Michigan

Although it is in the middle of the country and hundreds of miles from any ocean, Michigan has over 3,000 miles of pristine coastline. This amazing situation is due to the state's location amid the Great Lakes, the largest mass of fresh water in the world. Michigan's two peninsulas touch four of the five Lakes--Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior--which provides endless opportunities for sport and recreation.

Michigan's famed industrial might is most visible in the southern part of the state, where Detroit serves as a crumbling monument to early 20th century mass production. Although many of the city's older factories have closed, the area around Detroit still has a multitude of automobile plants and the names that made the city famous live on. Fords, Chryslers, Cheverolets and Cadillacs continue to roll off the production lines, upholding Detroit's reputation as the car capital of the world.

Northern Michigan is much less developed, featuring miles of forests, streams and massive sand dunes. Millions of tourists come each year to enjoy the scenic beaches and woods in this part of the state, home to the largest cherry tree farms in the world. And for those seeking real wilderness, the Upper Peninsula offers miles of rugged, unpopulated terrain, ideal for the simple pleasures of fishing and hiking.