Okay, you know what’s underrated? The little weird detours that turn road trips into actual adventures. Michigan, of all places, is basically the queen of “Wait, what is that?” moments along the highway. Remind yourself: it’s okay to pull over for joy, for laughter, for the kind of stories your group chat deserves. Here are eight stops that’ll make your trip less about the destination and more about the pure, unfiltered delight of the journey.
1. World’s Largest Cherry Pie Pan
If you’ve ever wondered how much pie is too much pie, Traverse City gently laughs and says, “There’s no such thing.” The World’s Largest Cherry Pie Pan (squatting loudly at 3424 Cass Rd) has all the subtlety of a middle-school bake sale. But honestly, it’s a love letter to Michigan’s cherry obsession, which dates back to the 1920s when the region started crowning itself Cherry Capital of the World.
This pie pan isn’t just for show. In 1987, locals baked a 28,350-pound cherry pie to claim the Guinness World Record. (You can still see the pan’s dented pride today.) Standing here, you get the feeling that Traverse City wants you to smile, take a selfie, and maybe wonder what else you could build if you had an entire town behind you and a lot of extra cherries.
The real treat? It’s a reminder that joy doesn’t need to be practical. Sometimes, it’s just giant, shiny, and slightly ridiculous; like the best road trip memories. Trust, you’ll talk about it every July, right around festival season. What’s another slice?
2. Uniroyal Giant Tire
Ever driven past something so big you had to wonder if your GPS was pranking you? The Uniroyal Giant Tire off I-94 in Allen Park does exactly that. Originally built as a Ferris wheel for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, this mammoth weighs 12 tons and towers 80 feet high. (Imagine explaining that on a first date.)
Michigan, always dramatic, hauled the tire over in 1966 and reassembled it beside the freeway, where it’s now a classic automotive selfie backdrop. Local teens used to dare each other to climb it at midnight until security got wise. The tire’s even survived a tornado, standing like an absurd monument to what Detroit does best: cars, but make it weirdly fun.
Sometimes, you have to respect a state that takes its car culture so seriously that even its roadside art is industrial-sized. Every trip down I-94 deserves this drive-by silver lining. Next time, don’t blink or you’ll miss one of Michigan’s most tire-d (get it?) landmarks.
3. Da Yooper’s Tourist Trap
Some places are designed for subtlety; Da Yooper’s Tourist Trap in Ishpeming is not one of them. Step out of your car and boom: the world’s largest working chainsaw greets you, as if to ask, “Did you pack enough plaid?”
This spot is basically a fever dream of Upper Peninsula weirdness. There’s a giant functioning rifle, novelty outhouses, and a rock shop packed with minerals you didn’t know existed. If you listen closely, you’ll catch locals telling tall tales bigger than the chainsaw. It’s part museum, part joke, part “I bet my dad would love this.”
Da Yooper’s feels like a gentle ribbing from a friend who knows you’ll laugh at yourself. It’s not about sophistication; it’s about making memories you’ll retell every Thanksgiving. Bonus points if you leave with a pet rock or a photo of the world’s most intimidating lumberjack tools. The Upper Peninsula never takes itself too seriously.
4. Lakenenland Sculpture Park
Somewhere off M-28, art happens in the wildest, most unexpected way. Lakenenland Sculpture Park sprawls across 37 acres near Marquette, where scrappy iron creatures and wild-eyed sculptures peek from behind pine trees. Tom Lakenen started welding these metal oddities in the early 2000s to cure boredom; now, over 80 pieces dot the landscape, each with its own strange story.
Walking through the park feels like wandering into someone’s daydream. There’s no entry fee, just a sense of playfulness and a sign that says, in spirit, “Come as you are.” Winter or summer, the place hums with offbeat creativity. Bring a thermos, you’ll want to linger.
What makes this spot truly special? It’s open year-round, and you can even drive through if the cold gets too real. You’ll leave with at least one new favorite sculpture (and probably a stronger appreciation for Michigan’s steelworker-artist hybrids).
5. National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods
Ever feel like you need a roadside reset? The National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods in Indian River offers just that. Its 55-foot-tall wooden crucifix stands quietly among the pines, radiating a sense of calm you can actually feel.
The shrine is more than just a religious site; it’s also home to the Nun Doll Museum, an exhibit featuring over 500 dolls dressed in habits from around the world. It’s as if your grandma’s curio cabinet got a PhD in world cultures. People come here for quiet reflection, but also a dose of curiosity and maybe a little “wow, that’s a lot of nuns.”
Whether you’re devout, nostalgic, or just artfully snoopy, you’ll find something to ponder. Sometimes the best road trip stops are the ones that let you exhale and remember you’re more than your to-do list. Make a wish, leave a prayer, or just enjoy the peace.
6. Paul Bunyan Statue
“Legend has it, Paul Bunyan could clear a forest with a sneeze.” The giant lumberjack presides over Ossineke, Michigan, all 25.5 feet of him, with a grin that suggests he’s in on the joke. Built in the 1950s, this roadside legend is the hero you didn’t know your Instagram feed needed.
People drive hours just to take a goofy picture with Paul and his blue ox, Babe. The statue’s weathered paint and oversized axe tell a story about Michigan’s logging past; a tribute to the brawny ambition that built half the state. Kids usually ask if he’s real; adults pretend they don’t want to know.
It’s impossible not to feel a little larger-than-life standing here. The nostalgia is real, but so is the sense that it’s okay to celebrate the impossible, even if it’s just a statue. Try to resist making your travel partner pose like Babe. (You won’t.)
7. Leaning Tower of Pizza
Ann Arbor has a long tradition of not taking itself too seriously, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza proves the point. This 50-foot tall homage to Italy’s wobbly wonder was built as a scale model (it was a proposed, never-built 30-story, 430-foot skyscraper for Domino’s headquarters), but with a twist: it celebrates pizza, not architecture. The tilt is a dramatic 15 degrees, making it a photo opp that begs for cheesy poses.
Locals love bringing out-of-towners here for a laugh. It’s been standing at its perilous angle since the late 1980s, an unpretentious landmark that never fails to surprise. Rumor has it every college kid in Ann Arbor has attempted to “hold up” the tower at least once.
Some monuments aim for grandeur. This one just wants you to embrace your inner goofball and remember that playfulness can be a destination, too. It’s worth the detour.
8. Hell, Michigan
Can you say you’ve truly lived until you’ve sent a postcard from Hell? Michigan’s most notorious unincorporated community leans all the way into its provocative name. The town’s tiny general store sells “I’ve Been to Hell and Back” mugs and devil horn headbands, making it the ultimate stop for tongue-in-cheek souvenirs.
Hell’s outdoor attractions are real: kayak rentals, hiking trails, and a wedding chapel for the delightfully ironic. People line up in summer to get “married in Hell” or just buy a scoop of ice cream “Hot as Hell.” You can even become “Mayor of Hell” for a day, which is the sort of nonsense you need more of.
Visiting Hell is a reminder that embracing your quirks is a survival skill. You’ll leave with a lighter heart, a weirder story, and photographic proof that sometimes, you really do go through Hell and come out smiling.
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