Michigan State Capitol
Free tours of a beautifully restored building.
Lansing
Michigan's capital, with its restored capitol, the birthplace of Oldsmobile, and Michigan State University nearby.
It's a working city with a riverwalk and an auto museum.
- Best Time
- Spring and fall
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 90 minutes from Detroit.
What to See
2 of 3 are freeR.E. Olds Transportation Museum
Cars from the city's Oldsmobile past.
Michigan State University
A big campus with a Broad Art Museum by Zaha Hadid.
Know Before You Go
- Check opening hours before you go, especially on weekends and at state buildings.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Go Next
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A car-free Victorian island in Lake Huron since 1898, with horse-drawn carriages, fudge and the Grand Hotel's 660-foot porch.
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The birthplace of the skyscraper, on the shore of a lake the size of a sea.
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Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Midwest list.