Summer is here, and that means the arrival of Summer Fridays. With so many fun things to do in Michigan, the Great Lakes State is a perfect place to live, work, and play — especially on a Summer Friday.
From golfing and kayaking to visiting wineries and exploring art museums, here are some of the top things Michigan’s tech workers can enjoy on a Summer Friday.
Fun Things to do in Michigan on a Summer Friday
Weekend trips in Michigan
With fun destinations across the state, many tech workers use their Summer Fridays to hit the road and get an early start on their weekend trips. Plan a city getaway in Grand Rapids or Detroit, or make your move to Saugatuck, one of the state’s many serene beach towns. Of course, going “Up North” is a summer staple in Michigan. Sahar Omrani, VP of Product Management at Signal Advisors, a Michigan-based tech startup says, “I've earmarked a few weekends [to Charlevoix] to take advantage of our Summer Fridays and spend quality time with my two-year-old daughter. We enjoy the beach, visit local farms, barbecue, and create lasting memories with her grandparents.”
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Explore the cities
From creative communities to active nightlife, Michigan cities have much to offer. Detroit is home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the top-ranked art museum in America according to USA Today, while Ann Arbor welcomes 400,000 visitors annually to the nationally recognized Ann Arbor Art Fair. Cities across the state boast beautiful music venues, both indoor and outdoor, like Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Metro Detroit, and Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen. If you’re looking for laughs, Planet Ant in Hamtramck has helped launch the careers of comedians like Keegan Michael-Key, Marc Evan Jackson, Sam Richardson, and Tim Robinson.
Relax or play in one of Michigan’s many parks and golf courses
From expansive state parks like Belle Isle in Detroit or Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the U.P. to local community spaces, Michigan is home to beautiful public parks. For your Summer Friday, these parks are equipped with tennis or pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, walking trails, or a spot to hang your hammock. Michigan recognizes the importance of its parks, dedicating $250 million in federal funding to progress their infrastructure. For golf enthusiasts, your Summer Friday can include 18 holes of golf, and you can still be home for dinner. In fact, Michigan has the most golf courses open to the general public of any state in the country, with more than 500 daily fee courses (more than the combined number of courses in the golf-rich states of Texas and Arizona).
Be on the water
There’s a reason it’s called the “Great Lakes State” – In addition to the five Great Lakes, Michigan is also home to 11,000 inland lakes. With all the lakes, rivers, and streams throughout the state, you are never more than six miles away from water, no matter where you are. Getting to the water on a Friday afternoon is a cinch. Many tech workers like to spend a Friday afternoon lounging on the beach, taking a swim in the pristine waters, floating or boating down a river, or tubing, kayaking, or canoeing with friends. Grand Haven State Park, located along Lake Michigan, was named one of the top 25 best beaches in the country by Travel + Leisure. In Michigan, you can enjoy over 3,200 miles of freshwater shoreline, much of which is unspoiled and protected by U.S. National Lakeshore.
Tap into a brewery, winery, or distillery tour
Michigan’s beer, wine, and spirits scene is one of the top in the country. Grand Rapids is known as “Beer City USA,” and the state boasts nearly 400 craft breweries — that’s 5.3 breweries per person. Popular breweries include one of the largest craft breweries in the country, Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, as well as the industry staples like Founders Brewing Company, New Holland Brewing Company, and many more. For wine connoisseurs, Michigan has 140 wineries throughout the state, and a Summer Friday is the perfect time to visit one of Michigan’s wine trails. Rounding out the scene is the state’s craft spirits industry, known for using local ingredients to make whiskey, gin, vodka, and more.
Take a hike
From the majestic Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes to the hills of the Porcupine Mountains, there are many fun and adventurous hikes to discover in Michigan. No matter your skill level, there’s a great hike out there to explore. The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches 4,800 miles across 8 states, with over 1,180 miles of trails through Michigan.
Check out a fair or festival
Home to many festivals and celebrations, Michigan is creating spaces for you and your friends to celebrate what you love or explore something new. Here’s a sample of the festivals, events, and fairs that you can experience on a Summer Friday:
- Movement Music Festival, Detroit — May
- Bavarian Festival, Frankenmuth — June
- Electric Forest Music Festival, Rothbury — June
- National Cherry Festival, Traverse City — July
- Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor — July
- National Blueberry Festival, South Haven — August
- Tawas Bay Waterfront Fine Art Festival, Tawas City — August
Simply put, Michigan is one of the best places to be for living, working, and recreation. Want to be a part of the action? Explore opportunities in Michigan, browse jobs, and find your fit.
