Grab your snacks and get your playlists ready, we’re going on a road trip!

Whether you've got a three-day weekend coming up that you want to take advantage of or you're looking for a getaway from Midland, MI, we have some suggestions to make the most of your weekend trip.

1. Dow Gardens

Before you leave for the weekend, you have to check out Dow Gardens in Midland, MI. Dow Gardens is a 110-acre botanical garden located at 1809 Eastman Avenue, Midland, Michigan, United States. It is open to the public, and currently contains over 1700 varieties of plants hardy in mid-Michigan. Take a walk through the winter gardens this time of year. 

2. Traverse City 

The attraction of Traverse City in every season is that it makes the perfect road trip. Spend your weekend wandering the back roads, and stop at a sidewalk cafe. Take a picnic lunch and head to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where you can experience one of northern Michigan's favorite pastimes, climbing the sand dunes. Spend your afternoon walking the Lake Michigan shoreline and enjoy the many species of wildlife that call the area home.

3. Petoskey 

There is no place better for a perfect winter weekend getaway than Petoskey. There are three ski areas that combined offer more than 160 downhill ski runs as well as cross-country ski trails and snowboarding courses. Resorts like the Inn at Bay Harbor in Boyne make it comfortable and easy to focus on one recreational area during your trip and return to comfortable dining and resort amenities after a day on the slopes.

4. Grand Rapids

To satisfy your artsy side, plan a themed weekend getaway in Grand Rapids, where the public art, music, and food set a creative mood.