Internet Resources

The following websites will provide valuable information before, during, and after your trip:

Cuisine and Travel

Frog Leg Productions
www.micuisine.com [1]
Ostensibly, the company that runs this website is a graphics design firm for Michigan-based restaurants, but you’ll also find recipes, cultural facts, plus information about some of the state’s best eateries and festivals.

Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions
www.michiganfairs.org [2]
You can use this website’s fair/festival locator feature to learn more about Michigan’s numerous county fairs.

Michigan Festivals & Events Association
www.michiganfun.us [3]
Search this website for most of Michigan’s cultural and community events.

Michigan Peddler
www.michiganpeddler.com [4]
If you hope to take a taste of Michigan home with you, look no further than this website, where you can a purchase a wide assortment of Michigan-made foods and condiments, from Cherry Republic’s hot cherry salsa to Postma Brothers’ maple syrup.

The Michigan Travel Companion
www.yesmichigan.com [5]
Use this comprehensive website to research Michigan’s accommodations, from motels to resorts. You can browse options by region, city, or type of lodging.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
www.uptravel.com [6]
This portal offers complete travel and lodging information for the U.P. [7], including details about events, activities, campgrounds, waterfalls, lighthouses, and other attractions. Here, you’ll also find weather reports and tips for anglers, skiers, and snowmobilers.

Northern Michigan Travel
www.northernmichigantravel.com [8]
This one-stop online travel guide serves as a useful repository for those eager to explore the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula [7]. Listed here are emergency numbers, weather conditions, and details about camping, lodging, boating, fishing, golfing, skiing, shopping, dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options.

Thumb Area Tourism Council
www.thumbtourism.org [9]
The TATC website is a helpful resource for those planning a trip to the Thumb. Here, you’ll find information about area attractions, parks, beaches, marinas, events, accommodations, historic sites, and more.

Travel Michigan
www.michigan.org [10]
Michigan’s official travel and tourism website offers just about everything you need to know about the state’s cities, accommodations, restaurants, casinos, attractions, shops, parks, events, recreational activities, and entertainment venues. Just be aware that some of the information can be out of date, so always call ahead when making travel plans.

Travel North
www.travelnorth.org [11]
The official portal for the Northern Michigan Tourism Association offers visitors helpful information about the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula [7]. Besides special deals, you’ll find details about shops, restaurants, accommodations, seasonal sports, festivals, outdoor diversions, and cultural attractions.

West Michigan Tourist Association
www.wmta.org [12]
Based in Grand Rapids [13], the WMTA has been promoting West Michigan—the western half of the Lower Peninsula, from the Indiana border to the Straits of Mackinac—since 1917. The group’s website provides a wealth of travel information, from events to attractions to accommodations. Here, you can also make reservations, find travel deals and coupons, and peruse maps and suggested itineraries.

General Information

Absolute Michigan
www.absolutemichigan.com [14]
As its slogan states, this comprehensive website offers both visitors and residents “all Michigan, all the time”—a collection of links, features, news, and information about everything from wineries and art galleries to newspapers and vacation cottages.

Country Codes
www.countrycodes.com [15]
If you decide to make any international phone calls while visiting Michigan, you’ll need this handy website, an easy-to-use directory of country calling codes.

MD Travel Health
www.mdtravelhealth.com [16]
Updated daily, this medical website is an excellent resource for travelers. You’ll find information about specific destinations, available clinics, infectious diseases, and illness prevention.

Online Conversion
www.onlineconversion.com [17]
This website will help you make any U.S.-metric conversion, from temperatures to distances to clothing sizes.

State of Michigan
www.michigan.gov [18]
Michigan’s official website has all the typical links to state departments, such as Agriculture and Natural Resources, plus some truly useful and fun information. Here, you can check road closures, purchase fishing and hunting licenses, and even learn more about the state’s symbols, landmarks, and little-known historical facts.

U.S. Department of State
www.travel.state.gov [19]
Whether or not you’re a U.S. citizen, this website will help you travel safely across the U.S.-Canada border near Detroit [20], Port Huron, and Sault Ste. Marie [21]. International travelers will also find guidelines for flying into and out of Michigan.

History and Culture

Michigan History
www.michiganhistorymagazine.com [22]
The online version of this engaging magazine promises history buffs a variety of articles and images chronicling the state’s rich history, including stories about lighthouses, college campuses, famous Michiganders, professional sports teams, and more. You’ll also find lists of recommended history books.

Michigan State University Press
http://msupress.msu.edu [23]
You’ll find a number of titles by Michigan-based writers, from personal essays about the Great Lakes to historic accounts about Michigan’s rivers and colleges.

The University of Michigan Press
www.press.umich.edu [24]
Peruse this website for a wealth of Michigan-related books that shed light on the state’s history and culture. Included here are historic accounts, personal memoirs, biographies, even field guides.

Parks and Recreation

GORP
www.gorp.com [25]
An in-depth portal for adventure travel and outdoor recreation, this website is an invaluable resource for information about campgrounds, national parks, recreational activities, and outdoor gear. There’s even a whole section devoted to Michigan, from fly-fishing in the northern parts to exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes.

League of Michigan Bicyclists
www.lmb.org [26]
Mountain bikers can explore this website for routes, clubs, and shops throughout the state.

Mackinac State Historic Parks
www.mackinacparks.com [27]
Visitors to Mackinac Island [28] should stop here first for information about the island’s various historic sites, including details about admission rates, hours of operation, and special events.

Michigan Birding
www.michiganbirding.com [29]
Peruse this website for information about bird-watching hot spots, tours, and festivals throughout Michigan.

Michigan Charter Boat Association
www.micharterboats.com [30]
This website offers access to hundreds of charter fishing boats, river fishing guides, sailing excursions, and diving trips that service the coastal areas and open waters of Lake St. Clair and the five Great Lakes.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
www.michigan.gov/dnr [31]
From this recreation portal, you’ll learn everything you need to know about fishing, hunting, camping, boating, hiking, biking, and snowmobiling in the Great Lakes States. Also included here are maps, publications, and information about law enforcement, forest management, state parks, visitors centers, historic sites, and trails.

Michigan Interactive
www.fishweb.com [32]
Besides offering numerous maps and lodging options, this website provides tons of advice for anglers, boaters, paddlers, hikers, golfers, snowmobilers, off-road enthusiasts, even mushroom hunters.

Michigan Snowsports Industries Association
www.goskimichigan.com [33]
Skiers and snowboarders should peruse this website for details about Michigan’s downhill ski slopes, outfitters, and snow conditions.

Michigan Underwater Preserves
www.michiganpreserves.org [34]
For divers, this website offers advice and information about all of Michigan’s underwater preserves, from Isle Royale [35] to Sanilac Shores.

National Park Service
www.nps.gov [36]
The National Park Service provides detailed maps, brochures, and contact information for each of its nearly 400 parks, monuments, recreation areas, trails, and other natural and cultural sites throughout the U.S. Use the state-by-state search function to learn more about Michigan’s protected places, including Isle Royale National Park [35], Keweenaw National Historical Park [37], Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore [38], Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore [39], and Motor Cities National Heritage Area.

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
www.rivers.gov [40]
Learn more about Michigan’s federally designated wild and scenic rivers, from the Au Sable to the Sturgeon.

U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division
www.uscgboating.org [41]
Use this comprehensive website to prevent accidents and fatalities while boating in Michigan.