Perhaps because it is the only Great Lake with all of its shoreline in the United States, Lake Michigan seems to hold a special place in many hearts and minds. 

There are lots of impressive stats to share. Lake Michigan is the second largest Great Lake by volume and the third largest by surface area. It has the world’s largest collection of freshwater sand dunes. Area surrounding the lake is home to over 12 million people, including Chicago, the largest city on the Great Lakes.

Indiana Dunes National Park from Conde Nast

The word “Michigan” is believed to derive from indigenous words meaning “great water” or “big lake”. These include “mishigamaa” or “mishigamaw” in Algonquin “meicigama” in Chippewa and “mishigami” in Ojibwa.

A road trip around Lake Michigan would offer almost too many fantastic stops to list. This itinerary from the roadtrippers site starts in Milwaukee and then heads north towards Door County, Wisconsin, “the Cape Cod of the Midwest”. 

Heading north from Wisconsin leads into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP), which you know I love for its wildness, quirkiness and solitude (and Joe Pera!). After driving eastward on the UP, the route drops you back into Michigan’s Mitten via the Mackinac Bridge.

The route from there takes you south through beautiful shoreline and quaint, picturesque towns – Charlevoix, Petoskey, Traverse City, and Sleeping Bear Dunes area before landing down on Michigan’s weekend escape towns like South Haven and Saugatuck. Westerly winds blow surface water to the east, making the water on these east coast destinations on the lake warmer in summer months.

At the southern end of the lake one finds a relatively unknown gem – the 45 miles of Indiana’s Lake Mighigan shoreline, which includes Indiana Dunes National Park. 

From there, the route will take you up into Chicago. When one thinks of Chicago, the sprawling built city comes to mind. And maybe deep dish pizza or hot dogs? But make no mistake – the city is inextricably connected with Lake Michigan. In the warmer weather, it really is a beach town with crowds of people at Oak Street Beach, Rainbow Beach and Park and North Avenue Beach. All year round, you can walk and bike miles along Lake Shore Drive or visit Navy Pier’s myriad attractions, food and programs.

I would venture to guess that many of you have spent time on Lake Michigan. If you have a favorite memory or place or a hidden gem, I’d love to hear about it! Reply to my newsletter or drop me a message through the website!