Stroll High in the Trees
By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the September 2025 issue.
By Jeff Banowetz
Fall is a perfect time to visit the country’s longest forest canopy walk
Midland may not get the attention of other destinations in Michigan, but the small town has plenty to offer. As its name suggests, Midland is located close to the center of the state, in what’s known as the Great Lakes Bay region. (Using the Michigan-as-the-palm-of-the-hand locator map, Midland is near the joint between your thumb and forefinger.) Known for its mid-century modern architecture, a thriving art scene, and striking scenery, Midland is an excellent option for a weekend getaway to enjoy the fall colors.
Start with a visit to Dow Gardens, a family-friendly 110-acre nature preserve and formal gardens. The site was originally the estate of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, who built the home in 1899. Herbert made his fortune as the founder of the Midland Chemical Company, a precursor to Dow Chemical. Their home, The Pines, is a National Historic Landmark and is maintained at Dow Gardens and open for tours. The couple raised their seven children there, and Grace lived there until her death in 1953. The home is preserved to depict life in the first half of the 20th century.
But the real draw to Dow Gardens is the landscape of the estate, as well the structure for exploring it. The 54-acre Whiting Forest is accessible by a 1,400-foot-long canopy walk, which rises to 40 feet above the ground. The $20 million structure was completed in 2018 and is the longest forest canopy walk in the country. You’ll be able to walk among the pines and other trees to several scenic outlooks. The walkway has three arms, each ending at a different viewing platform, from a forest pond view to a large cargo net in a grove of spruce trees to a platform with a glass floor and railings. Kids will love climbing on the cargo netting on the Spruce Arm Overlook, from which they can see the forest floor below. The Whiting Forest also features ground-based trails for exploring, as well as a café, outdoor amphitheater, and outdoor classroom.
Dow Gardens is also home to an orchard (with more than 104 varieties of fruit trees), an estate garden, an exploration garden, and an award-winning children’s garden. While there may be more blooming in the spring and summer, the fall colors make an autumn visit well worth it. Those with young children may want to consider a trip next year, when the Dinosaurs Around the World exhibition runs May 19 to Aug. 23. It will feature life-size, animatronic dinosaurs throughout the park.
The nearby Chippewa Nature Center gives you even more natural areas to explore. The 1,200-acre preserve features 19 miles of trails through woodlands, wetlands, and upland fields, as well as a paved 3.7-mile path for biking and running. Cyclists also can explore the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, built on a former railroad line, which starts at the farmers’ market in Midland and runs 30 miles to Clare, Michigan.
Another Midland attraction is the Tridge, a three-legged pedestrian bridge that spans the meeting of the Tittabawasee and Chippewa Rivers. The impressive structure—each leg is 180 feet—connects the downtown area to nearby outdoor recreation. If you want to ride off-road, the Midland City Forest has 18 miles of mountain biking trails to explore, plus another eight miles of hiking trails.
Those looking for architectural gems will find more than 400 buildings designed in the mid-century modern style. Mid-Century Modern Midland (via its website, midcenturymidland.org) offers a guide to these buildings and highlights the key features. Architect Alden B. Dow (yes, a relative) introduced the mid-century modern look to Midland in the 1930s and designed more than 130 structures in his career. He inspired several other architects to take up the movement, giving Midland one of the highest concentrations of this design style in the country. A mobile app helps you create your own tour around town.
At the Midland Center for the Arts, you can explore the area’s artistic side, with several performance spaces and studios. It’s also home to the Dow Museum of Science & Art and the Midland County Historical Society/Heritage Park. If you’re lucky timing-wise, you can catch a touring Broadway show or musical act.
More to Midland
WHERE TO STAY
The H Hotel, 111 W. Main St., is an upscale option downtown. The AAA four-diamond award-winning hotel features an indoor pool, two restaurants, and a cocktail lounge. The boutique property offers stylish rooms within walking distance to downtown shopping and amenities.
WHERE TO EAT
For elevated Italian fare, check out Gratzi, 120 E. Main St., a chef-driven restaurant with a fresh, modern approach. You’ll find artisanal meats and cheeses imported from different regions of Italy, along with more than a dozen pasta entrées, steaks, and seafood.
For barbecue, try the Molasses Smokehouse & Bar, 201 E. Main St. Meanwhile, the 40-seat French-inspired bistro Cafe Zinc, located at the H Hotel, has an excellent reputation for desserts. Those looking for local beer can head to the Three Bridges Distillery and Tap Room, 240 E. Main St., or the Midland Brewing Company, 5011 N. Saginaw Road.
For more info on the Great Lakes Bay region of Michigan, visit gogreat.com.
Photos: Ryan Gajewski (Dow Gardens); iStock (The Tridge)
