Top Ten Wildflower-Viewing Spots

7. Idlewild Barrens in the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan offers the best display of savanna/barrens flora in the state. So it's no surprise that from spring to early fall there is plenty of wildflower action for both the driving and hiking set. In and around the town of Idlewild is considered one of the best places in mid-Michigan for wildflower displays. Colorful posies, such as black-eyed Susan, woodland sunflower, Carolina rose, and yellow false foxglove, pop up in town and along the roads. Forest service trails in the area offer a chance to get up close and personal with lupine, yellow coreopsis, wild bergamot, horsemint, and the wispy state-threatened prairie smoke. Also in the Huron-Manistee, near the town of St. Cloud, the Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary has a self-guided walking tour trail through various habitats. Grab a guide at the trailhead and hit the 1.5-mile loop trail, which is particularly lovely in the spring when it's surrounded by colorful blooms like pink lady's slipper, jack-in-the-pulpit, and columbine.

Take to the water for an entirely different view of the forest. Away.com's Huron-Manistee National Forest Canoeing Guide has all of the beta.