5 Unique Things to Do in Michigan This Spring
Most people wait until summer to visit Michigan, when the beaches are busy, and the calendar fills up fast. Spring is a different story. From late March through May, the state is quieter, greener, and more peaceful than at any other time of year. The wildflowers are blooming, the birds are moving through, the maple syrup is fresh, and the roads along the river corridors begin to show the first signs of new life.
Here are five of our favorite things to do in Michigan in the spring that most visitors don’t think to put on the list.
1. Take a Self-Guided Wildflower Walk Along the AuSable River
Starting in April, the trails along the AuSable River in Oscoda come alive with wildflowers that most people don’t know to look for. Bloodroot shows first, followed by marsh marigold, then white trillium through May, and meadow anemone and oxeye daisies into June. The display changes week by week, and the trails are easy enough for anyone to explore.
There are three good options in Oscoda for a self-guided wildflower tour, depending on how much time you have. The Rea Road Loop near the Foote Dam area is about a mile and takes under an hour. Loop B of the Eagle Run Trail in the Huron National Forest runs near the river banks and is worth the extra distance in May when the trillium is at its peak. The Highbanks Trail to Iargo Springs is the longest of the three and the most dramatic, with overlook views over the AuSable River valley and a cold spring-fed creek at the end.
2. Taste Fresh Maple Syrup Before the Season Ends
There's a short window every spring when the maple syrup at local farms and sugar shacks is as fresh as it gets. Just tapped, just bottled, and nothing like what sits on a grocery store shelf.
If you’re visiting in April or early May, it’s the perfect time to enjoy it. At Huron House, we celebrate this seasonal delicacy by serving locally sourced maple syrup with your in-room breakfast, adding that authentic Michigan flavor to pancakes, French toast, and other morning favorites. After your stay, pick up a bottle or some maple candy from Britt Family Pure Maple Syrup Farm in Tawas City to take back home with you.
If you want to see how it's made before you taste it, read our full guide on Michigan’s Best Maple Syrup Farms with everything you need to know about the process and where to go.
3. Follow the Birds Along the Sunrise Side
Spring migration is one of the best times to see birds in Michigan, and the Sunrise Side is one of the better places in the state to do it. The Sunrise Coast Birding Trail runs 145 miles along US-23 from Oscoda north to Mackinaw City, with 28 designated hotspots along the way. Seven of them sit right in Iosco County, within easy reach of Oscoda.
Tawas Point State Park is one of the standout spring migration spots in the Midwest, and walking the point during warbler season in May has a way of surprising people, even if you’re not into birding. One minute you’re on a quiet lakeshore trail, and the next it feels like the trees are full of movement and color as dozens of tiny birds pass through all at once.
4. Take a Scenic Drive Along the River Road Scenic Byway
The River Road Scenic Byway runs along the AuSable River corridor through the Huron-Manistee National Forest, and spring is one of the best times to drive it. The trees are just starting to fill in, the river runs high from snowmelt, and the bluffs along the route take on that early green you only get for a few weeks each year. It’s about 22 miles and takes under an hour to drive, longer if you stop.
Lumberman's Monument is a worthwhile stop along the way. The overlook above the river is one of the better views in the area, and the exhibits give a clear look at Michigan’s logging history. Iargo Springs is another stop worth building in if you have the time, with a boardwalk that leads down to a cold, spring-fed creek.
The byway was named one of the most scenic drives in the country, and in spring, it’s easy to see why. It’s a low-effort, high-reward afternoon.
5. Escape to Huron House on the Sunrise Side
Spring is one of the quieter times to stay at Huron House. The beach is less crowded, the property is calm, and all four of the activities above are within easy reach.
Mornings start with breakfast delivered right to your room, best enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a view of Lake Huron as the shoreline begins to wake up for the season. After a day spent exploring wildflower trails, driving along the river, or watching birds fly overhead, unwind in your private outdoor hot tub, listen to the waves from your balcony, or simply relax by the fireplace as the evening cools off.
Everything you need for a spring getaway is close by, but it’s the quiet moments in between, the slower mornings, the open shoreline, the feeling of having the place to yourself, that tend to stand out the most.
Find Your Favorite Things to Do in Michigan This Spring
Spring in Michigan is a season of small changes, trees beginning to bud, rivers running high, wildlife returning, and those details are easier to notice when things are a little quieter.
In Oscoda, that might look like spotting the first trillium along the trail, catching a stretch of empty shoreline in the morning, or pulling over along River Road just to take in the view.
If you’re looking for things to do in Michigan this spring, this stretch of the Sunrise Side offers more than most people expect. Plan your stay at our Michigan bed and breakfast and see where the season takes you.
