How to Celebrate Michigan in the Spring

Michigan is a state with four pretty distinct seasons. Our spring can be a little fickle with snow in April, and storms raging off and on for weeks, but by May, we’re pretty well into flower season with daffodils and—most especially—tulips bobbing their blooms in the breeze. So now that the weather is warming, what is there to do? Here are a few suggestions for your springtime bucket list.

Stop and smell the flowers.

Ok, maybe not smell, but at least enjoy them. It has been snowy and muddy for months, so these pops of color everywhere are a nice reprieve (even if they do spread pollen—bring on the Zyrtec).

There are several festivals that celebrate flowers around Michigan. The first full week in May, plus the weekends on either side, is Tulip Time in Holland. This festival celebrates not only the tulip, but the Dutch heritage of the region complete with traditional clothing, wooden clog dancing, and Dutch food. I recommend the Stroopwafels. In mid-May, check out the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Blossom Day. In early June, you can check out the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival.

Michigan is also home to a number of botanical gardens. Head to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, the Leila Arboretum in Battle Creek, and more. Find one near you on this list of 12 Beautiful Botanical Gardens in Michigan.

Hunt for mushrooms.

Mid-March kicks off morel season, and May brings the Mesick Mushroom Festival in Mesick and the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City. A morel mushroom is a honeycomb-looking fungus that is especially delicious when sautéed in butter (they must always be cooked before consuming).

If you have never gone morel hunting, be sure you know what you are looking for before you go, or go with someone who has experience. False morels can be toxic and cause all kinds of problems, even death, but the real deal is very tasty!

Climb a sand dune.

It is often still a bit cold for swimming in spring, but you can still head to the shore for some fun. There is plenty of sand in Michigan, especially in West Michigan, which is home to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, the Warren Dunes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and more. For a list of dunes, check out Lake Michigan Sand Dunes.

If you have an ORV, the only dune you can ride it on is Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Some places, like Saugatuck, offer dune rides, which are fun and I highly recommend doing at least once in your life. Hiking up dunes can be tiring work, but running down the other side was one of my favorite activities as a child.

Catch a game.

Spring marks the beginning of baseball season. The Tigers play in Detroit at Comerica Park, and are pretty popular. The West Michigan Whitecaps, a Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, play in Comstock Park. The Great Lakes Loons, a Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, play in Midland. There are also the Lansing Lugnuts (affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays).

There are also more local teams in summer collegiate leagues, such as the Kalamazoo Growlers and Battle Creek Bombers. And, the United Shore Professional Baseball League (founded in 2016) plays from May through September in suburban Metro Detroit. The USPBL teams are the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, the Utica Unicorns, and the Westside Woolly Mammoths.

Shop at a farmers market.

While some farmers are year round, most don’t open up until spring. Michigan is 28% farmland, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that most communities have at least one market. Farmers markets sell food, yes, but also fresh flowers, plants for your garden, handmade crafts, art, and more.

The most famous in the Detroit area is Eastern Market with so many different events and things always going on. Find a farmers market near you!

Hit the trails.

If winter biking isn’t your thing, spring is the time to bring the bicycle out of the shed. May is National Bike Month! Whether paved or rough, spring is a great season to start biking outdoors again. There are over 1,300 miles of bike trails in Michigan.

If you head to Mackinac Island, where automobiles are forbidden, a bike is practically a necessity! M-185, "the only state highway in the nation where motor vehicles are banned," is scenic with many break spots.

Enjoy music outdoors.

Spring is also the beginning outdoor music season. Several outdoor music venues are sprinkled around the state and offer unique musical opportunities. For a list of venues to get you started, check out the best outdoor concert venues in Michigan.

For a different kind of musical experience, seek out a musical fountain! Grand Haven is home to the Grand Haven Musical Fountain which combines music, water, and a light display. Jackson, has Cascade Falls.

Go birding.

With so much coastline, Michigan has a lot of variety in bird habitats. Growing up, I often heard that spring didn’t officially begin until you saw your first robin. Spring is a good time to catch sight of many migratory birds.

Head to Birding in Michigan to learn more.