Places hopemch Wants to Go

Though its branches are painted bright colors by generations of locals, the tree is said to be a haunted portal to hell.

A lavender labyrinth so large it’s visible on Google Earth.

A popular place to pick up prehistoric coral fossils from the time when Michigan was an ocean.

These enduring murals depicting a distinctly Marxist tribute to capitalism could not even be defeated by McCarthyism.

The writing studio of an American adventure author, built in the style of a medieval castle.

Opulent downtown movie theater now houses cars as an indoor parking garage.

This national park on the shore of Lake Michigan features remarkable dunes that lie at the heart of a Chippewa legend.

The bones of an old zoo crumbling in the shadow of a new one.

Strange physical sensations and optical contradictions keep visitors coming back for more.

A wacky two-story folk-art assemblage of carved and found objects, with lights, motion, and sound now in need of financial support.

Island where motor vehicles are banned -- home to the only carless highway in the United States.

One man's attempt to create an artistic wonder on a run-down block in Detroit.

A Beaux-Arts triumph rises from decades of decay to become the heart of a new innovation district.

The Beaux-Arts aquarium boasts a vast collection of saltwater and freshwater fish on an island in the Detroit River.

The remains of an abandoned dinosaur theme park litter the woods just off the highway.

Largest magic museum in the United States with more than half a million pieces of memorabilia.

Astounding collection of coin-operated games and automata.

The city is full of whimsical portals to another world.

This sprawling bookstore spans four floors and has more than a million books in stock.

This freshwater spring fills with 10,000 gallons of water per minute.

Turnip-shaped island just off the Michigan shore in Lake Huron.

Hell on Earth is actually a small town in Michigan where anyone can be mayor for a day.

Once a bastion of its community, this gothic cathedral now stands as a haunting ruin.

Abandoned concert venue legendary for its rock counterculture.