Dow Gardens
Discovering
Adventure Is a
Walk in the Park
Walk in the Park
Welcome to Pure Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region
Hold out your left hand. See where the thumb meets the rest of the hand? That’s where you'll be when you Go Great Lakes Bay. It’s a place where Lake Huron’s sparkling waters roll in off Saginaw Bay to wash the freshwater coastline, and rivers just as cool and pure thread six nature-rich cities together.
One where you could spend an iconic Bavarian day in Frankenmuth, and yet be sailing on a tall ship in Bay City by sunset. Where adventure might take hold within National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw, then fully blossom in Midland gardens where the country's longest canopy walk soars in red pine forest.
Here for the weekend or the night, bringing the whole family or just you two — you’ll find this waterfront, six-city region an unexpected Midwest dream trip. Start exploring!
Featured Trip Ideas
From bucket lists broken down by city to trip ideas curated for each of four Pure Michigan seasons, all your essential travel prep starts here.
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Go Great Blog
Breeze through this waterfront region with the confidence of a native when you get to know our six cities through these stories.
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Dow Gardens
Dow Gardens | @jillwellingtonphotography_
Dow Gardens | @em.stop
Bay City Waterfront
Bay City State Park | @shineonsunfish
Dow Gardens | @schoolnest
Go Great
On a wildlife-spotting boat tour, birding outing, or rented bike — Pure Michigan's unspoiled beauty is yours to take in here. Just bring your sense of adventure: our Great Lakes Bay trails and treetop adventures, wetlands and wildlife await!
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Go Great
Daydreaming about a spring vacation in Michigan? From ample antiquing to gorgeous botanical gardens, the only tough part will be packing it all into one trip!
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Go Great
Looking for affordable spring trip ideas — and ones the whole family will hands-down love? We’ve got two of Michigan’s top indoor waterparks, two zoos, and too many fun outings to mention them all!
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Go Great
Whatever your kind of summer outing, the Great Lakes Bay serves it up: with boat tours and beaches, forests and fishing, beer gardens and trolley bikes where you can coast with a cold session ale in-hand.
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Go Great
When they're splashing at spray parks, ziplining, and zoo-going — even building sky-high castles on sandy beaches — that's when you'll know you've picked the perfect Pure Michigan summer getaway.
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Go Great
If there’s one thing that’s abundant in the Great Lakes Bay, it’s the opportunity to get outside and explore! Chances to paddle a river or pedal through town — wind in your hair, and maybe a cold brew in-hand — all here.
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Great Lakes Bay Region of Pure Michigan
In the Great Lakes Bay, a summer breeze is blowing... where it's headed is Pure Michigan.
