Cross Lake Michigan on the Badger

Wisconsin may be reached, if not quickly, then certainly amusingly, thanks to the retro passenger ferry known as The Badger, which has been operating since 1953. As you travel between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, you can relax on the deck, compete for prizes at Badger Bingo, and even catch a movie in the teeny on-board theater.

It is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is wholly within the borders of the United States, stretching the entire west coast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The state's two cleanest lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, are indispensible when discussing the best lakes in Michigan.

Additionally, no discussion about Lake Michigan would be complete without mentioning the breathtaking 35-mile length of the lake's eastern shoreline known as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Its beauty is virtually impossible to express. Perhaps as a result, there are several bluff overlooks where you can take pictures that are quite inspirational.

Scale the dunes, which can rise more than 450 feet above the lake, if you're up for the challenge. You'll be amply rewarded with panoramic vistas of the coastline and Leelanau Country's interior.

• Location: Michigan