Kayakers get a close-up view of Turnip Rock in Lake Huron, located on the “thumb” of Michigan’s “hand.” Summer days are long in the state that borders four Great Lakes. Photo by Pure Michigan

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As an East Coast person, I have to admit I had given little thought to visiting the Midwest. When my daughter went to the University of Michigan, though, my husband Paul and I took a road trip to Michigan — an eye-opening experience.

It’s hard to believe, but Michigan is in the same time zone as Maryland. Since it’s located on the western edge of the Eastern time zone, the state has longer days and later sunsets compared to places further south or east. When spring hits in Michigan, it’s light until almost 11 p.m.

When we first glimpsed Lake Michigan, it looked more like an ocean than a lake. The far side of the lake is nowhere to be seen, and cute beach towns dot the shore.

Our first stop was Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Perched way above Lake Michigan, the park has miles of beach and hiking trails. Don’t attempt walking down the dunes, as the drop to the lake can be 450 feet. A sign warns, “Rescues could cost $3,000,” which is enough to discourage most people from trying, especially those of us over 65.

Next stop was Traverse City, an area with two of our favorite treats: cherries and wine. The vineyards are located on the 45th parallel, the same latitude as the Bordeaux and Piedmont wine regions of France. Insulated from extreme weather by Lake Michigan, the area has fertile soil, and long hours of sunlight ensure an extended growing season.

We did tastings at several wineries and took a few winery tours. Later we sat outdoors with our wine and cheese, overlooking the spectacular shoreline.

Michigan, known as the “Cherry Capital of the World,” has some of the best cherries in the country. The season starts in July and can last into August. Each July, the National Cherry Festival attracts more than 500,000 visitors over eight days. Although we missed the festival, we bought plenty of cherries at roadside stands.

Exploring the Hand

About an hour and a half from Traverse City is Petoskey, located on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, near the top of the Michigan “Hand.”

Its claim to fame is Petoskey stones, the state stone of Michigan. They’re not really stones at all; they’re fossils of a coral reef that existed before the dinosaurs, during a time when a warm, shallow sea covered most of the Great Lakes region, around 350 million years ago.

We checked into a hotel downtown, wandered through the shops and had lunch at one of the many restaurants. Afterwards we took an evening stroll along the waterfront at Petoskey State Park for more fantastic Lake Michigan views.

From there, we headed to Harbor Springs to see the Tunnel of Trees. Driving beneath these northern hardwoods creates the feeling of traveling through a tunnel. Along the way, dramatic turns and curves on this 27.5-mile drive provided us with more lake views. People say it’s even more spectacular in the fall, when the changing hues form a brilliant canopy.

Island visit

Next was Mackinaw City, where we hopped on the ferry to Mackinac Island, located between the lower and upper Michigan peninsulas. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. As we stepped off the ferry, the first thing that caught our eye was a horse and buggy carrying furniture. It was like traveling back in time.

We explored Mackinac on foot. We strolled through the charming downtown, with its boutiques, restaurants, bars and sweet shops. Since Mackinac Island calls itself the “Fudge Capital of the World,” we had to have some. There’s even a Fudge Festival here in October.

A must-visit is the Grand Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1887, it drew wealthy vacationers and notables, including Thomas Edison, Mark Twain and several presidents. The 1981 film “Somewhere in Time,” starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer, was filmed in the hotel, and people visit each year because of the movie.

Rocking chairs line the 660-foot-long front porch, the world’s largest. We loved the breathtaking views of the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Bridge from the hotel, which blooms with more than 150 varieties of flowers.

Great golf courses

Surprisingly, Michigan is ranked the second-best state for public golf in America, with 738 public courses. Being golfers (or hackers), before heading home we decided to stop and play at Shanty Creek Resort, which has five golf courses. We played The Legend by Arnold Palmer. It had a little of everything — elevation changes, doglegs, water hazards and well-placed traps.

Finally we headed home, but we will return in the fall to capture that season’s beauty.

If you go

Round-trip flights from the D.C. area to Detroit start at $200 on Southwest. By car it’s eight hours to Detroit and about four hours more to Mackinaw City. During the peak seasons of summer and early fall, it’s best to make hotel reservations in advance.