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Vanlife Map By The Fites guide
Top 11 locations in Michigan
byMars & Ash Fite and
Michal Ben-Ari
Live update: Updated October 4, 2021Copy link
Copy link1. Kitch-iti-kipi
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Mars & Ash FiteThis is a GORGEOUS natural spring in the upper peninsula of Michigan. It has clear turquoise water and a pulley-raft ride across its 200-ft. length. It's a fun, educational quick stop and absolutely beautiful. 
Gerard Navarrohttps://go.steps.me/1QbSkF3Mnjb
2. Belle Isle
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteThis is a great vanlifing spot during the day! There is a beach where you can lounge and swim, tons of trails, and a GIGANTIC park to play with food trucks on some days.
3. Mackinac Island
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteI first came here as a kid and LOVED IT! It's this beautiful spot in Lake Huron set back in time. Your only form of transportation is by horse and buggy, bicycle or on foot. Trails and woods cover most of the island, which makes it a great place for a hike.
It is also the location of Fort Mackinac, founded in 1780. It's a British-built on the island's bluffs high above the Straits of Mackinac.
You'll definitely need a full day to explore the island and feel satisfied if not more. If you want to bike the interior of the island, go kayaking, visit museums and the fort or anything else, you'll need three days!
Ferry Cost (round trip):
Adult $29
Child 5-12 $17
4 and under FREE
4. Monroe Street Midway
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteWe discovered this place during our summer tour in 2021! Everly loved getting to roller skate! Online, this downtown location is said to be summer-long, so perhaps that means it is seasonal but will open again each summer. I know 2021 is the first year for the outdoor rec area. The area also features a daily rotating list of food trucks.
This is open 12pm-9pm Sunday to Wednesday
12pm-11pm Thursday to Saturday
5. The BELT
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteThis is such a photographable space! It is a culturally redefined all that is home to murals and art installations by local, national and international artists. There is also a handful of bars/restaurants with great atmospheres to enjoy.
6. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteWe stopped here for the day on our way to Chicago from the upper peninsula of Michigan! We did a nice hike through the dunes to the lakeshore. It was definitely more intense than we thought, so bring more water than you think and go to the bathroom before you start the hike haha.
7. The Brakeman
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteMars and I came here with coworkers after an event we helped host in Detroit. You purchase tokens per drink at the door, which was a little odd but fine. They had local craft beers and cocktails available as well as a to-go chicken spot, which I heard was delicious, but I did not get to try it. I also saw some younger kids running around, though they did ID all of us at the door.
8. Campus Martius Park, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteWe discovered this spot while in town for an event. There is a little spot called The Beach, which allowed our kids to play in the sand while we enjoyed some yummy food and cocktails! It had a shipping container bar and food. Patio style seating with sand for play and relaxation!
9. Copper Harbor
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteThis is was such a great place to experience vanlife. Copper Harbor is a great stop for experiencing the outdoors-hiking, kite surfing and mountain biking! It's also the "gateway to Isle Royale National Park."
The town itself is VERY small, but it is a great spot to get away and very welcoming to RV'ers.
There are a couple of good restaurants as well as a microbrewery in town.
10. Roasting Plant Coffee
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteAs huge coffee lovers, we were SO STOKED to find this place. This place roasts its own beans every day using a roasting system called Javabot. They roast specialty coffee sourced from places all over the world with many single origin coffees to love. You come in and pick any JUST ROASTED bean and they grind it fresh to make your coffee. You even get to watch the beans roasting before they shoot over to the holding tube. It's definitely worth going to.
11. Standby
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Mars & Ash FiteWe came here for a team dinner after an event weekend in Detroit. The dinner menu was quite small, but the craft cocktail menu was really great. It was perfect for what we were wanting. I recommend the carrot/hummus flatbread!
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