Michigan is among the many premier outside locations of the Midwest, and whereas its famed Upper Peninsula — house to such gems as this picturesque national lakeshore and a scenic byway with waterfalls and verdant forests — will get a lot of the consideration, the Lower Peninsula can be a treasure trove of pure sights and funky cities. Once such spot is Petoskey, a settlement located on higher Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay. This pleasant little metropolis is surrounded by woods and water and acts as an ideal launch pad for exploring the unspoiled pure gems surrounding it.
Home to only underneath 6,000 folks (as of 2023) and 4 hours by automotive from Detroit International Airport, Petoskey radiates small-town attraction. It is known for its Gaslight Shopping District the place you will discover down-home eateries, galleries, boutiques, cafes, and extra. You also can take a look at different native sights such because the Bay View Victorian cottages and the scenic drive generally known as the Tunnel of Trees, together with a number of wineries that sit simply exterior of city.
Petoskey and the realm it calls house have lengthy been one of many Midwest’s hottest year-round resort areas. Visitors will discover loads of alternatives for biking, mountain climbing, paddling, and winter pursuits reminiscent of cross-country snowboarding. There is not any scarcity of issues to maintain you occupied in and round Petoskey, which is what has been bringing folks to the realm all of those years.
Soak up the old-school resort attraction of Petoskey
Petoskey grew as a lumber and limestone mining hub within the nineteenth century. Tourism additionally took off, and by 1900 the city boasted 14 resorts that slept as much as 2,000 folks an evening, in accordance with The Petoskey Chamber. The entire area turned identified for its trip properties, and author Ernest Hemingway’s household had a cottage on close by Lake Walloon the place he spent the summers of his youth. Hemingway even lived in Petoskey through the winter of 1919 to 1920. He primarily based his early brief tales in Michigan, and his novel “Torrents of Spring” was set on the town.
Any go to to Petoskey ought to begin off by seeing the Bay View Victorian cottages. This neighborhood of almost 500 stately Victorian trip properties dates again to the nineteenth century and gives glorious views of Little Traverse Bay. To expertise the neighborhood like a seasonal “resorter,” test in to the Terrace Inn or the Stafford’s Bay View Inn, which may have you feeling as in case you’ve stepped again in time. Also, be sure to drive by means of the Tunnel of Trees. Starting in neighboring Harbor Springs, this 20-mile scenic byway winds alongside the shore of Lake Michigan and takes you thru a stupendous cover of leafy arbors, ending within the hamlet of Cross Village.
Petoskey’s historic Gaslight Shopping District is likely one of the city’s key sights as effectively. Home to over 170 outlets and eating places, there actually is one thing for everybody right here. When it comes time to eat, sit down at Chandler’s, which options glossy, European-style dishes and an expansive wine listing, or dig right into a steak or burger on the City Park Grill. Palette Bistro serves up Mediterranean-inspired fare with bay views, whereas Spring and Porter, situated barely west, could also be one of the best joint on the town, combining the artistry of New American dishes with expertly crafted cocktails.
Dive into Petoskey’s nice outside
Petoskey has been drawing vacationers because the late 1800s because of its idyllic location, the place the waters of the Great Lakes meet the woodsy shores of northern Michigan. For two-wheel exploration, leap on a motorcycle and cruise alongside the Little Traverse Wheelway. This 26-mile paved path takes cyclists by means of the postcard-perfect cities of Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Bay Harbor, and Charlevoix. The North Western State Trail is a 32-mile route which follows an outdated rail line linking Petoskey to Mackinaw City, and the realm’s ski resorts additionally characteristic miles of mountain bike paths that may scratch your itch for downhill velocity.
If mountain climbing is your factor, head to Bay View Woods, which gives 3 miles of forested trails, or take a chew out of the native stretch of the North Country Trail, the 4,700-mile route that stretches from North Dakota to Vermont. Canoers and kayakers will discover loads of spots to paddle round Petoskey, together with the glowing blue waters of Little Traverse Bay and Crooked Lake, in addition to close by Walloon Lake and Lake Charlevoix.
Winter can be a perfect time to go to Petoskey. The space is house to a few downhill ski areas — Boyne Mountain, Nub’s Nob, and The Highlands — in addition to loads of groomed trails excellent for cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing, and fats tire biking. When the lakes freeze over, it is also attainable to attempt your hand within the time-honored Midwestern custom of ice fishing. Just be sure to test with the native bait and deal with outlets relating to security situations. For extra of Michigan’s outside magic, take a look at its best trails for waterfalls, scenic views, and outdoor fun.