Cheeseburger in Caseville

For ten days every August, this quiet beach town of about 800 people turns into Michigan’s version of Margaritaville. The Cheeseburger in Caseville festival — named after the Jimmy Buffett song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” — started back in 1999 as a small end-of-summer party and grew into one of the biggest events in the Thumb. Now tens of thousands of people pour in for a week and a half of beach concerts, Jimmy Buffett cover bands, a tropical-themed parade, sandcastle contests, and, of course, cheeseburgers on every corner.

If you’re buying near downtown or the beach, it’s worth knowing that mid-August is by far the busiest stretch of the year here — fun if you love the party, something to plan around if you don’t. The rest of the summer is calmer, with the beach, the harbor, and the Saginaw Bay fishing being the main draw.