21 weekend roadtrips for when you need to escape Detroit

Ann Arbor
Estimated time: 46 minutes
The home of the University of Michigan is so close that it barely feels like you’ve left the city, but when it comes to art and culture it is a world of its own. Named on “best” lists ranging from Budget Travel’s most beautiful list to Fodor’s best Main Streets, the pleasures of Ann Arbor’s thriving art and culture scene are well known. With galleries that specialize in everything from modern ceramics to fine art, it is the place to go for a one-of-a-kind piece for your home. The historic Michigan Theatre hosts everything from late night showings of cult classics to live theatre performances for the whole family, and the University of Michigan supports museums of the arts, history, and nature that make Ann Arbor a destination worth returning to time and again. (Photo Credit: northville2004 on Instagram)

Chelsea
Estimated time: 1 hour
Just minutes from Ann Arbor, Chelsea often seems overshadowed as a destination by its bigger neighbor. But the quaint little town, best known as home to Jeff Daniels and his Purple Rose Theatre, has plenty to offer daytrippers. Peek inside one of Michigan’s most iconic brands with a free tour of the Chelsea Milling Company, makers of Jiffy Mix, shop the city’s historic downtown, and raise a locally brewed pint at the Chelsea Alehouse, or explore the art and historic charm of the community by taking a self-guided Sculpture Walk. (Photo Credit: raisingdickjane on Instagram)

Flint
Estimated time: 1 hour, 4 minutes
There’s more to the former GM company town than tainted water and blight. The birthplace of General Motors remains a repository of the auto industry’s history with sites like the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, where GM began, and the Sloan Museum, where the Buick gallery displays cars from every era. While you’re in the area, check out the rest of what the Flint Cultural Center has to offer - Michigan’s second largest art museum, the historic estate of C. S. Mott, and live theatre and music organizations that foster a lively arts culture. And if you happen to be in town on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday don’t miss the Flint Farmer’s Market in its new downtown digs. Named one of the 15 Great Places in America by the American Planning Association, the indoor market is open year-round and is the place to go for fresh foods from local artisan bakers, cheesemakers, and more. (Photo credit: Michigan Municipal League on Flickr)

Frankenmuth
Estimated time: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Yeah, we’ve all been there. Michigan’s Little Bavaria has been a mecca for school trips and family weekends for longer than anyone remembers. But some things are classics for a reason. Downtown Frankenmuth is home to scores of little shops with quirky specialities like used and rare books, radio control cars, and novelty socks, making it an ideal escape from the big-box world we’re living in. Get your drink on with Michigan spirits at the Grand Traverse Distillery or beer from Michigan’s first brewery at Frankenmuth Brewery, or pair your drink with artisanal meats and cheeses at Prost Wine Bar for a change of pace from the classic chicken dinners that made the city famous. (Photo Credit: letsgoandrea on Instagram)

Hell
Estimated time: 1 hour, 2 minutes

So what if it is a tourist trap full of terrible puns? It is still fun to say “I’ve been to Hell and back.” and mean it. Hell, Michigan is little more than a map dot, population 266, where the entire business district exists to capitalize on the community’s unusual moniker. You can stop in to get married at the Hell Wedding Chapel, grab an ice cream at Screams, or just have your picture taken under the Gates of Hell. And during the winter, you can see what a snowball’s chances really are. (Photo Credit: renetrio on Instagram)

Holly
Estimated time: 55 minutes
The historic - and haunted! - Holly Hotel alone is worth a visit to this little town in northern Oakland County. After all, where else can you catch a comedy show, enjoy Edwardian high tea, or linger over critically acclaimed cuisine, all in a building that is considered one of Michigan’s most haunted places? But the hotel isn’t all Holly has to offer. It is a year-round outdoors destination, thanks to its location near Mount Holly ski area, at the head of the Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail, and just down the road from Hollygrove, home to the Michigan Renaissance Festival. A downtown populated by intriguing antiques, delicious eats, and tempting sweets ensures Holly has something for everyone to enjoy. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Kalamazoo
Estimated time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
So this one cheats the two-hour rule just a bit, coming in at 2 hours and 15 minutes from Detroit, but the beer alone is worth the extra miles. Boasting more than a dozen breweries, Kalamazoo has risen to the top of Michigan’s craft beer scene. With all that beer flowing it should be no surprise that the nightlife is vibrant. The downtown entertainment district is home to clubs for every taste, from an upscale piano lounge to a downhome country saloon complete with mechanical bull. Had enough of the wild side? Take in some culture at one of 10 live theatre venues, visit the city’s charming art museum, or explore the history of flight at the Air Zoo. (Photo Credit: discoverkzoo on Instagram)

Lansing
Estimated time: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Spartan fans, relax. We haven’t forgotten about the home of the green and white, which is every bit as worthy a destination as the Wolverines’ home town. Explore the history of our state with a visit to the state capitol and the Michigan Historical Museum, then unwind with a ride on an old-fashioned riverboat. Not ready to call it a day just yet? With more than a dozen wineries, breweries, and distilleries, Lansing is becoming a hotspot for tastings and tours. The Makers & Shakers trail is the ultimate visitors guide to sampling the local libations. (Photo Credit: ksuemead on Instagram)

Leamington, ON - Pelee Island
Estimated time: 55 minutes
It isn’t often a trip to Canada can be described as heading south, but Leamington and its island neighbor fit the bill. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the giant fiberglass tomato that serves as the town’s visitor center, but the Tomato Capital of Canada has more to offer than greenhouses and ketchup. The unconventional Leamington Arts Centre highlights the intersection of art and everyday life with exhibits on subjects like the creativity of building toys and the adult coloring book trend, and the ErieQuest Marine Heritage Museum brings Great Lakes shipwrecks to life with artifacts retrieved from the lake’s bottom. Or visit the town’s marina district to catch a ferry across to nearby Pelee Island, home to Canada’s oldest estate winery and an eclectic community of artists whose works fill the island’s retail shops. (Photo Credit: kommander352 on Instagram)

Lexington, MI
Estimated time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
For a slice of up-north spirit without spending hours on I-75, head out to this community of cottages and kitsch on the shores of Lake Huron. Cruise in to Lakeside A&W for an old-fashioned drive-in dining experience, or explore the emerging winemaking community of Michigan’s Thumb with stops at 3 North Vines and the Blue Water Winery. Then head downtown to park the car and do a little shopping for unique home decor, country kitchen essentials, and handmade Michigan fudge. The town is also home to a vibrant music scene, with weekly free concerts throughout the summer, two fall festivals, and year round shows at the Lexington Village Theatre. (Photo Credit: emmaeatsdetroit on Instagram)

London, ON
Estimated time: 2 hours, 13 minutes
Dig out your passport or enhanced driver’s license and head across the bridge to this Canadian hub of arts, history, and culture. Visitors can step back into the history of the Great Lakes region in the recreated longhouse village of Ska-Nah-Doht, or take a behind the scenes look at the art of ice sculpture with an Iceculture tour. Or explore one of the city’s many museums, which highlight as diverse subjects as railroads, Ontario's archaeology, and the history of radar. (Photo Credit: lucas.j.miles on Instagram)

Marine City
Estimated time: 55 minutes
Documentary filmmaker Greg Kohs described Marine City as a “wonderful cross between Normal Rockwell and Kid Rock”, summing up the essence of this quirky town perfectly. With a picturesque downtown bordered on one side by the St Clair River, everything you need for a relaxing afternoon is within a short walk of your car. Antique shops abound - the town has more than a dozen, including a two-story warehouse-sized ‘mall’ and a furniture shop housed in a 160-year-old church building. Stay for a show at one of the town’s two live theatre venues or a vintage film at the restored art-deco Mariner Theatre. And no visit to town would be complete without a stop at The Sweet Tooth, a nostalgic candy shop that serves up everything from vintage sweets to decadent chocolates and is a perennial contender in “Best of Detroit” voting despite the distance from the city. (Photo Credit: hoppilyeverafterfarms on Instagram)

Port Clinton, OH - Put-In-Bay
Estimated time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
A two-for-one destination, Port Clinton not only a quaint lakefront town but also home to the Jet Express ferry to Put-In-Bay, a town on Lake Erie’s South Bass Island that calls itself the “Key West of the North”. On the mainland, shop Port Clinton’s historic downtown or take a drive on the wild side at the improbable African Safari Wildlife Park. Then ferry out to the island and take a stroll through the world’s largest geode at Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave, indulge in some classic tourist-trap fun at the antique car museum, butterfly house, and miniature golf of Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center, and embrace the island’s Key West vibe with waterfront dining and live entertainment at one of Put-In-Bay’s tiki bars. (Photo Credit: paradeofgardens on Instagram)

Toledo, OH
Estimated time: 1 hour
We know what you’re thinking. Ohio? Really? But Toledo can be a really fun town if you know your way around. The Toledo Museum of Art is home to an eclectic collection of permanent and traveling exhibits that encompass a variety of styles and media, and they’re getting into the election-year spirit this summer with a temporary exhibition of political advertising. While you’re there, catch the Detroit Tigers’ AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, for a big league experience without the big league price tag. Or check out Toledo’s newest museum, the National Museum of the Great Lakes, where the history of the maritime industry is on display. Round out the day with some grub and grooves in a building that dates back to the stagecoach era at Degage Jazz Cafe. (Photo Credit: toledomuseum on Instagram)

Grand Rapids
Estimated time: 2 hours, 28 minutes
Ah yes, Michigan's golden child. The city near the western shores of the state boasts more churches per capita than any other place in the country, but to balance out the scales, there's also tons of beer. Add that to a pretty impressive list of arts and cultural institutions that includes a top-notch art museum, contemporary art museum, and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and you've got the makings of a pretty good time. The city is big on navigation, so wherever you go, you'll easily be able find your way around thanks to the directional signs that seem to be on every corner. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Dexter
Estimated time: 56 minutes
Described as "A small town with a big welcome!", Dexter was technically a village until 2014, when it officially entered the land of city-dom. Fans of Jolly Pumpkin can delight in the brewery's tasting room located here, and the town is filled with tons of cool walk/hiking trails that will lead you to sights like this cool railroad bridge. (Photo Credit: Flickr user Janet Pickel)

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Estimated time: 2 hours, 41 minutes
Situated between Cleveland and Akron, there's actually something pretty beautiful. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is filled with waterfalls, rolling hills, caves, ravines, and winding rivers. The Ledges provides a boulder-strewn cliff to relax and watch the sunset over the wooded scenery below, and the park offers an array of preserved and restored displays of 19th and early 20th century sustainable farming and pastoral or rural living, while catering to contemporary interests with art exhibits, outdoor concerts, and scenic excursion and special event railroad tours.

Milford
Estimated time: 48 minutes
Nature lovers will delight in the outdoor trails and water activities found at Kensington Metropark, a 4,400-acre recreational area, plus there's tons of places to picnic, go discing, and camp. Its charismatic downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, and home to many fabulous family-owned shops and independent restaurants, all surrounded by green spaces and flowing rivers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grayling
Estimated time: 2 hours, 57 minutes
Ok, so you might not make it to Grayling in under three hours if you run into any traffic on I-75, but the trip is worth it to get to the 'Landing Place of the North' aka Spike's Keg 'O' Nails. Opened the day after Prohibition ended in 1933 by Harold “Spike” MacNeven. Known for its burgers (and of course, beer), it's been a staple for travelers for decades. (Photo Credit: Facebook Spike's Keg 'O' Nails)

Monroe
Estimated time: 44 minutes
The small town just south of Detroit is Michigan's third oldest community, so if history is your thing, you should definitely check it out. Its location on the west shore of Lake Erie and its River Raisin made it a natural crossroads for food and transportation that attracted the Potawatomi Tribe of Indians who first lived here, and later, French missionaries, fur trappers, and settlers came for the same reasons. The city is home to the National Register of Historic Places War of 1812 River Raisin Battlefield and some cool-ass barns. ( Photo Credit: smilesalsastyle on Instagram)