Avoid Crowds In Detroit, Michigan And Visit These 14 Highly Rated Small Towns Instead

Many would not have considered Detroit a top tourist destination a few years ago. However, the city has found itself amid an economic upswing that has brought an influx of visitors and people moving from out-of-state. On the one hand, this has infused the city with a buzzing new energy. On the other hand, it has also led to larger crowds and more traffic congestion. While Detroit merits a visit to see its ongoing transformation, it's nice to know that many small towns nearby offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Michigan contains an abundance of alluring small towns that make for the perfect getaway for a peaceful retreat. While some are hidden away in remote locations that take some effort to reach, many are easily accessible from urban centers. Touch down in Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and within a few hours, you can be chilling out at a lakefront cottage, shopping for antiques in a town that looks stuck in time, or doing some apple picking in a bucolic rural setting. For those searching for a charming vacation destination in Michigan, these are some of the best small towns within driving distance of Detroit that get top ratings on travel forums, travel blogs, and review sites.

A mere 40-minute drive from Detroit, the village of Milford feels like it's a world away. You won't find skyscrapers or traffic-clogged freeways there. Instead, you'll discover pleasant tree-lined streets, charming art galleries, boutique shops, and parks. The town only spans 2.5 square miles, making it quite walkable. You can grab a bite to eat at a restaurant downtown or pack your own lunch and set off on a hike through one of the many natural areas in and around the village.

Kensington Metropark is the top-rated attraction in Milford, and it's easy to see why. This vast area includes nearly 4,500 acres of woodlands, marshes, and fields that radiate out from Kent Lake. There is a paved trail for biking and jogging and two hiking trails through the forest and other nature. In the summer, you can swim at Martindale and Maple Beach, ride on the Island Queen pontoon boat, or play golf and disc golf on designated courses. In the winter, you can go cross-country skiing. The park also boasts 10 miles of equine trails (though it's a bring-your-own-horse situation).

Transport yourself to Europe without leaving Michigan on a trip to Frankenmuth. Also known as "Little Bavaria," German settlers founded this charming community, hence the Bavarian-style architecture and nickname. Its festive atmosphere, with a Christmas market and carriage rides, makes it a must-visit Michigan destination during the holiday season. However, it also has tons to offer year-round, including zip-lining, waterparks, riverboat cruises, and museums.

Start your visit to Frankenmuth by strolling through town to see the German-inspired architecture. Frankenmuth River Place Shops gets multiple five-star reviews on Tripadvisor for its charming atmosphere and excellent variety of stores and restaurants. Other popular spots in town include the Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Lodge for its tasty schnitzel and sausages and the Michigan Heroes Museum, which honors Michigan citizens' contributions to military and space programs. The Bavarian Belle Riverboat is a great way to see the town from the water if you visit during the warmer months, with tours running from May to October.

The village of Holly has everything you could want in a small town — an attractive downtown with inviting shops and cafes, access to parks and hiking trails, fun festivals, and even a haunted hotel. One resident commented on Niche.com, "Holly is a quaint little village with a great historic downtown full of different shops. It [does] not offer much when it comes to nightlife but it makes up for in family friendliness." As a bonus, driving to Holly from Detroit takes less than an hour, making it an easy place to visit on a day trip from the city or a weekend getaway.

Visit Holly in the summer or fall, and you can go hiking, canoeing, and camping in the Holly Recreation Area. The park spans over 8,000 acres and has amenities like disc golf, a water park, and boat launches. Seven Lakes State Park is another top-rated spot for outdoor activities. Holly also serves as the site of the Michigan Renaissance Festival, which takes place on weekends in August and September. During the winter, you can hit the slopes at Mt. Holly Ski & Snowboard Resort and attend the Holly Dickens Festival, which celebrates the spirit of Charles Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol."

The small village of Armada is the ideal spot to unwind and enjoy some rural scenery. The small downtown has a handful of restaurants and several buildings dating back to the 1800s. Visitors can go apple picking in the orchards around the area, visit the Armada Flea Market, and hike the Macomb Orchard Trail. Armada has no hotels, but it is only an hour's drive from Detroit, so you can easily make the trip there and back in a day. If you want to stay overnight somewhere close by but not in Detroit, there are a few B&Bs in the village of Romeo about 15 minutes away.

The most popular attraction in Armada is Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill. This working farm has apple orchards, a cider mill, a petting farm, wagon rides, and a tasting room where you can try its famous hard cider. A Yelp user wrote, "The taproom has great food and ciders to choose from, and they have some outdoor food places as well accompanied by their ciders of course. The things to do are sectioned off to make sure that the kids have their activities to do and the adults have their activities to do. Live music on most days really adds to the enjoyment of the day outside in the courtyard area."

If you love outdoor adventures, Gaylord is your spot. Styled like an alpine village, the downtown feels like a Swiss canton with chalet-inspired buildings. During the winter, you can head into the surrounding forests for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing on inland lakes. The Treetops Resort and Otsego Resort are winter hotspots for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. In the summer, the area is popular for golfing, hiking, and camping at Otsego Lake Park.

Gaylord is about a 3.5-hour drive from Detroit, so you'll probably want to stay overnight if you're visiting from Motor City. Luckily, there are plenty of places to choose from in the area. The Sojourn Lakeside Resort is a bit outside of town, but it gets rave reviews for its beautiful lakefront setting and excellent amenities. The resort has no restaurant, so you'll need to head into Gaylord for a bite to eat. Travelers recommend Bennethum's Northern Inn for steaks and seafood and Snowbelt Brewing Co. for craft beers and pub-style eats.

With a population under 7,000, Marshall has more of a small-town feel than a big-city vibe. History buffs will love the Historic District's many buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. As you meander through the streets, you'll see a range of architectural styles, including Art Deco, Queen Anne, Greek Revival, and Neoclassical. The Marshall Riverwalk is another lovely area to stroll through, as it has attractive bridges and boardwalks along the Kalamazoo River.

If you're looking for indoor activities in Marshall, the American Museum of Magic is an intriguing spot. You can learn about famous magicians throughout history and see a vast collection of magic-related artifacts. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4.50 for kids. Children under five can enter for free. The museum gets top ratings on review sites. For example, one individual shared on Tripadvisor, "This museum is small but mighty. You won't learn any tricks but you will see lots of them they've collected. It's housed in a historic building which adds to the charm." The AMM is open daily between April and November, but if you come between December and March, you'll need to call ahead to make an appointment.

The tiny community of Manchester lies just an hour's drive from downtown Detroit, but it's a major contrast to the concrete jungle of the big city. The village dates back to the 19th century, and many of the buildings from that time still stand today. The River Raisin winds through the town, and several parks dot the riverbanks and the verdant river valley. It's a peaceful, friendly spot where you can spend the day taking in the historic architecture, popping into small shops, and eating at local diners and restaurants.

Get a sense of what Manchester was like in the 1800s at the old Blacksmith Shop. It was once a center for producing carriages, sleighs, and horseshoes. Today, it is a museum with a working forge where you can see blacksmithing demonstrations and even try pounding some metal yourself. The Blacksmith Shop is open to the public on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Another way to immerse yourself in village life is at one of the fun festivals throughout the year. The Manchester Chicken Broil has taken place for over 70 years and features excellent food, live music, and tons of community spirit. Stop by for a delicious full chicken dinner and feel good knowing your money will go towards bettering the community. The festival usually takes place on the third weekend of July.