The sun is shining, the smell of freshly cut grass is abundant, everyone is outside enjoying the weather; summer is here! What’s better than hitting the road in your electric vehicle and going on vacation with the family to take advantage of these beautiful days? Checking flights isn’t necessary as we have incredible vacation spots right here in our own backyard.

Around the state of Michigan there are numerous cities big and small, perfect for a day trip or to spend an entire weekend. We have picked a few of the many destinations featuring plenty of activities and events happening this summer!

Traverse City

First up on our list is Traverse City, located in the northern half of the mitten. This hot spot has loads of things to do throughout the summer from water activities in Grand Traverse Bay to exploring the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Stroll down the streets of downtown Traverse City to check out tons of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and galleries.

One thing you will not want to miss is the annual National Cherry Festival! People from all over the country head to Northern Michigan to celebrate the humble cherry through concerts, a carnival, races, the Blue Angels Air Show and eating all kinds of cherry-filled goodies. Plus, Consumers Energy’s Very Cherry Porch Parade is back again! If you live in Traverse City, get your creative juices flowing by decorating your porch (window, yard or sidewalk) in any way you would like with cherries as your inspiration. New this year, Consumers Energy will host the Community Royale Parade – a combination of the old kids parade and Heritage Day Parade – on Thursday, July 7 at 6 p.m. We hope to see you in the North!

Ludington

Next, we are going to travel down the west coast where we’ll find Ludington resting on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. This town is filled with artisan and farmers’ markets throughout the summer where residents and visitors can support local makers. On July 28th and August 25th, the city will be hosting Sunset Beach Bonfires so everyone can gather as a community, enjoy the summer evening and watch as the famous S.S. Badger pulls back into the harbor.

Just a short drive away from downtown, you can check out the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant, also known as one of the world’s biggest electric batteries, from the observation deck off Lakeshore Drive. Sitting along the lake’s shoreline, this plant is a technological marvel that you must see to understand its true power. And if you look to the east, you will also be able to see the wind turbines that make up Lake Winds Energy Park, Consumers Energy's first company-owned wind development.

Grand Rapids

As we move further down the state, we reach our final destination: Grand Rapids. Michigan’s second largest city, Grand Rapids has something for everyone including concerts, restaurants, art galleries and minor league sports teams. Their craft beverage scene is top notch, landing them the title of America’s Best Beer City. In addition, the city is home to a great collection of distilleries, meaderies and more!

The Grand River flows right through downtown where you can go boating or paddle boarding up or down stream of downtown Grand Rapids. If water sports aren’t your thing, the area has more outdoor activities to offer including hiking paths, golf courses and fishing.

While you are driving around our beautiful state, don’t forget to take advantage of the charging stations along your way to charge up your electric vehicle!

Now that we’ve got a plan, let’s jump in the car and get going! It’s time to discover all that our incredible state has to offer.