Autumn in Michigan is one of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes. As the air turns crisp, the leaves create a kaleidoscope of fiery colors. The colors show up first in the Upper Peninsula. Due to the colder weather, you can see the beginnings of fall in early September. For the rest of the Mitten State, you can expect leaves to change in October and should last through November. With this limited time, the best way to see the colors is to take a trip.
Most people think of driving as a way to get from point A to point B, but in Michigan, there are many opportunities to take a leisurely drive and enjoy the journey. Some of the best areas to take a fall colors tour are along Lake Michigan, in the wine country of Northern and Western Michigan, and near Lake Charlevoix. The M-22 is a famous scenic drive that goes along the Leelanau Peninsula. Plan to spend a sunny fall day driving along the scenic route and making stops to get out and take photos, and pop into a local shop or café for some cider or a hot chai latte.
You can’t celebrate fall without pumpkins, apples and cinnamon doughnuts! There is no shortage of pumpkin patches in Michigan, so it’s easy to find a festive one to spend a fall day. Gone are the days where you just select a pumpkin and head home. From elaborate fun zones for the kids to hard cider and wine tasting for the adults, there is something for everyone at the pumpkin patch.
DeBuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Belleville is a fun pumpkin patch recommendation. Zeeland’s Pumpkinfest is also incredible with a 5K run, pumpkin pie eating contest, pumpkin scavenger hunt, and more activities to celebrate our favorite fall vegetable. Other highly recommended pumpkin patches that may be more in your travel route include Johnson’s Giant Pumpkins in Saginaw and Grandma’s Pumpkin Patch in Midland. After you pick your perfect pumpkin, check out our Weekender’s tips on how to uniquely display your pumpkins this fall.
Michigan’s rich, rolling farmlands are not only perfect for pumpkins, but also for growing apples. With more than 35,000 acres of apple trees dotting the landscape, almost 25 million bushels of apples are grown each year. If picking apples is on your bucket list, then Michigan is the state to be! There are plenty of orchards here that welcome visitors looking for that quintessential fall experience.
One great apple-themed destination is Charlevoix, which has an annual Apple Fest to celebrate the harvest season. You’ll find everything from arts and crafts to a petting zoo, face painting, and live waterfront music. Head to Grand Rapids to check out Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery or drive a bit farther west to Fennville’s U-pick apples and corn maze at Crane Orchards. If you are looking for apple cider, some wonderful cideries in Southeast Michigan include Blakes in Armada and South Lyon as well as Yates Cider Mill in Rochester Hills. For the ultimate Michigan apple orchard list, check out this one by Orange Pippin.
Bring back the childhood nostalgia of playing in leaves and haystacks, eating doughnuts and spending the day picking apples. With its clear, humidity-free days and gorgeous golden palette, Michigan’s muggy summer days are behind us and we usher in fall with open arms. Check out our Weekender for more fantastical autumn tips, and happy fall!
