We have some friends who are planning a trip to my favorite part of Michigan, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. I just typed a long email telling them all my favorite things up there and thought I'd post it for anyone else planning a trip. Follow the link for where to stay, where to eat, and what to do!
Where to Stay:
- If you're camping, stay at Magnus Park in Petoskey (231-347-1027). We like staying there because it has a beautiful view and a nice place to hang out and find Petoskey stones down by the water. I like it because it's an easy walk or bike ride to downtown or the marina. It's not real obvious, but there's a hike/bike trail that goes along the water.. and you get to it through Magnus Park. Keep following the road into the park and you'll see a hard packed trail begin in the back. Some parts are a little overgrown for taking a bike trailer, but it's bikeable or walkable and has terrific water views. You can take the trail all the way to Bay Harbor and even on to Charlevoix if you're up to it! Note: if you're tent camping, I don't recommend staying in the tent designated spots in the park because they are a little to close to the waste water treatment plant at the rear of the park. You won't notice it if you're staying in the camper spaces (where we always stay with our tent anyway), but you might if you're in the tent-only (no electric) area.
- When we're not camping, we stay at Stafford's Bayview Inn (awesome). It's an old hotel with comfortable rooms (several have fireplaces) and a nice library/tv/game/lounge room with wifi upstairs (right next to the Cherry Blossom Suite we stay in). Breakfast is included, and it is gourmet all the way. Highly recommended.
- We've also stayed at the Colonial Inn in Harbor Springs. The rooms are nice there, too, and they have muffins and orange juice for breakfast. The staff is Jamaican and it's kinda neat to hear their accents. The Colonial Inn is a short walk from the water and a longer walk to downtown (but not too far). This was our first pick to stay in the area until we found out about Stafford's Bayview Inn.
Where to Eat:
- Turkey's in Harbor Springs is a great pizza place. They have good sandwiches, too, but we think their pizza is the best. Neat cozy atmosphere. We make it a point to eat there once when we're in the area.
- We ALWAYS go to Tom's Mom's Cookies in Harbor Springs. Again, another place you can't miss. Fabulous cookies. Sooo good.
- American Spoon's Gelato Cafe in Petoskey has sandwiches, but is definitely a must-stop place for espresso drinks and gelato (Italian ice cream). Really. You have to go there. Wifi is available and it's right by Pennsylvania Park. M and I like to get their gelato and walk around the shops in town. Gelato Cafe is typically my work spot and favorite hangout when we're vacationing.
- If you find yourself driving north on Hwy 31 through Pellston, I can recommend the Pellston Market for exceptional sandwiches. See my previous post here.
- Take a drive up M-119 through the "tunnel of trees" (fall and winter are best times) and you'll drive through Good Hart where we like to stop at a little store (tiny) with a deli in the back for made-to-order sandwiches. We'll put together a picnic lunch there and then head to Wilderness State Park's beach area or on to Mackinac to eat. I don't know the name of the place.. but I think it's the only thing in Good Hart!
What to Do:
- ride bikes from Magnus Park to Petoskey State Park.
- ride bikes all over downtown Harbor Springs and past the summer cottages on the lake.
- walk around downtown Harbor Springs
- walk around downtown Petoskey
- play miniature golf at Pirate's Cove in Petoskey (nice place)
- take kiddos to playground at the marina in Petoskey
- picnic and swim at the downtown beach in Harbor Springs
- wade and search for Petoskey stones by the water in Magnus Park
- walk around shops in Charlevoix and picnic (30 mins south on Hwy 31)
- drive up M-119 to Wilderness State Park beach area
- if it rains, we like to go to Bay Harbor (10 mins south on Hwy 31) and walk around their partially covered shopping area. There's also a little arcade there where we like to play video games and race the remote controlled slot cars!
Those are pretty much our favorite things up there. We normally go for a whole week and will take a daytrip from there over to Traverse City and drive out to Old Mission Point lighthouse. Fun fun fun.
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