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All United States Michigan

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Michigan

240 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Michigan

Updated February 23, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Detroit
Ann Arbor
Traverse City
Grand Rapids
Leland
Dearborn
All Cities
  1. Ann Arbor
  2. Baldwin
  3. Battle Creek
  4. Beulah
  5. Cadillac
  6. Cedar
  7. Charlevoix
  8. Crystal Falls
  9. Dearborn
  10. Detroit
  11. Durand
  12. East Lansing
  13. Grand Rapids
  14. Grayling
  15. Hickory Corners
  16. Holland
  17. Ishpeming
  18. Kalkaska
  19. Lansing
  20. Leland
  21. Mackinac Island
  22. Mackinaw City
  23. Marquette
  24. Midland
  25. Mount Pleasant
  26. Port Huron
  27. Saugatuck
  28. Sault Ste. Marie
  29. South Lyon
  30. Traverse City
  31. White Pigeon
  32. Williamsburg
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories

Unusual Attractions in Michigan

Onsted, Michigan

Prehistoric Forest Amusement Park

The remains of an abandoned dinosaur theme park litter the woods just off the highway.

Detroit, Michigan

Grande Ballroom

Abandoned concert venue legendary for its rock counterculture.

Detroit, Michigan

John K. King Used & Rare Books

This sprawling bookstore spans four floors and has more than a million books in stock.

Manistique, Michigan

Kitch-iti-kipi

This freshwater spring fills with 10,000 gallons of water per minute.

Detroit, Michigan

St. Agnes Church and School

This Detroit ruin was once a gothic bastion of its community, but now it stands as a haunting ruin.

Hell, Michigan

Hell, Michigan

Hell on Earth is actually a small town in Michigan where anyone can be mayor for a day.

Port Austin, Michigan

Turnip Rock

Turnip-shaped island just off the Michigan shore in Lake Huron.

Detroit, Michigan

Belle Isle Aquarium

The Beaux-Arts aquarium boasts a vast collection of saltwater and freshwater fish on an island in the Detroit River.
See All 240 Things To Do in Michigan

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Michigan

Port Huron, Michigan

The Raven Café

Located in a Civil War era building, this café is engrained with the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe.

Detroit, Michigan

The Raven Lounge

One of Detroit’s oldest blues clubs stands in defiance of the passage of time and the city’s shifting fortunes.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Food Gatherers' Giant Carrots

The 10-foot-tall vegetables belong to Michigan’s first food rescue program.

Detroit, Michigan

Grand Trunk Pub

The grandiose interior of this bar speaks to its past as home to famous jewelers and railway offices.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Michigan
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

7 Mechanical Marvels in Michigan

Michigan is famous for its steep, sweeping sand dunes, freckling of lakes, and unique fossils—but across the state, you'll find slews of automated wonders, past and present. From old animatronic toys to the ruins of early assembly lines, here are seven places to be dazzled by industry. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Michigan

Museums And Collections 20
Architectural Oddities 17
History 15
Water 15
Parks 13
Animals 13
Transportation 12
Roadside Attractions 12
Abandoned 12
Art 11
Plaques 10
Shops 10
Unique Restaurants & Bars 4
Places To Stay 3

Michigan Leaderboard

Places Added

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    39
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    12
  4. Avatar image for Rebecca Byrne
    Rebecca Byrne
    8
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    7

Places Edited

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    13
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    11

Places Visited

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    Ian Sanwald
    122
  2. Avatar image for apbreuhan
    apbreuhan
    117
  3. Avatar image for rickbbiking
    rickbbiking
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  4. Avatar image for mrbrettwjones
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    91
  5. Avatar image for JimUTR
    JimUTR
    87

Recent Michigan Activity

  • S

    sethtamarkin

    wants to go to Hell, Michigan

  • S

    sethtamarkin

    wants to go to American Museum of Magic

  • N

    nickchevy

    has been to Legs Inn

  • N

    nickchevy

    wants to go to The Wacky Taxidermy & Miniatures Museum

  • S

    sethtamarkin

    wants to go to Grand Trunk Pub

Stories About Michigan

These Intrepid Surfers Chill Out Riding the Great Lakes' Wintry Waves

Stressing the need for proper gear and training, members of this close-knit community say their sport gets them through the long, cold season.
by Eden Arielle Gordon
February 23, 2023

The Dancing Snow God That Brings Blizzards to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Heikki Lunta even has his own song.
by Daniel Bromfield
January 5, 2023

Aurora Hunters Capture the Wonder of the Northern (and Southern) Lights

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.
by Gemma Tarlach
December 21, 2022

Michigan’s Bloodsucking Parasite Is Britain’s Royal Delicacy

Lamprey pie is a coronation tradition.
by Diana Hubbell
September 20, 2022

How a Master Maze Maker Gets You Lost

Michigan-based artist Michelle Boggess-Nunley has created a new, Atlas Obscura–inspired challenge.
by Victoria Stapley-Brown
May 5, 2022

Are the Great Lakes Really Inland Seas?

Well, yes. And no. Actually, it depends on where you stand, in more ways than one.
by Gemma Tarlach
April 27, 2022

Haunted Houses Have Nothing on Lighthouses

From drowning to murders to the mental toll of isolation, these stoic towers carry a full share of tragedy.
by Sarah Durn
October 12, 2021

Podcast: The Kalamazoo Gals of the Old Gibson Guitar Factory

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
July 27, 2021

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