Tom shares the mind-blowing aviation experience that the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo -- voted the best place to take someone visiting Michigan -- has to offer. He then heads to Royal Oak to Zumba, a restaurant that prides itself on its authentic and fresh Mexican food that’s also a steal. Next, Tom makes his way to one of Detroit’s hidden treasures, the Inn on Ferry Street in Midtown, a collection of bed and breakfasts nestled near the epicenter of Detroit’s art, music, and culture.

Explore the thriving city of Grand Rapids, including the Big Old Building - an old grocery warehouse turned into the city’s main entertainment center. Then on to the city of Cadillac, which prides itself on being a great place to live and a great place to play - including the large and whimsical Toy Town. And Herman’s European Café & Hotel lets visitors unwind after a day of fishing, hiking, and boating. Then to Port Huron: its large boardwalk, lakefront homes, and plenty of boating activities make it the Maritime capital of the Great Lakes. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble allows groups of 20 people to experience what it would be like to live and sleep on a Coast Guard Cutter.

In Detroit’s historic entertainment district, visit Cliff Bells - a restored jazz club from the 1930s offering great food, classic cocktails, and amazing musicians to transport you back to when jazz was king and elegance was everything. Lansing has a brand new city market and Old Town, filled with young business and old - like the ~75 year old Peanut Shop boasting every kind of nut imaginable. Elderly Instruments houses one of the largest collections of stringed instruments in the world. This internationally renowned music store specializes in new, used, vintage, and rare instruments. Battle Creek, home of the Kellogg company, displays history in its 100 year old buildings while also combining beautiful river walks and city living. The Binder Park Zoo is rated one of the best zoos in America, and their Zuri National Park offers a chance to travel to Africa right from Michigan!

Marquette, near the southern shores of Lake Superior, is a hilly college town bustling with a hum of friendly energy and filled with character and charm. A walk along the waterfront reveals beautiful homes that were once old factories—providing great photo opportunities as well as showing the city’s transformation. Experience authentic Cajun/Creole food at “Laginappe – A Cajun Creole Eatery”. Andy Gregg, a former cyclist turned artist, displays his one-of-a-kind chairs, stools, and tables made entirely from old bicycle parts. Lakenenland is a free drive-through art exhibit of industrial scrap yard art. “Hot Plate” is a paint-your-own-pottery store. More than the cement capital of Michigan, Alpena offers a haunted saloon, Alpena Sinkholes, and Dinosaur Gardens.

Traverse City is filled with wonderful restaurants, and the Grand Traverse Distillery produces the six best vodkas in the world. Traverse City is also home to the iconic National Cherry Festival. Now in its 84th year, it attracts million of visitors and has helped Traverse City earn its title as the cherry capital of the world. In the tip of Michigan’s thumb is Port Austin, with its happy and relaxed atmosphere, sandy beaches, picturesque piers, beautiful bed and breakfasts, and a wonderful downtown filled with shops all within walking distance. Stay at ‘The Little Yellow Cottages,’ whose location in the heart of town leaves visitors with only a short walk to the parks, pier, and shops. Dave Thuemmel is a dairy farmer turned woodturner.

Established in 1668, Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in the Midwest as well as the home of the Soo Locks. See the giant freighters passing through from the beautiful, tree-lined streets downtown. Head downtown to Karl’s Cuisine, where every meal is made from scratch by Chef Karl and his wife Paula. Restaurants like theirs earned Sault Ste. Marie the title ‘Best Food Town in the Midwest’ this year. For 30 years, downtown gallery owner and artist Greg Steele has been showcasing his creative handiwork. What others discard—radio dials, gears, pieces of copper, old cameras—he turns into unconventional art. Cheboygan used to be one of the greatest logging towns of the Midwest. Visit the Gildner Gallery, Cheboygan Opera House, and Hack-Ma-Tack Inn.

The best kept secret in the upper peninsula is beautiful Munising. Visit the incredible Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore, hike to scenic waterfalls that are right in town, and watch Tom sample the best (and only) whitefish sausage he's ever had. Also discover where you can get a gourmet meal to go, on your own pontoon boat out and around the Pictured Rocks. Next, travel to Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan. It's a place where people are passionate about learning, independent thought, and good food. Tom discovers why a meal at the restaurant Afternoon Delight is totally worth the wait, and where Bo Schembechler always went to make sure he looked good for game-day. Then see how Zingerman's Deli has created a food culture verging on a way of life, and learn about a wonderful place you can take the kids where they can touch everything.

This episode has everything from culture and kites, to food and a fantastic boat trip. First, travel up to Tawas City and East Tawas for a tale of two cities that when combined, make one great place to live, work, and play. Tom takes a fascinating boat trip to Charity Island. We finish our adventure in Monroe, a beautiful city with great history and wonderful people. You’ll visit a boutique hotel that will blow your mind; get a dose of the rich history of the area; and hear from two local artists that are putting a creative eye on Monroe. Tom also discovers two gourmet restaurants that are worth the drive to Monroe, no matter how far away you live. Back on the mainland, see the only full-service resort on Lake Huron in Michigan. After all that, Tom still finds time to fly a kite, and sample some of the best beef jerky on planet earth.

You've heard the expression "art imitates life"? Well, in this episode you'll see how "art" changed the lives of a lot of people in Boyne City. You'll also meet a custom boat builder who ships (pun intended) his boats all around the world, and see a view of Lake Charlevoix that's totally worth the climb. Then travel to Rochester where Tom helps light up the town (literally) with the Rochester Bright Lights Festival. Tom then visits the only certified organic restaurant in Michigan, finds a bit of Poland in Michigan and then gets gnarly and tries not to break anything at the South Street Skate Park.

Tom goes back to the Motor City to find out how the Sphinx Organization is literally changing the faces of symphony orchestras around the world … We’ll also discover the best French crepes outside of Paris, and see African beads over a thousand years old. Then we head north to Petoskey to stay at the historic Perry Hotel ... We'll also stop by American Spoon to see how it all started, and taste nature's best preserves. We'll dine like kings at Chandler's, experience some of Michigan's most inspired artists at the Crooked Tree Art Center ... and "almost" have a drink with the great, late Ernest Hemingway at the City Park Grill.

Tom takes viewers on a trip to Disneyland … but this one’s in Hamtramck, and it’s one of the most colorful and eclectic collections of Americana you’ll ever see. Tom also gets hip at a retro resale shop called Detroit Threads and eats at a Mexican/Asian fusion restaurant. Then Tom will show you how to become German in Frankenmuth, and take viewers to an international festival where they literally turn snow into a show.

Tom heads for Houghton Lake and one of Michigan’s oldest and largest winter festivals: Tip Up Town. While there, you’ll discover that there’s a lot more going on than just ice fishing. Next you’ll head back up to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula to visit a fascinating snowmobile museum; find out where they make the legendary Stormy Kromer hat; and experience the U.P. 200 … a grueling 200-mile dogsled race that runs right through the streets of downtown Marquette.

We head back to Lansing for inspirational stories from three motivated Michigan entrepreneurs. Tom helps us discover how Sweetie-licious pies are becoming a national sensation; how a great plan is making Cravings Gourmet Popcorn a huge hit; and how Biggby Bob has turned his love for a good cup o' joe into a thriving Michigan business. Then, we hit Wyandotte for some great local art; the world’s best sliders; a real muskrat dinner … and we’ll see how Wyandotte is using geothermal energy to take its residents into a green future.