Michigan features off-beat, little-known attractions. These 5 are worth checking out

LANSING — Mackinac Island. Sleeping Bear Dunes. Isle Royale.

Those might be the top summer travel destinations in Michigan for residents and outsiders alike. And for good reason. But what about the places you might pass a billboard for on the way? The places you can stop, stretch your legs, and maybe see a side of Michigan you didn't know existed.

These possibly lesser-known, out-of-the way attractions are perfect for spending an hour or two on your way "Up North" or to the beaches of the Great Lakes.

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Here's some off-beat stops to make this summer:

Iron Mountain Iron Mine

Exterior of Iron Mountain Iron Mine mine train in Vulcan, Michigan.

Located right off US-2 on the western end of the Upper Peninsula is the Iron Mountain Iron Mine, a former working iron ore mine where guests can get a glimpse of what it was like to be a 19th century miner. Visitors board a mine train to take a trip into the original "exploratory tunnel" miners used to find the pockets of iron ore.

The 45-minute tours include the mine train ride and a short walk through the tunnels. From mid-June to the end of August, the tours run daily from 9:20 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. CST.From September to mid-October, tours run Thursdays to Sundays.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Coupons and special group discounts are available on the website. Iron Mountain Iron Mine is located at W4852Hwy U.S. 2 in Vulcan, Michigan.

Traverse City Fairy Trails

Fairy Houses in the Traverse City Fairy Trails at the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City, Michigan.

The Traverse City Fairy Trails are located at the The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City. The trails are about 1/10th of a mile and are lined with countless "fairy houses" built by locals and visitors alike.

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The trails and houses are maintained by Life and Whim Studio to encourage children and their imaginations, as well as promote enivronmental stewardship and active lifestyles.

The trails are open all year and are free to visit. Guests are encouraged to bring or build their own fairy houses to add - as long as they're made of all-natural materials. Bikes are not allowed on the trailhead. Pets are allowed as long as they're leashed.

The Fairy Trails are located at 1490 Red Drive in Traverse City, Michigan.

Cherry Point Market and Lavender Labyrinth

Cherry Point Farm is one of the oldest operating farms in Oceana County, Michigan. It sits alongside the Lake Michigan shoreline and is minutes from the Silver Lake sand dunes.

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The market features farm-grown cherries and other treats, like turnovers, pies and donuts.

But one of the most striking features of the farm is the lavender labyrinth. Typically in full bloom mid- to late-July, guests can stroll through the winding paths to the center. There is no charge to walk through the garden and it's open during business hours.

The farm is located at 9600 W. Buchanan Road in Shelby, Michigan.

Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide

Crystal Mountain Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide in Thompsonville, Michigan.

At Crystal Mountain, visitors can ride the Loki Quad chairlift to the top of the mountain, hop on a specially-designed sled and cruise down two 1,600-foot-long curved tracks on the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide.

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Riders control the speed through tunnels, dips and high-bank turns. To ride alone, guests must be at least 52 inches tall and 80 pounds. Children smaller than the limit must ride with an adult.

Rides are $15 per person or guests could purchase a day pass to get access to the other activities at Crystal Mountain, like the climbing wall and trampoline.

The park typically opens at 11 a.m. throughout the summer, with reduced hours in September and October. It's located at 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive in Thompsonville, Michigan.

Good Hart General Store

Good Hart General Store, located along Lake Shore Drive in Good Hart, Michigan.

Through the winding (and maybe a little spooky) Tunnel of Trees on M-119, a quaint red general store sits.

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The Tunnel of Trees is worth the drive in its own right. The scenic highway features a picturesque view of Lake Michigan that begins just outside Harbor Springs and extends 21 miles north to Cross Village. Indigenous lore explains the hairpin turn on Lake Shore Drive just south of Good Hart as where the devil scooped out a hollow after a plague. It's been rumored you can hear "voices and sounds" coming from the hollow after dark.

The Good Hart General Store is the oldest business still standing in the area and was first opened in 1934. Visitors who stop at the store can enjoy homemade baked goods, pot pies, fresh jams and preserves, other prepared foods, and apparel and gift items.

The Good Hart General Store is located at 1075 N. Lake Shore Drive in Good Hart, Michigan.

Contact Sarah Atwood at [email protected]. Follow her on X @sarahmatwood.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Offbeat, little-known places in Michigan to check out this summer