The Art of “Slow Travel” – and How to Embrace it in Michigan
Trade fast-paced travel for sensory-driven sightseeing. Slow travel unlocks a more mindful way to make your way around Michigan.
Slowing down while traveling is what Pure Michigan is all about – from the foothills of the Sleeping Bear Dunes to the quiet lakeshores of Lake Huron to the serenity you can find amidst the changing of the seasons.
In Michigan, travelers can use all five senses to tap into wonder and connection while soaking in the scenery across all corners of the state. It’s time to embrace the beauty, culture and excitement across our two pleasant peninsulas on a deeper and more rewarding level.
Learn about the art of slow travel in Michigan – and how to embrace it. No matter where your next adventure takes you, the journey itself is just as meaningful as the destination.
What is “Slow Travel”?
"Slow travel" is the practice of travelers taking a more immersive and mindful approach to experiencing the destination in which they travel. Unlike traditional, fast-paced tourism where visitors try to see as many places as possible in a short amount of time, slow travel focuses on making more meaningful connections with the places and people they come in contact with – from engaging in deeper observation of local culture, to opting to travel more sustainably, to lowering stress by breaking the mold of jam-packed schedules and stiff agendas.
Slow travel allows for an almost meditative way of connecting with what’s around you while you travel. Instead of rushing to what’s next, seeking high-thrill and high-energy experiences, and checking off a to-do list of stops, travelers can opt to slow down and engage all five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch) for a deeper connection to the community.
5 Tips for Successful Slow Travel
- Skip the agenda – Packed schedules are more conducive to stressful travel when you’re constantly pivoting to the next thing on your to-do list. Take a go-with-the-flow approach to travel with ample free time and flexibility to embrace the moments (and the surprises you’ll find) along the way.
- Opt for longer stays – Choosing accommodations that offer longer stays so you can visit your destination over a longer period of time. This gives you time to live like a local and build deeper relationships with the people and places you explore and meet.
- Engage with locals – Introduce yourself and dive into deeper conversations with locals. They’re your best bet for intel on hidden gems and must-see sights you wouldn’t have known of otherwise.
- Choose more sustainable options – Whether it’s your mode of transportation, like biking instead of driving, or supporting local businesses sustainability plays a big role in slow travel. For example, try sitting in the coffee shop to enjoy your drink in a real coffee mug instead of taking a disposable cup to go. You never know who you’ll meet or the conversations you’ll have while slowing down.
- Prioritize quality over quantity – Pick educational, purposeful and emotionally enriching experiences, even if they take longer or require more of your attention. You’ll be thankful for more depth and less distraction while you travel.
Here’s How to Slow Down and Savor the Sights, Sounds and Sensations of Michigan
Ditch the whirl-wind mentality of travel for a more mindful escape in Michigan – on your own time.
Take a Scenic Train Ride
You can embark on an adventure along lesser-traveled tracks as you sit back and take in the scenery along the way on a train ride through Michigan. The Pere Marquette Amtrak route offers stunning views along Michigan's western coast between Grand Rapids and Chicago. Or, the Southern Michigan Railroad Society runs seasonal trips from Clinton through scenic farmlands and the Little River Railroad in Coldwater offers nostalgic steam train rides through the countryside of Southwest Lower Peninsula.
Find a Farmers Market or Local Food Experience
Let your taste buds take over and support your local farmer by visiting a Michigan farmers market for a true, local food experience. Not only is it a sustainable way to shop but it’s a sensory overload when you can touch and taste the food, and talk with the very farmer who grew the produce you’ll buy. Eastern Market in Detroit, the Midland Area Farmers Market on the east side, the Kalamazoo Farmers Market on the southwest side, and the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market in the Upper Peninsula.
Michigan leads in producing fruits like apples, tart cherries and blueberries, as well as vegetables including asparagus and cucumbers. Post-market, visit a local restaurant that showcases these fresh flavors in their dishes, like The Apparatus Room in Detroit, Grove in Grand Rapids, Salt of the Earth in Fennville, and Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay.
Visit One (or More) of Michigan’s Many Art Trails
Exploring art and sculpture parks encourages visitors to take a leisurely stroll and form deeper connections with the art and nature around them. Unlike crowded museums and scripted tours, these parks invite contemplation and discovery as you meander on trails, perhaps studying the way sunlight strikes a single sculpture or pondering how seasonal changes change each piece that particular time of year.
There are endless places to enjoy manmade and natural works of art in Michigan’s great outdoors, like the expansive Frederik Meijer Gardens, featuring sculpture galleries, a tropical conservatory, a children's garden and Japanese garden with over 200 sculptures in Grand Rapids. Or explore the winding and whimsical Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 30-acre preserve with hiking trails, sculptures, poetry stones and an amphitheater at Crystal Mountain.
Watch for Wildlife and Wander Through Wilderness
Birdwatching at Arcadia Dunes wetlands, elk viewing in Pigeon River County State Forest, or spotting a moose on the remote Isle Royal National Park are just a few ways to explore nature and watch for wildlife along the journey. Wildlife viewing in wilderness is the essence of slow travel, as it requires patience, quiet observation and a willingness to let nature reveal itself in its own time. Just remember to keep a safe distance and maintain awareness of your surroundings when you’re near Michigan’s wildlife.
Whether you're waiting silently near a wetland to spot sandhill cranes at Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary in Jackson County, or slowly hiking through Seney National Wildlife Refuge hoping to see glimpse of a loon, this unhurried approach allows you to notice subtle details like animal tracks, listen for distinct bird calls, and truly immerse yourself in the natural rhythms of wild places – making each moment more meaningful and memorable.
About the Author: Erica Zazo is a Chicago-based freelance writer who loves to write about adventure travel in her home state of Michigan and beyond. Follow her adventures on Instagram.