Some photos provided by Michigan photographer and Vanguard ambassador Richard Kefgen.
Well hey there, friend. As many of you know, Vanguard USA is based in Michigan, and we kind of love it here. We'd love to tell you more about it, too. So, grab yourself a Vernors, settle into that comfy glider on the porch, and lemme tell ya a little somethin’ about the mitten state’s best lookin’ spots.
We’re talkin’ Michigan, folks. Land of four seasons (sometimes all in one day), world-class lakes, and more lighthouses than your Uncle Dale has pairs of New Balance sneakers.
Here are some of the most photogenic places in Michigan where you can snap a picture so good it’ll make your cousins in Ohio jealous (as if they weren’t already).
1. Pictured Rocks – The Instagram Filter Nature Made Herself
These cliffs along Lake Superior are so colorful they look like someone spilled a bag of Skittles down a canyon wall. You’ve got turquoise water, orange-streaked cliffs, and the kind of lighting that’ll make your iPhone think it’s a DSLR.
And don’t forget to say "ope!" when you almost fall off the kayak trying to get the shot.
2. Mackinac Island – Like Stepping Into a Hallmark Movie (But With Better Fudge)
No cars. Just horses, bikes, and an uncomfortable amount of clip-clopping. This island is quaint with a capital Q, and photogenic enough to make even your most lactose-intolerant friend post a fudge selfie. You’ll wanna pose by the Grand Hotel porch, act like you’re not sweating in your rented tandem bike photo, and of course—snap a pic of the bridge from the ferry while trying not to drop your phone in the lake.
Bonus points if you catch a seagull stealing someone’s sandwich mid-shot.
3. Sleeping Bear Dunes – Sand? In Michigan? You Betcha.
These are the kind of dunes that’ll have you questioning whether you accidentally woke up in Arizona. But nope—it’s just Michigan being dramatic again.
Climb to the top of the dune (or just pretend you did and lie about it later), then turn around and behold: sweeping views of Lake Michigan and miles of treetops that change colors in the fall like they’re trying to win a beauty pageant.
Don’t forget to bring a gallon of water and a will to live. That sand is deceptively steep.
4. Detroit’s Eastern Market – Where Grit Meets Art With a Side of Pickles
Now, we all know Detroit’s seen some stuff—but Eastern Market is where the soul of the city puts on lipstick and struts its stuff. Murals, flower vendors, hipster coffee, and enough artisan jams to make your grandma nervous about her jam supremacy.
Snap a photo of your mason jar cocktail and your avocado toast under a 30-foot tall painting of a chicken named Carl. Tag it #BlessedMidwest.
5. Tahquamenon Falls – Hard to Pronounce, Easy on the Eyes
You don’t have to say it right, just say it with confidence. Tahquamenon is like the Niagara Falls of Michigan, but better, because you don’t have to fight tourists from Florida to see it. The upper falls are real photogenic—especially in the fall when the leaves are poppin'.
Oh, and the water’s got a reddish tint thanks to tannins from the cedar trees. That’s not rust or Yoo-hoo. It’s nature’s tea.
6. Anywhere There’s a Yooper Pastie
Now technically, it’s not a place, but hear me out. A well-lit pastie (that’s pass-tee) on a picnic table, with a side of ketchup and a view of the woods? That’s a mood.
Get one of those flaky bad boys in the U.P., hold it up to the sunset, and you’ve got yourself a photo and dinner. Just don’t post it until you’ve taken a bite—otherwise, people will think you’re one of those fancy folks who doesn’t eat what they Instagram.
In Conclusion...
Michigan’s full of photogenic gems that’ll fill up your camera roll faster than a snow day empties a grocery store. Just remember to say “ope, lemme squeeze right past ya” to any deer that wander into frame, and for heaven’s sake—pack bug spray.
Take some pics, tag 'em #PureMichigan, and send a postcard to your aunt in Indiana. She’s still braggin’ about Brown County, and it’s time we humble her a bit.
Happy snapping, ya Michigander marvels.
P.S. If you take a picture of a lighthouse and don’t mention your "deep personal connection to lakes," did you even go to Michigan?