In many parts of Michigan there is still a strong tradition linked to 'lake cottages' — small family homes built near the lakes and passed down through generations. For many Midwest families, spending the summer at the lake is not an occasional holiday but a genuine cultural tradition: long weekends, barbecues, fishing, bonfires and outdoor life are as much a part of the region's identity as the industrial cities for which Michigan is known.
Michigan is one of the least-talked-about states in the United States, especially for first-time visitors to the country. It is often associated only with industrial cities or the American Midwest, but it actually offers landscapes very different from what people typically imagine.
Surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan has one of the longest coastlines of any state in the continental United States. Lake Michigan in particular is so large it almost resembles an inland sea: it generates waves, currents and sudden weather changes, especially during winter.
During a weekend trip from Chicago we decided to cross the lake and explore some areas of Michigan without a fixed itinerary. It was meant to be a simple break from the city, but it turned into one of the most pleasantly surprising trips of our time in the United States.
The most striking thing about Michigan is how different it is from the traditional image of the American Midwest.
Driving along the lakeshore you encounter green hills, small towns facing the water, cultivated fields, orchards and sandy beaches. At times the landscape feels more like parts of northern Europe than the United States.
The light on the lake, especially in the late afternoon, completely transforms the atmosphere. In many areas you have the feeling of being in a quiet coastal town, far from the big American cities.
On this trip too, Couchsurfing played an important role.
The couple who hosted us showed us a side of Michigan we would have struggled to discover on our own. Rather than taking us to the main tourist attractions, they showed us beaches frequented almost exclusively by residents, back roads, small lakeside towns and little-known viewpoints.
It was one of those trips where contact with local people completely changes the experience. You end up seeing the place not just as a visitor, but through the daily habits of the people who actually live there.
One of the most surprising things about Michigan are the sand dunes along the lake. In some protected areas and nature parks you find very tall dunes that look directly out over the water. Reaching the top requires more effort than it looks. The sand makes the climb slow going and many locals turn this hike into a kind of informal challenge.
One of the things that stuck with us most from Michigan was the very relaxed atmosphere.
Evenings often end on the beach, with impromptu barbecues, fires lit on the sand and groups of friends staying up late talking while looking out at the lake.
We also tried S'mores, one of the most classic treats in American culture: toasted marshmallow over a fire, chocolate and graham crackers. It is a simple thing, but it captures well that kind of conviviality typical of lakeside and camping life in the United States.
Before heading back, we visited several local farms scattered along the coast.
Many small producers in the area sell fruit, vegetables, honey and artisan products directly. In various areas there are extensive cherry, apple and berry orchards thanks to the climate influenced by the lakes.
These businesses still try to maintain a more local and family-based production, despite the strong competition from large American distributors. Visiting them you strongly feel the connection between the land, the seasons and agricultural work.
Michigan was not a destination we had been planning for a long time. That was probably what made it so interesting.
It is one of those places that rarely appears among the main destinations in the United States, yet manages to surprise you precisely because it has no need to construct an overly artificial tourist image.
With its enormous lakes, dunes, small towns, nature and slow pace of life, it showed us a side of the United States very different from the more well-known one.