100 Things to Do in Michigan Before You Die, written by travel writer extraordinaire Kath Usitalo (herself a Michigander), is the latest book in a series we absolutely love from Reedy Press.

They are must-reads for any travel, culture, and food lover.

This book, about my home state of Michigan, is a pure joy to read. It is PACKED full of goodness from the get-go (the very first entry is pierogi at Legs Inn! Of course!). 

While I thought I knew a great deal about the awesomeness that is Michigan, I now have MANY, many ideas for travel and have already been exploring new (to me) places.

There’s nothing like advice from a knowledgeable local. Add in the beauty of the Mitten state, and you’ve got travel plans for life.

Sections (with a few of my favorites within) include:

•  Food and Drink (state-wide obviously, but of COURSE includes Pinconning, whitefish, pasties, Detroit-style pizza, coneys, and blueberries)

•  Music and Entertainment (Motown! Cherries! Magic! Art and music!)

•  Sports and Recreation (Shipwreck alley, Dunes, Beaches, Treetops, and oh, those waterfalls)

•  Culture and History (Going Dutch in Holland, Hemingway, Island time, Meijer Gardens, Finland, and cars, cars, cars)

•  Shopping and Fashion (Art Fairs, our favorite artist: Gwen Frostic, Bronner’s, Eastern Market, Pewabic Pottery, Mittens!)

The book is both an extraordinary reference guide from a local, experienced travel writer AND a constant source of inspiration.

Whether you’re new to traveling our Great Lakes state or an old hand, you’ll find plenty new (and reminders of old favorites) to enjoy. 

Highly, highly recommended!

Bi-peninsular Kath Usitalo grew up in the Detroit area, graduated from the University of Detroit and lived and worked in the city but vacationed every year in the Upper Peninsula, where her parents were born and she now lives. Kath left her position as vice president of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau to work with the public relations team for Pure Michigan, and as a freelance travel writer and photographer. From her home in Naubinway, at the northernmost point of Lake Michigan, Kath writes about the Great Lakes State for a variety of print and online publications and her own e-zine, GreatLakesGazette.com, and with Reedy Press she has published four books about things to see and do in her home state, including another newly-released Reedy Press book, 100 Things to Do on Mackinac Island Before You Die, 2nd Edition.

We were lucky enough to chat with Usitalo and ask about her book, inspiration, joys and challenges, and more. Here's what she had to say.

Please tell us about your new book, 100 Things to Do in Michigan Before You Die...

What inspired you to write this book?
Michigan is my home, and I’ve always worked in Detroit and Michigan tourism communications, exploring and writing about the state. Years ago, I launched the Great Lakes Gazette as a print publication---it’s now a webzine—covering things to see and do across both peninsulas. I call myself bi-peninsular: I grew up in the Detroit area, went to University of Detroit and worked in the city, and now we live on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. I just want to share stories and photos and encourage more people to experience this great place.

What were the joys and challenges of researching and writing this book?
I had a lot of fun researching and checking out new places and updating material I already had accumulated for other articles I’ve written over the years, as well as for my current books about the UP and Mackinac Island. Although I’ve traveled a lot of miles crisscrossing the state, I am still making discoveries worth sharing. The main challenge was finalizing that list of 100 with a balance of the better known and lesser- known sites.  

sweetie-licious

Michigan is jam-packed with goodness; I'm sure it was hard to choose only 100. How did you narrow it down?
No one book can cover all of the worthy attractions and eateries and natural wonders of Michigan. To narrow the focus to just 100 Things, I had to remind myself that this is not THE definitive guide to the state. It’s one person’s list---MY list---of 100 Things based on my knowledge, interests and personal preferences and recommendations, that I believe would also have a broader appeal to others.

Working within the book’s framework of five categories---food and drink, shopping, culture and history, recreation and entertainment---I chose places that I’ve been to and enjoyed; that have an interesting story behind them (because I like to include a bit of history); and that are unique to Michigan. Also, I had to be sure that the book, overall, represents the entire state geographically and again, a mix of hot spots and hidden gems.

Here’s a secret: there are many more than 100 places included in the book, because I sneaked them in by way of lists and tips to accompany the main stories. For example, Frankenmuth’s chicken dinners are legendary but I wanted to inform travelers about other winner winner chicken dinners. The Palms Krystal Bar & Grill in Port Huron has been serving its “Chicken in the Rough” plates since 1936, and the Dam Site Inn north of Petoskey features family style chicken platters in an old club that now has a mid-century supper club vibe. And I mention two other great places for chicken beyond Frankenmuth. 

What might people be surprised to learn about Michigan?
The distances between the major cities and attractions. It takes about the same amount of time to travel from Detroit to Washington, DC as it does from Detroit to Calumet, in the Keweenaw Peninsula. It’s a large state and it takes time to travel and not just cover the miles but to enjoy the road trip by allowing time for detours or unplanned stops along the way. This is especially true in the U.P.

Also, visitors are stunned by the sheer size and might of the Great Lakes, and many are surprised that there are so many miles of beaches that are free to access---no pricy beach pass required.

Delaware Mine

What's up next for you?
I have so much material that I wasn’t able to include in my UP books and this Michigan book, I’ll be focusing on updating and adding to my webzine GreatLakesGazette.com. And traveling to gather more stories and photos!

How can people find your work? 
Facebook: Great Lakes Gazette and 100 Things to Do in the Upper Peninsula
Instagram: great_lakes_gazette
Website: GreatLakesGazette.com

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I’d urge anyone looking for information in planning a trip---to Michigan or anywhere---to be careful about your sources. I have found books about Michigan for sale on Amazon that contain bad information and photos---such as a picture of the Tampa skyline labeled as Detroit, and a story about Kitch-iti-kipi, the Big Spring at Palms Book State Park in the UP, with a photo of a lagoon surrounded by palm trees. Get your information from reputable publishing houses, websites, and experienced travel journalists with a track record so you can trust the information and not be disappointed.

Wandering Educators note: Read our interviews with Michigan authors in this series:

Read This: 100 Things to Do in Holland, Michigan Before You Die

Read This: 100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die

Read This: Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Jessie Voigts is the publisher of Wandering Educators. She has a PhD in International Education, has lived and worked in Japan and London, and traveled around the world. She’s published six books about travel and intercultural learning, with more on the way.

Jessie is one of the top 50 travel bloggers in the world, and was named a White House travel blogger with her site, Wandering Educators, a travel library for people curious about the world. She is constantly looking for ways to increase intercultural understanding, and is passionate about study abroad and international education. 

Photos courtesy and copyright Kath Usitalo, except first photo copyright Wandering Educators