THE MIDWEST’S BEST COAST
VISIT A NEWLY MINTED NATIONAL PARK
At just about 15,000 acres, Indiana
Dunes is small for a national park, but the system’s second-newest member boasts 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and endless views—including the Chicago skyline. Before (or after) getting wet at one of the beaches, check out the more than 50 miles of trails traversing bogs and prairies. And summit a sand dune while you’re here—at nearly 200 feet high, Mount Tom tops them all.
TEE OFF LIKE BROOKS KOEPKA
In September 2021, some of the best golfers in the world will play for the Ryder Cup atwhistling Straits, a dramatic, Pete Dye-designed Irish links-style course. And you can, too, with some planning: The Lake Michigan-facing course is public, part of the five-star Destination Kohler resort complex. Just watch out for the herd of sheep—and a thousand-plus bunkers.
TAKE IN THE MIGHTY MANISTEE
Flowing into Lake Michigan south of Traverse City, the Manistee is renowned for its trout and salmon fishing, but you don’t need to bring a fishing rod to appreciate it. The 11-mile Manistee River Trail offers an excellent overview, traversing rolling hills on the east side of the waterway that deliver stellar views of the river, surrounding wetlands, and a tumbling waterfall. Combine it with a stretch of the intersecting North Country Trail—via a suspension footbridge—and you can make it a twonight backpacking loop.
SIT AT HEMINGWAY’S BARSTOOL
A little over a century ago, Ernest Hemingway found Northern Michigan so appealing that he made it his summer home as a young man. These days, you can still imbibe just as Papa did, by sipping a strong cocktail while seated on the second barstool from the end of a 32-foot mahogany bar, at the City Park Grill.
TRADE SUDS FOR CIDER
Breweries like Bell’s have put Michigan craft brews on taproom chalkboards all over the country, but don’t sleep on Northern Michigan’s cidery scene. Among the most popular is Virtue, which crafts ciders in an old-world style from Michigan apples. Take in some fresh air at the Virtue farm while trying The Mitten, a cider aged in bourbon barrels.
VISIT CREAM CITY
Pre-pandemic, travelers were swarming Milwaukee—airbnb reported a 729 percent increase in bookings for 2020. Visitors were lured by the mix of urban energy and small-town convenience, with the city connected by everything from an extensive bike share program to a streetcar line to a 60-plus-mile urban water trail. Meanwhile, the Pabst Mansion provides a glimpse at how beer barons lived in the 1890s. For a follow-up pint, hit Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge—it’s an American classic.