Detroit Institute of Arts Named the Best Museum in America
Michigan is known for its rich American history. That said, it makes sense that the state would have some of the best museums in America. Now, it’s official, as one…
Museum visitors
Michigan is known for its rich American history. That said, it makes sense that the state would have some of the best museums in America. Now, it's official, as one Michigan museum has been named the best in America, beating some stiff competition.
The new report is from the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice 2023 contest, a nationwide poll in which experts pick the top 20 nominations and readers vote to make the final decision on the best of the best. "The United States is home to some of the world' most impressive art museums showcasing famous works and comprehensive collections," the publication states in the report. "Whether you're interested in the classics or the best of contemporary art, you’ll find it at one of these 10 museums, voted by readers as the best in the U.S. for 2023."
The best art museum in all of the US, according to the poll, is the Detroit Institute of Arts took first place. "Housed within a Beaux Arts building, the Detroit Institute of Arts maintains a collection of some 65,000 works – among the largest and most comprehensive in the United States," the article states. "Visitors can explore human creativity from across the globe as they explore more than 100 galleries, including the Center for African American Art, one of the first collections devoted to African American art at a major museum."
The DIA is followed by the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, at No. 2 and the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Then, at No. 4 is the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rounding out the top five is the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Find the full list of USA Today's best museums in America here.
Michigan has a slew of beautiful parks and outdoor areas that are a major tourist attraction for Michiganders and those beyond the Mitten. It's easy to find state parks, campgrounds and outdoor recreation areas throughout the state, which makes it simple to find summertime things to do in the state.
Of course, many of Michigan's most charming state parks are located on or near one of the Great Lakes. It doesn't get much more beautiful than exploring a state park near the water. I'm actually more of an ocean kind of girl, but since we're so far from the ocean here in Michigan, you really can't go wrong enjoying the gorgeous lakes.
If you're looking for some summertime fun, I've put together a list of 30 beautiful Michigan state parks to get on your to-visit list. I've only been to a few of these parks, but the ones I've visited are breathtaking. Last summer, I traveled to Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg and did some hiking, which offered an endless array of beautiful views of nature. Another one on the list that I've visited is Ludington State Park Beach, which offers some great views of lighthouses.
If you're looking for some interesting Michigan state park trivia, Michigan's 101 state parks and recreation areas cover 306,000 acres (124,000 ha) with 14,100 campsites in 142 campgrounds and over 900 miles (1,400 km) of trails. The state parks get 28 million annual visitors. Michigan's state parks system was launched in 1919. There are three Michigan state parks that pre-date the creation of the park system in 1919, and those include Mackinac Island State Park (1895), Michilimackinac State Park (1909) and Interlochen State Park (1917). According to Michigan.gov, Michigan has 103 state parks and 138 state forest campgrounds. "In Michigan, you’re never more than a half hour away from a state park, state forest campground or state trail system," they state.
