Getting Kitschy in Jackson, MI: Diners, Oddities, and Classic Americana

While often forgotten from Michigan must-see lists, Jackson, Michigan is a historic hidden gem lying just west of Detroit. The town once served as an epicenter for innovation and transportation, acting as a major railway hub and automobile manufacturer in the early- to mid-twentieth century. With historic roots, much of the old charm still remains in its various niche museums documenting the city's histories, as well as the multiple hundred-year-old diners and dives. Jackson is the birthplace of the Coney Island hot dog, a dish now famously revered across the state.
You'll hit a locals-favorite diner for breakfast, home to generous servings and a kitschy, familial feel. Your day will be spent oscillating between historic oddities, great food, and lots of nostalgia. You'll visit a private car collection, view collections of Americana, eat at century-old eateries, and walk historic streets that have been beautifully modernized by over 40 public art murals across the city's buildings. You'll end the day visiting an illuminated man-made waterfall dating back to the 1930s.