Michigan: More than Great Lakes

• By Lauren Thompson
• Sep 9, 2010 4:58 PM ET

I had never been to Michigan before, and when it comes to mind, I general think snow, and a lot of it! But, head to Michigan in the summer, and trust me, you'll be wearing flip flops and shorts throughout your trip! This "Great Lakes State" was absolutely beautiful! As far as Michigan being on our list for GolfNow? You're in for a treat! Celebs, food, adventure and golf galore (what more could you ask for, right?)!

We visited the Motor City, and I'm so glad we did. To take a trip to this diverse state and skip Detroit is a cardinal sin in my book. To show me around the area, I was super lucky to have Duke Fakir (that's right: from the Four Tops!) as my guide. He is an older gentleman now, but to hear about Detroit and the way it was when he was a little boy was nothing short of magical. From Duke's perspective, no other city could have provided him with the musical motivation that this city did. Who knows? If he was from any other town, we may have never been blessed with classics like "I Can't Help Myself" (a.k.a. "Sugar Pie, Honey Bun"), Baby I Need your Lovin,'" "Same Old Song," "Reach Out" and many, many more.

Now, speaking of the music, Duke also gave me a first-class tour of the Motown Museum. You can not go to Detroit without making a stop here! You'll see everything from backstage and behind-the-scenes pictures on the walls, original Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson stage costumes and gear, and of course, Studio A which is still the same as it was then! This is where virtually all of the Motown hits that we know and love were created. Pretty much the Holy Grail for Motown Music! Duke and I wrapped up our day at Slows BBQ in Detroit. You know how I love my BBQ. And trust me, this place will satisfy. :)

Another celebrity that we met up with for some golf also showed us a little treasure of his own in Chelsea, MI. Jeff Daniels (from State of Play, Dumb and Dumber, Something Wild, etc.) brought us to the Purple Rose Theatre, which he started back in 1991 as a creative home for theatre artists. This is a place for emerging talent and seasoned professionals to learn more about and to practice their craft. As a seasoned veteran of acting himself, this was Jeff's way of giving back and creating an outlet for new actors. Check out www.PurpleRoseTheatre.org for a list of current shows and times.

As you can already see, Michigan has so much for you to do! Here are some recommendations for your trip to the Great Lakes State!

Favorite Golf Course: Arcadia Bluffs was just breathtaking. It is a world-class, daily fee, links-style course and is open to the public 7 days a week—even for guests of all golfing abilities!

The Must-do Activity: I loved the dune buggy ride along Lake Michigan. Trust me, you have to do this! You can't beat the view, and this fast-paced, family fun activity isn't something you can do just anywhere, so take advantage (just don't be afraid to get a "little" sandy. Oh, and keep your mouth closed while along for the ride!)!

Best Time To Go: Spring and Summertime are perfect. This is Michigan after all, so it would make for a tough golf trip in the snow.

The Guest List: All of your thrill-seeking, road trip buddies. You'll want to cover many parts of the state, so bring some people who are all about multiple activities: Golf, fishing, dune-buggy riding and more!