Lake Michigan is my absolute favorite of all The Great Lakes. Although Lake Superior is stunning and massive as it’s the largest lake, when it comes time to vacation or potentially purchase my dream retirement property, Lake Michigan wins hands down every time.
My long-term goal for retirement is to spend my summers along the Lake Michigan shore in my home state of Michigan and travel via RV to the southern states in the winter. Winters are cold enough in the Southeast portion of Michigan, where I currently live. I can’t imagine how cold it must get along Lake Michigan with those whipping winds. If I am not careful and do not leave the heat on, I could face frozen pipes in my Lake Michigan retirement (dream) home upon returning in the spring.
Here are the following states that border Lake Michigan:
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Indiana
According to Michigan Sea Grant, “Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely contained within the United States.
Lake Michigan Basin Statistics
- Length: 307 mi (494 km)
- Breadth: 118 mi (190 km)
- Elevation: 577.5 ft (176 m)
- Depth: 279 ft (85 m) average; 923 ft (281 m) maximum
- Volume: 1,180 cubic mi (4,918 cubic km)
- Water surface area: 22,300 square mi (57,753 square km)
- Drainage basin area: 45,600 square mi (118,095 square km)
- Shoreline length: 1,640 mi (2,639 km), including islands
- Outlet: Straits of Mackinac to Lake Huron
- Retention or replacement time: 62 years
- Population: 12+ million*
Many popular vacation destinations attract tourists to the Lake Michigan shoreline. The rocky points, islands, and protected bays of northern Lake Michigan are a draw for communities along Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and Michigan resort towns like Petoskey and Traverse City. Sandy beaches and dunes stretch along most of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in the south to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the north,”.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is my favorite spot for vacation. There is nowhere to live as they are protected as a National Lakeshore and Wilderness area. That’s okay. There are plenty of areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline in which to plan my retirement.
Are the Sleeping Bear Dunes land protected from development in Michigan?
Yes, in fact, the National Park Service documents that, “In 2014, the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore became the 50th National Park area with designated Wilderness. Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness is now part the National Wilderness Preservation System, but it is not a remote location that needs a great deal of money, time, or specialized equipment to enjoy and experience. Our wilderness designation means that not only will our beautiful land be open for recreation, but it is also protected forever.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act establishing the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness Area signed 3/13/2014 by President Barack Obama
- Approximately 32,557 acres,”.
This summer, I have two trips to the Lake Michigan shore with my sons; one is twenty years old, and the other is sixteen. First on the list is a camping trip to Mears State Park. We were actually able to reserve a campsite on the beach of Lake Michigan (which has been almost impossible since the inception of the Pure Michigan advertisements!) The nighttime will be so peaceful, and we’ll get amazing sleep as we hear the waves crashing as the tide comes in. I cannot wait!
The second trip is at an Airbnb in Pentwater, Michigan, about a half mile from Lake Michigan and steps away from Silver Lake. My oldest son has a Jeep, and we will be enjoying some time riding the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Years ago, before their father and I got married, we spent many weekends riding our ATVs (four-wheelers) up and down the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. It’s like being on a roller coaster that you control, and the ride isn’t over in a minute and a half after standing in line for three hours. My sons have never experienced riding the Dunes – they are certainly in for a treat!
Silver Lake Sand Dunes Visitor Bureau notes, “For decades, families have been visiting the area and making lasting memories here. With over 2,000 acres of sand dunes, several miles of Lake Michigan coastline, and charming downtown areas, Silver Lake and surrounding communities offer visitors endless opportunities for swimming, boating, ORV recreation, shopping, entertainment, and more,”.
I forgot about the beach part! Especially on a hot summer day, it’s a good idea to wear your bathing suit under your riding gear because you can take a break, jump in Silver Lake to cool off, play on the beach, and have a picnic lunch before heading back out on the dunes.
What are some facts about the Great Lakes system?
Growing up in Michigan, we learned Michigan history and geography in grade school. To make it easy for the little ones, they teach an excellent acronym to remember our five Great Lakes. It is H.O.M.E.S.:
- Huron
- Ontario
- Michigan
- Erie
- Superior
Michigan is beautifully framed by four of the Great Lakes: Superior, Huron, Erie, and Michigan – we are a peninsula like Florida.
We are truly the Great Lakes State with three times as much shoreline as the next state, Wisconsin. Michigan has 23.3% of the total shoreline of the Great Lakes compared to 8.5% in Wisconsin.
Furthermore, Michigan’s official state government website, Pure Michigan, notes the following fun facts about our Great Lakes:
- Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area
- Lake Michigan’s shore is home to the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world
- The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system in the world
- More than 20% of all the world’s freshwater is in the Great Lakes
- Lake Superior contains half of the water in all the Great Lakes
- Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within U.S. territory
- The Empire State Building would sink beneath the surface of Lake Superior
- The Great Lakes Region is the primary water source for more than 40 million people
- Michigan has the most freshwater coastline of any U.S. state
- Lake Michigan has a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of its own (there’s an area of Lake Michigan where many unexplained occurrences have left people bewildered that has been dubbed the Michigan Triangle – similar to the Bermuda Triangle).
- Bonus: Lake Erie has a Loch Ness-like sea monster.
Lake Erie is allegedly home to Bessie, a ‘sea monster’-like creature that has been spotted on multiple occasions for decades. The Cleveland baseball team – the Lake Erie Monsters – were named after this legend,”.
What states border Lake Michigan?
In conclusion, Lake Michigan, bordered by Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, offers stunning shorelines and attractions. For many years, its unique charm has captivated vacationers and future retirees like myself with a blend of natural beauty and recreational opportunities that make it an ideal destination for both relaxation and adventure.