach and it becomes easy to understand why poems, love songs, novels, operas and even menus, are written in tribute to the beach experience. Michigan features 1127 beaches.

 Michigan Golfing:
Discover why Michigan is home to more than 850 golf courses and many world-class golf resort facilities. Experience our breathtaking vistas, lush fairways and blue waters, which leave golfers anxious to play again and again. Because playing all day is pure Michigan.

 Michigan Zoos:
Michigan is flush with diverse natural, man-made, and cultural offerings that include everything from aquariums to zoos, museums, galleries, lighthouses, waterfalls, natural rock formations, and even award-winning wineries. Search the Zoo/Planetarium results below to plan your next travels.

Fishing :

Because of its Great Lakes location and large number of lakes and streams, Michigan has an abundance of fish. Of the 149 types of native fish, about 25 species are pursued for sport. Lake trout and whitefish were important food for early Native Americans. Brook, brown and rainbow trout are popular game fish. After being introduced, coho and chinook salmon rapidly became important game fish. Charters and river guides 600 professional captains that serve over 100 ports in Michigan.

Hunting:

The wildlife of Michigan has from the earliest period been a major asset of the state. The fur-bearing animals brought the French and British while the game provided food and clothing for the pioneers. Michigan still has a wealth of big game, small game, fowl and fish. The white-tailed deer and black bear are probably the most common large animals; some moose and timber wolves live on Isle Royale. Coyotes, bobcats and red fox are other animals in both peninsulas.

Rabbits and squirrels are the chief small game animals in Michigan. Other small animals include opossum, mink, otter, muskrat, skunk and porcupine. Michigan is home to 351 species of birds:

Nature:
Michigan's magic is the magic of nature. Spending hours capturing and getting close looks at frogs in my grandfather's northern Michigan pond was a favorite pastime of my cousins and mine. Thirty years later our children do the same with the offspring of those old frogs, while we "old frogs" sit and enjoy! Getting nose to nose with nature, like my son in the photo, is what I hope Michigan's future holds. The pure delight in holding a frog up close is something that Michigan provided me, my friends, and my children with. Preserving this simple act can create a love of and an interest in all things natural and all things Michigan.

Hiking:
Pack the hiking boots and energy bars, Michigan's trails and pathways beckon. You can find your footing at state and national parks and nature preserves, on rail-to-trail corridors--even along urban walkways. Take a hike in an old-growth forest or meander across ice age moraines. Tackle a barely-marked trail or follow a mulched path. Trek the more than 200 miles between Lakes Michigan and Huron on the Shore-to-Shore Trail or a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail. And don't forget the camera.

Boating:

Michigan also has over 7,000 miles of canoeable streams, 13,000 miles of trout waters, and over 700 access sites, many of which are maintained by local governments or organizations in partnership with the DNR. Michigan has  1,003,947 registered boats, the most of any state.

Winery’s:

Michigan has over 45 wineries with 13,500 acres of vineyards. The vineyards of Michigan are nestled in the most scenic areas of the state. Plan a weekend or a day trip touring these lovely sites and discover the diversity of Michigan wines by visiting winery tasting rooms around the state

 Casions:
Once confined to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, she has sought out and found homes all across Michigan. Detroit itself boasts three casinos, with several more scattered across the state, and all offer venues filled with gaming, dining, and nightlife. Whether gamers want to join a lively game of craps, settle in to outlast a slot machine, or sample the fine dining and entertainment nearby, Michigan’s casinos have what they’re looking for. 

Hotels/rooms:

Michigan represents over 500 hotels, motels, resorts, and bed & breakfasts, comprising over 30,000 guest rooms, with many containing conference rooms, and more than 2 dozen major convention centers.

 More than thousands of private vacation rentals/cabins, condos and B&B’s and resorts.