Lake Michigan

Northern Coastline - destinations listed North to South

(Visit Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Torch Lake, Traverse City, Leland, Glen Arbor, Empire, Frankfort, Manistee, and Ludington)

  1. Harbor Springs

    1. Charming waterfront community on the deepest freshwater harbor in the Great Lakes. It’s a ferry ride away from Petoskey and Bay Harbor. 

    2. Petoskey Area is a great website with info on Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Charlevoix. 

    3. Parks & Beaches

      1. Zorn Park is located downtown and is the most popular beach. Enjoy swimming, a floating raft, and a picnic area.

      2. Zoll Street Beach - smaller, quieter, and dogs are always allowed.

      3. Josephine Ford Park - public boat launch is available.

      4. Harbor Springs Deer Park - stop by to visit the deer!

      5. Sanctuary Island Park - walk the boardwalks to get a view of the grassy wetland. Located 15 minutes east of town.

      6. Kiwanis Park - picnic and playgrounds in the summer, local sledding spot in the winter with a warming hut. 

      7. Thorn Swift Nature Preserve is located west of Harbor Springs with 950 feet of Lake Michigan beach front. A mix of upland dunes and a lowland cedar swamp with 1 ½ miles of trails and a Nature Center. There is a parking fee.

    4. Activities

      1. Lots of great bike routes - Top 10 Best Bike Towns in America biking including the Little Traverse Wheelway which connects Harbor Springs to Charlevoix going through Petoskey and and Bay Harbor.

      2. Summer Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

      3. Street Musique Series in the summer for various waterfront concerts.

      4. Pond Hill Farm Cafe (Brewery Winery, Market) - lots of seasonal activities including live music, brick oven pizza, fall festival activities, hiking trails, snow tubing and hot cocoa, gnome house hunt, wine, beer, and cider tasting.

      5. Tunnel of Trees - a 20 mile scenic drive along M-110 starting in Harbor Springs and ending in Cross Village. It’s famous for its lush canopy of trees that partially enclose the road, creating a unique and picturesque landscape including stunning views of Lake Michigan. 

      6. Northern Lights Recreation Center for laser table, pool tables, arcades and dining.

      7. Water Tractor Sport Fishing Adventures for chartered fishing adventures on Little Traverse Bay.

      8. Emmet Clay Sports - shooting options open to the public. 

    5. Museums

      1. Andrew J. Blackbird Museum

      2. Harbor Springs History Museum

      3. The Ephraim Shay House - the ‘Shay Hexagon House’ is open for tours. 

      4. Tvedten Fine Arts Gallery

      5. Hanni Gallery

      6. Boyer Glassworks

    6. Skiing 

      1. Nub’s Nob

      2. The Highlands (skiing plus much more)

        1. The Highlands Zipline Adventure

        2. The Highlands Horseback Trail Rides

        3. The Highlands Segway Tour - 90 minute tour on wooded paths.

        4. Arthur Hills Golf Course - The 11th hole begins a three-hole ascent to one of the highest points in lower Michigan and the magnificent view from the 13th tee.

        5. Take a 1.5 mile easy hike along The Highlands North Peak Trail. Beautiful viewpoints overlooking the valley, and on a clear day you can spot the Mackinac Bridge.

        6. Boyne Highlands Bike Park

        7. The Enchanted Trail - during the winter enjoy the 1.5 mile walk along a path adorned with twinkling lights and interactive displays. Midway, take a break in the yurt for a warm drink and s’mores over the bonfire. Tickets are necessary for ages 5 and up.

    7. Shopping

      1. American Spoon for jellies and preserves. Don’t miss the tasting table. 

      2. Tom’s Mom’s Cookies

      3. Howse’s Fudge

    8. Dining

      1. Gurney’s Sandwich Shop - located in the back of a liquor store, and easy to miss, but it’s a local favorite with lines often out the door. The Trainwreck Sandwich is the most popular item on the menu. Take it to go, and eat on the waterfront.

      2. Stafford’s Pier Restaurant - upscale with a gorgeous view of the harbor.

      3. Paper Station Bistro - casual atmosphere with local charm.

      4. Piper’s Mighty Good Pizza for pizza, grinders and calzones (their pictures look delicious!)

      5. Rodrigo’s for Mexican cuisine.

      6. Aonach Mor Moonlight Dinner - elegance in an unforgettable atmosphere. Take a sleigh ride from the Main Lodge lobby to North Peak. Enjoy the bonfire, and then take your seat at nearby tables illuminated by candlelight. On clear nights you can see the lights of the Mackinac Bridge. Enjoy the live acoustic guitar during dinner.

      7. 1894 at Colonial Inn for timeless charm and vintage elegance. This looks like a very upscale and cool place to stay with a dock on Lake Michigan, walkable to downtown, breakfast included, and the bar for evening cocktails.

  2. Petoskey - is known for its natural beauty, the historic Gaslight Shopping District (anywhere you see green light posts), and of course, petoskey stones. It’s just a ferry ride away from Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor. 

    1. Beaches (great for hunting petoskey stones!)

      1. Petoskey State Park: Located on 303 acres, it has two miles of shoreline on Little Traverse Bay. It’s one of the favorite area beaches for swimming. Recreation passport required for entry.

      2. Magnus City Park Beach: Easy access to the waterfront and petoskey stone hunting at this park with 1,000 feet of beach for rockhounding.

      3. Solanus Mission Beach – stony, dune-like environment on a small cove, it provides 500 feet of beach/lakeshore for rock picking via the Little Traverse Wheelway or the Bayfront West Parking Lot.

    2. Parks

      1. Pennsylvania Park

      2. Arlington Park next to Stafford’s Perry Hotel

      3. Bear River Valley Recreation Area has a 1.5 mile path along the Bear River. The area has a 1/4 mile whitewater course. 

      4. Bayfront Park - playground, marina, pier where the Little Traverse Bay Ferry makes a stop, Midway Commons - a pedestrian tunnel to the downtown area, no swimming, but there is a long stretch of rocky public shoreline that is popular for petoskey stone hunting.

        1. The Petoskey Breakwall is located here. There is a beacon at the end. It’s a great spot to look across to Harbor Springs in the distance.  

    3. Biking &  Hiking

      1. McCune Nature Preserve has 4 miles of hiking.

      2. Avalanche Mountain Preserve  offers mountain biking, disc golf, and a 426 step climb to get a view of Lake Charlevoix.

        1. Stop at North Country Cycle Sport for bicycle repairs and rentals.

      3. East Park - is on the eastern edge of Bay Harbor with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. It’s along the Little Traverse Wheelway with restrooms available. 

      4. The Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve has 7 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The highest point, Christmas Mountain (1,300 ft) gives you a view of Little Traverse Bay, Crooked Lake, and Pickerel Lake. 

      5. Bay View Woods for hiking trails

      6. Boyne City-Charlevoix is being completed. Currently there is a 3.2 mile paved trail that connects Young State Park with attractions in Boyne City.

      7. Boyne Forest Trail for 15 miles of mountain biking. 

      8. Boyne Mountain Hiking has hundreds of miles of trails. 

      9. Boyne Valley Trailway - the 6.3 mile trail connects the Boyne Mountain Resort with Boyne City.

      10. Deadman’s Hill Overlook - a great place to see fall colors.

      11. Headlands International Dark Sky Park

      12. Roaring Brook Nature Preserve for hiking.

      13. Little Traverse Wheelway - a 26 mile paved trail that connects Harbor Springs to Charlevoix going through Bay Harbor and the Petoskey waterfront. An overview behind D&W Shopping Plaza has a convenient rest stop to access the trail with a great view of the Little Traverse Bay. 

      14. Check out Michigan Trail Maps for details on all area hiking.

    4. Activities

      1. Summer Farmer’s Market on Fridays from 8:30-1 pm.

      2. Downtown Petoskey Free Trolley runs in the summer months.

      3. Little Traverse Bay Ferry - travel by boat between Bay Harbor, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs on a 49 passenger vessel. An “Around the Bay” tour with stops/pick ups at all 3 locations is $45.

      4. Oden Fish Hatchery is free to visit.

      5. Petoskey Golf Center for an indoor simulator and golfing.

      6. Petoskey Ice Arena

      7. Know Way Out  Escape Room

    5. Museums

      1. Crooked Tree Arts Center - free to see the gallery, check out their calendar of events for live performances in the renovated 1890 church.

      2. Raven Hill Discovery Center for a hands-on museum and live animals. See the Earth Tones Music Garden, Jurassic Park walkway, and the 40 outdoor learning stations. 

      3. Little Traverse History Museum

        1. $5 to visit, located in the Bayfront Park Area.

        2. Vintage Views Walking Tours are available through the Museum. Enjoy the 90 minute tour and the viewmaster views of what Petoskey used to look like. 

    6. Dining

      1. Duffy’s Garage and Grille - pizza, grinders, sandwiches. They have good seating options for larger groups. There are also 2 levels of outside seating with views of the water. 

      2. Spring and Porter for Italian food

      3. Mighty Fine Pizza - the oldest pizza place in Petoskey. Take out only.

      4. Sam’s Graces Cafe - for breakfast, lunch and pizza

      5. Petoskey Cheese for lunch and charcuterie

      6. City Park Grill in one of the city's oldest buildings has delicious homemade cuisine. 

      7. The 1911 Restaurant at the Terrace Inn looks charming and high end.

      8. Petoskey Brewing Company - the building looks charming, and it’s right across from the Tunnel of the Trees.

      9. Mackinaw Trail Winery and Brewery has food and a beautiful patio.

      10. Gypsy Distillery for a craft cocktail tasting room and event center.

      11. Malted Vinyl for cocktails and music.

      12. JoJo’s Cookie Co for unique and delicious cookies.

      13. Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen. The original store is downtown. Head a few minutes north out of town to see their large show room with windows where you can watch the production kitchens. Delicious (and very expensive!) ice cream, chocolate, fudge, and caramel corn. 

    7. Shopping

      1. Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts for Michigan Merchandise

    8. Lodging

      1. Stafford’s Bay View Inn - enjoy the Victorian decor in this beautiful historic inn with fine dining and award winning Sunday Brunch buffet (May through October)

  3. Boyne City & Boyne Falls

    1. Beaches

      1. Sunset Park on Lake Charlevoix (dubbed one of Michigan’s most beautiful inland lakes)

      2. Young State Park - sandy Lake Charlevoix frontage for swimming, rolling terrain. Modern campground. Hiking, fishing, and cross country skiing.

    2. Hiking & Biking

      1. Whiting Park on Lake Charlevoix has over 4 miles of hiking trails, a campground, a public beach and a playground. 

    3. Activities

      1. Boyne Mountain Resort

        1. A full service ski and golf resort with mountain biking, swimming, hiking, ziplining, a spa, and family activities during the summer and snowshoeing, snow tubing, skiing, sleigh rides, and ice skating in the winter.

        2. SkyBridge Michigan - the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge. Ride Boyne Mountain’s Hemlock Chairlift to the top to walk SkyBridge Michigan, an exhilarating 1,200-foot long and 118-foot high pedestrian bridge. Ages 3-10 are $15, 11 and up are $25. 

        3. Avalanche Bay - Michigan’s largest indoor water park.

      2. Lavender Hill Farm - you can take a guided golf cart tour, explore the Lavender Labyrinth, visit the gift shop, and check out the various weekly activities. 

      3. Kiwidinok Farm to interact with yak, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, peacocks, ponies and other animals. 

      4. Boyne Valley Vineyards - they offer free snowshoes and trails to enjoy. They have 2 igloos that seat up to 6. In the summer explore the neighboring Postle Family Nature Preserve. 

      5. Check out Stroll the Streets - live music every Friday during the summer. 

    4. Dining

      1. Whi-Ski Inn for bourbon, bbq and beer

      2. Boyne River Grill

      3. Red Mesa Grill for Latin American dining

  4. Charlevoix

    1. Beaches (great for finding petoskey stones!)

      1. Michigan Beach

        1. The South Pier Lighthouse, or Charlevoix Lighthouse, overlooks Lake Michigan. You can access it from the pier downtown.

        2. White, sandy beach, playground, walking trails, concessions, restrooms, the lighthouse and beautiful sunsets. 

      2. North Point Nature Preserve - Reviewers say this place is a gem hidden in a residential subdivision. There’s a 1.5 mile loop trail, a disc golf course, and they say the beach is much nicer than Michigan Beach. The beach is a short walk over a small dune from the parking lot. The parking lot is small, and can fill up quickly. Looks beautiful and very quiet. No restrooms. This is next to Mt McSauba Recreation Area.

      3. Fisherman’s Island State Park 

        1. A 2,678-acre park with five miles of unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline.The park encompasses a tiny island, Fisherman's Island, currently not accessible because of high lake levels. There is a rustic campground nestled in the dunes (80 sites, vault toilets, hand pump water, some sites are very close to the beach - book 6 months out for these! Evidently you do hear the low hum of a nearby factory). Miles of hiking trails. 

        2. It’s popular for rock hunting, and the beach looks fairly rocky in most places.

      4. Ferry Beach on Lake Charlevoix

        1. Boat launch, playground, basketball court, restrooms with a swimming area that gradually deepens.

      5. Glenwood Beach on Lake Charlevoix

        1. Sandy beach, dock for boats, fairly secluded, 

      6. Depot Beach on Lake Charlevoix

        1. Visit the 100 year old train depot and garden area. It has a park and public restrooms, and gets great reviews.

    2. Water Activities

      1. Hoffman Park - overlooks the Pine River Channel. Watch the bascule drawbridge go up every half hour (when boats are present), and find the former drawbridge key in the park. 

      2. Take in a beautiful sunset on Sunshine Charters catamaran-style sailboats (you go on both Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix, morning, afternoon and sunset cruises daily) or watch the sunset at the South Pier Lighthouse.

      3. Paddle down the Jordan River. Choose a guided raft or rent canoes or kayaks.

        1. Rent kayaks, paddleboards, boats, or jet skis with Summertime Rentals or Charlevoix Adventure Company. 

      4. Jordan River - the largest tributary to Lake Charlevoix, it’s popular for fly fishing for trout, steelhead and salmon. The water stays cold (rarely above 60) all year. 

      5. Ironton Ferry operates across the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, 10 minute round trip, pedestrians are free.

      6. Beaver Island Boat Company - a 2 hour ferry ride takes you to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan where you can do a 1 ½ or 3 hour tour of Beaver Island, America’s Emerald Isle. See 2 lighthouses. 

    3. Outdoor Activities

      1. Mt McSauba

        1. A ski slope (rentals available, only tow ropes), ice skating rink, and sledding hill in the winter. It also has a 18 hole disc golf course and 0.7 miles of hiking trails and dunes to climb. The beach area is more remote and rustic. A favorite with locals. Looks gorgeous.

      2. Charles Ransom Nature Preserve

        1. The parking lot is the highest point (320 feet above Lake Michigan) and all trails go down from there. There are 1.5 miles of trails around the perimeter forming a loop. Great for finding trillium in the spring, wild blackberries and strawberries in the summer, and beautiful fall colors. Mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and hiking. 

      3. Farms

        1. Bolt’s Farm Market

        2. Royal Farms - wine garden, and lots of homemade treats. 

        3. Friske's Farm Market - a must-stop destination. Grab lunch or snacks, browse the General Store, and check out the Orchard Playland for the kids. 

        4. Hungry Ducks Farms - farm animals, trout fishing, museum, petting zoo, model trains, wristband for unlimited rides. 

        5. King Orchard - grows cherries and other fruits with a farm market available.

        6. Stonehedge Fiber Mill is a 157 year old working farm with a fiber shop, custom fiber processing mill, and with shepherds, spinners, and fiber artists. 

      4. Charlevoix Fountain of Youth - Interactive mode on the heated fountain is open for play from 10 am - 9 pm. Display mode from 9:30-11 pm with a choreographed music and light show on the half hour. 

    4. Activities

      1. Book a tandem skydive with Skydive Charlevoix. They specialize in first jumpers, making sure everyone is comfortable while creating exciting lifelong memories. While you soar over Charlevoix, you could see Beaver Island, Mackinac Island, Mackinac Bridge, and Lake Charlevoix. 

      2. Take a guided tour of Earl Young’s mushroom houses. This self-taught architect-designed houses out of large boulders and cedar shakes, creating whimsical designs.

      3. Stop by Castle Farms to view the restored historic buildings, majestic gardens, large model train collection, and countless historic exhibits. Check out their events calendar. Be sure to stop by 1918 Cellars to try a great selection of Michigan wine. 

      4. Explore the works of local artists, attend live performances, and see the museum and cultural attractions at the Circle of Arts, Harsha House Museum, and Public Library. 

      5. See the World’s Largest Cherry Pie Tin. Baked in 1976 for a cherry festival it won a world record. Now they have the tin pan on display. 

      6. Shop the charming downtown.

    5. Restaurants

      1. The Landing Restaurant - located at the entrance to the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix in what is known as the Ironton Narrows. Watch the Ironton Ferry and boats go by. 

      2. Horton Bay General Store - enjoy breakfast and lunch daily, a soda fountain, tapas on the weekends with a reservation. Made popular by Ernest Hemingway. 

      3. Bier’s Innwood Brewery - looks like a cool venue, live music, and pizza.

  5. Torch Lake

    1. The second largest lake in Michigan. Known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters. 

    2. Check out ClearWater Rentals for clear bottomed kayak rentals.

    3. It’s a very busy lake with pretty sand bars to hang out at. You can snorkel.

    4. Check out the Torch River area.

    5. Not very many public access points. Check out the Elks River Sandbar and Bellaire and Torch Lake Township.

  6. Leelanau State Park with the Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the very tip of the peninsula - more research coming!

  7. Gaylord (a centrally located more inland town with easy access to multiple Lake Michigan and Lake Huron destinations)

    1. Known for its Swiss architecture. The quaint Alpine village is very pedestrian friendly.

    2. Farmer’s Market every Saturday

    3. Lucky Clover Farm - a Lavender farm. You can schedule a visit. 

    4. Parks

      1. Elk Viewing in Gaylord, MI at Pigeon River Country State Forest is 20 minutes north of town. In town you can visit the City Elk Park. This area is home to one of the largest free-ranging elk herds east of the Mississippi. Go in late September or early October to hear the males bugle! 

      2. Aspen Park - 100 acres of woods, paved and unpaved trails, mountain biking trails, and tennis courts. 

      3. Claude Shannon Park - downtown park on Main Street.

      4. Groen Nature Preserve - a former lumber camp, it contains the remnants of a sawmill. The rolling terrain has hiking and a pristine lake. 

      5. Ostego Lake County Park - swimming, boating, fishing, campground.

      6. Ostego Lake State Park - swimming, boating, fishing, campground.

    5. Fishing - this area is known as “fishigan”

      1. There are 90 inland lakes in this county! A few local favorites are Dixon Lake, Big Chub Lake and Big Lake.

      2. Otsego Lake - 7 foot sturgeons, pike, perch, walleye, crappie, and bass. 

      3. Check out the lakes in the Pigeon River Country State Forest - many lakes are stocked annually with trout. 

        1. The State Forest is known for its seven unique sinkhole lakes. Aqua and turquoise on the surface (especially Section 4 Lake), these small forest lakes take a huge plunge in the center (some up to 60 feet in depth). They are popular for fishing, floating, and photography. 

      4. Headwaters for the Black, Sturgeon, Pigeon, Manistee and AuSable Rivers are all found in this county making it a trout fishing destination.

        1. The Sturgeon River is the fastest flowing river in the lower peninsula, making it a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking. 

      5. Check out Jay’s Sporting Goods south of town for bait and gear.

      6. White Pine Guide Service for a guided river trip in the area.

    6. Family Attractions

      1. Batter’s Box

      2. Call of the Wild Museum & Bavarian Falls Park - display of many Michigan animals that may have been trapped by fur trappers in the 1800s. Outside of the museum enjoy mini golf and go-karts.

      3. Fleming Farm

      4. Gaylord Area Council for the Arts

      5. Gaylord Bowling Center

      6. Gaylord Car

      7. Mulligans at the Bluff - golf simulator and pub food

      8. Ostego County Demonstration Garden

      9. Ostego County Historical Museum

      10. Prusakiewicz Farms for buying beef, pork, and goat. Lots of fun fall activities as well.

      11. The Farm at Legacy Acres for fall pumpkins, donuts, mums etc.

  8. Leland - more research coming!

  9. Glen Arbor 

    1. Beaches

      1. Beaches

        1. North Bar Lake - A short walk through the woods, walk around the edge of North Bar Lake next to the channel and then end up on Lake Michigan. We found several Petoskey stones here.

        2. Big and Little Glen Lake look beautiful with caribbean blue water

        3. Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes

    2. Activities

      1. Cute downtown to walk around. 

      2. Cherry Republic - shop the store, try all the samples, and get some ice cream!

    3. Dining

      1. Cherry Republic Restaurant

      2. Arts - pub food. Cash only.

  10. Empire

    1. Beaches

      1. Platte Beach - where the Platte River empties out is gorgeous. The warmer water in the channel from the river makes a great place for kids to play. We found several petoskey stones here. 

    2. Activities

      1. Riverside Canoes - You go through Loon Lake and end at Lake Michigan. If we did this again we would get kayaks - the river is pretty slow moving, so it’s a lot of work with a canoe! Your trip ends at Platte Beach.  

    3. Lodging 

      1. Platte River Campground - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) - is highly recommended by friends, but very difficult to get a spot. Friends recommended sites 449 or 451. 

  11. Frankfort - more research coming!

  12. Manistee 

    1. Beaches

      1. Fifth Avenue Beach - they have all the amenities and the lighthouse. It’s considered to be one of Manistee’s most beautiful beaches.

      2. First Street Beach/Douglas Park - a large park with all the amenities and a walkable pier. It says the waves can get big here. They also have a huge retro slide at the playground.

      3. Magoon Creek and Natural Area is south of town. More secluded, quiet. Has a restroom, but looks like a pretty narrow beach strip. There is a 1.5 mile hiking loop. Up on the bluff you can watch big freighters out on the water. It’s also a good place to search for Petoskey stones.

      4. North Beach Access - best for beach walking and pets. You can walk the beach for miles without seeing anyone. A big boardwalk with a lot of steps to get down to the beach. 

      5. Bar Lake Access - the website says due to high water levels there is no lake access at this time. 

      6. Portage Point Beach - situated in the rolling dunes of Portage Lake. Restrooms are available. Large beach. 

      7. Pierport Beach - a secluded beach with very little parking. Not much space between the grass/water for the beach, but it looks beautiful. 

    2. Activities

      1. Complete Guide to Manistee MI: 26 Best Things to Do for the Most Unforgettable Trip - grkids.com

      2. The town has a lot of Victorian era buildings, and a cool shopping area on River Street. Check out the Vogue Theatre.

      3. There are a lot of bridges, museums, breweries etc to tour. Also check out the cool old wooden playground at Lighthouse Park.

      4. The village of Okenama on Portage Lake offers shops and dining along with great waterfront parks throughout town. 

      5. The Manistee Riverwalk goes 1.75 miles from downtown along the river to Lake Michigan. 

      6. Orchard Beach Aviation - They offer airplane rides for $30/per person (2 person minimum)

      7. SS City of Milwaukee - Ship tour

      8. Pine River Rafting - class 1 rapids. You can kayak, canoe, or rent a raft.  Also in the area is PineRiver Paddlesports.

      9. G&D Alpaca Farm

      10. We Bee Jammin - a cute local honey shop

      11. Northern Natural Cider House and Winery

      12. Big M Recreation Area for 40 miles of mountain bike trails through the Manistee National Forest. 

    3. Natural Wonders Tour

      1. Tunnel of Trees- ½ mile stretch of beautiful willow trees. 

      2. Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary - 76 acre wildlife sanctuary home to 178 bird species, 2 Michigan Champion trees and the only Sequoia in Michigan (planted in 1938). There’s also a giant Sycamore Tree. You can also access Lake Michigan and go hiking.

      3. Glen Park Mineral Spring

      4. Artesian Wells - considered to produce some of the purest water in the country.

      5. Old Faceful - located at the end of Thirteen Mile Road. Like the Artesian Well it’s a spring fed artesian aquifer.  Fill up your water bottle and then enjoy a quiet walk on the beach.

      6. Arcadia Marsh - you can walk, canoe or kayak. Great birding. They have a cool boardwalk to go out on. 

      7. Gravity Hill - Putney Rd crosses Joyfield Rd between US 31 and M22. Travel south from Joyfield Rd and stop at a point 150 to 200 ft beyond the “Stop Ahead” sign on the east side of the road, then put your car in neutral. You will roll all the way back up the hill to the Blaine Christian Church.

      8. Old Baldy - the hike begins in the forest and ends on the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan. Make sure to stop at Arcadia Overlook - Inspiration Point. There are lots of hikes in the Arcadia Dunes, but Old Baldy is the most popular. 

    4. Dining

      1. Check out Papa Js for pizza, putt-putt, ice cream and kayak rentals

    5. Lodging

      1. The Portage Point Resort is the “baby sister” of The Grand Hotel. It’s all cottages and condos with each having its own kitchen.

      2. Orchard Beach State Park (recommended by a friend) - on a 100 foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan with 2 miles of hiking trails. Beautiful sunsets, the campground looks nice, there are electric sites, a bathhouse and dish washing station. Unfortunately there is no longer beach access due to erosion. A trolley tour will take you to Manistee. 

      3. Lake Michigan at Manistee Campground and the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area (recommended by friends).

        1. Huron-Manistee National Forests - Lake Michigan Recreation Area

        2. Friends recommend the Violet Loop for first come first served. You can walk further into the forest and camp for free, but then you have about a half mile walk to the bathroom. Hemlock Loop is also first come first served. Orchid Loop has flush toilets (no showers). Orchid and Oak are reservable. The loop closest to Lake Michigan is the one that will fill up the fastest. Reviewers say it is good for riding your bikes. The campground is totally quiet and secluded, not even too busy on weekends. Limited cell reception. There are water spigots, no electricity or showers.

        3. Dunes to climb, Porter creek to play in, trails to hike, Lake Michigan right there. It looks like the beach here will be very quiet and beautiful. There are also trails through the woods and a trailhead for the Nordhouse Dunes area. 

  13. Ludington

    1. Beaches

      1. Stearns Park Beach

        1. Jaycee’s Mini Golf

      2. See Ludington’s North Breakwater Light

      3. Ludington State Park

        1. Take the 2 mile hike to see the Big Sable Lighthouse (***Check Library Card MAP for discount) 

    2. Activities

      1. Watch the S.S. Badger Lake Michigan car ferry (4 hour trip) arrive/depart from Wisconsin at the Waterfront Park. Take a picture next to the silver sailboat sculpture and play at the playground. 

      2. Check out the Mason County Sculpture Trail

      3. Cartier Park - check out the cARTier Trail through the woods that features three 4x3 foot artworks displays.

      4. Sandcastles Children’s Museum

      5. The Baby Badger - kids can ride in the “cars” of the SS Badger. 

      6. Check out the Visit Ludington calendar of events for live music etc

      7. Canoe Trail along Hamlin Lake - it’s a great recreation lake, and see the sand dunes

Sandy pathway through lush grass leading to a distant hill under a clear blue sky.