Michigan’s small towns have a special kind of charm that sets them apart from their big city counterparts, with cozy downtowns filled with unique local shops and plenty of hidden gems.

But with precious little free time and a big state to explore, it can be hard to figure out where to take your next small town adventure.

Today, The ’Gander’s Chaunie Brusie brings us 13 Michigan towns worth adding to your next day-trip or weekend getaway list.

Plus: We announce the winner of our Vernors lamp giveaway.

P.S. Our newsletter will be taking a break on Monday for Labor Day. We’ll see you on Tuesday!

Work stoppage lifted on carp barrier (WOOD-TV): The White House has lifted a work stoppage on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke with President Donald Trump about the threat posed by invasive carp. The project is designed to prevent the fish from reaching the Great Lakes, and Whitmer said recent discoveries farther up the Illinois River highlight the urgency of resuming work.

Communities speak out ahead of potential dam sales (Michigan Advance): Michigan regulators are weighing whether to approve Consumers Energy’s sale of 13 hydroelectric dams to a private equity-backed company, with a decision expected Sept. 10. Some community members have questioned whether the buyer would safely maintain the aging dams and cover future costs.

El-Sayed, Rogers agree to second debate (The Detroit News): Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers have agreed to a second debate in their race for Michigan’s US Senate seat, with the candidates set to face off Oct. 21 in a statewide broadcast hosted by Detroit’s WXYZ-TV. The candidates had already agreed to an Oct. 8 debate in Grand Rapids, while Rogers has not committed to a Sept. 15 debate proposed by Fox 2.

Take a peek into the past with a vintage view walking tour in Petoskey, Michigan. (Laura Helferich/Unsplash)

By Chaunie Brusie

As the song goes, there is just something about small towns, and in my humble lifelong Michigander opinion, there’s just something even more special about a Michigan small town. One of my favorite-ever pastimes in life will always be strolling a cute downtown, and it’s even better if I can take said stroll with a Michigan coffee or ice cream in hand.

I have had the privilege of visiting several of these charming Michigan small towns, but after seeing the full list, I have to add several to my bucket list. From east to west, and into the UP, these small towns in Michigan are the best!

(Courtesy/April Schwartz)

Earlier this year, we launched our Vernors lamp giveaway.

For those of you who missed it (or need a refresher), I found a one-of-a-kind lamp while perusing one of my favorite Lansing pawn shops years ago. Then, I offered one lucky Michigander the opportunity to win it.

I can now announce that the winner of our giveaway is … April Schwartz of Swartz Creek!

April received the lamp recently and sent us this photo of her kitty examining this new treasure.

Thank you to April, and everyone else who participated in the giveaway!

Dolly Parton was beloved around the world, but there’s no disputing just how much she meant to the people of Tennessee.

And it got me thinking: Michigan has plenty of famous people who are deeply tied to the state. But who is our Dolly Parton—the person who feels like more than a celebrity, and has become part of Michigan’s cultural identity?

That’s why earlier this week, I asked readers:

Who is Michigan’s artist? Why?

Here’s what you had to say:

“Our own Bob Seger is our closest person to Dolly with consistent support and song.  Jeff Daniels is also in the mix imho.” — Mike, South Haven

“Gwen Frostic was a Michigander all the way. Never left. Her art reflected the true beauty of Michigan’s natural world.” — Larry, Grand Ledge

“I first thought of Bob Seger, but Eminem has probably had more of a global impact and truly represents the ‘grit’ of Detroit. Ed Sheeran brought Eminem out at his show in Detroit 2 years ago and the fans nearly roared the roof off of that venue. I’ve never seen such an enthusiastic response by fans anywhere.” — Sharon, Michigan

“I don’t think any state has a celebrity equal to Dolly Parton if you combine her music notoriety, her kind personality, her generosity, and her honesty on just about every subject. Her impact on the world was enormous. I can’t remember when network news and social media was so inundated with news about someone passing. It seemed that anyone who had ever been on stage with her performing or interviewing her posted the moment.  Performers everywhere were honoring her during their performances. She seemed to have impacted singers of every genre. 

Librarians, parents, actors, singers, and fans all lost a very special person.  Dolly has no equal! “ — Kathleen, Detroit

“I vote for Jeff Daniels from Chelsea, MI or Bob Seger.” — Wendy, Chicago

“I don’t think Michigan has one culturally significant person, although there are several candidates: Michael Moore, Eminem, Madonna, Jeff Daniels…
Many famous Michiganders were not born in Michigan thus do not qualify.” — Janette, Jackson

“Jeff Daniel’s. Hands down.” — Brian, Hudsonville

“Bob Seger.” — Lisa, Parma

And if you have a question you’d like me to ask our community, send it my way. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

*Responses may be edited for conciseness or clarity.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Kimberly Lawson.

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