Why Petoskey Michigan Should Be On Your Summer Bucket List

Summer in Michigan is the place to be. Read why Petoskey Michigan should be on your summer bucket list. This is a great place to vacation in the midwest, and I’m sharing all the reasons why you need to travel to Petoskey! 

Why Petoskey Michigan Should Be On Your Summer Bucket List

Y’all know I have a thing for small towns. Being from the Mid-West, Michigan specifically, it’s time to talk about some of the small town vacations ideas located in the mitten. 

I’ve explored Petoskey over the last few years and loved the energy in this quaint, but fun Michigan town. If you’re looking for a vacation idea that not only provides good food, fun places to stay, and a fun place for the whole family, Petoskey should be on your summer bucket list. 

Here in Michigan the best time to travel around the state is in spring, summer and fall (in my opinion). During the winter months, you can find a ton of snow related activities, which Petoskey definitely covers, but summer and fall provide the best views (and weather). 

I’m going to share a few of my favorite things to do there, plus give you a few other totally cool reasons why Petoskey Michigan should be on your summer bucket list. 

Festivals galore! The Petoskey area has a ton of seasonal festivals happening in and around the area, especially in the warmer months. During one of my visit’s, the National Morel Mushroom Festival was in full swing.

Tons of FREE things to do! When you go on a vacation, you expect and budget to spend a certain amount of dollars. It’s always fun when you can find things to do for FREE! There are quite a few free things to do, and you can read about the 26 FREE things to do in Petoskey to help you plan your trip! 

Hunt for Petoskey Stones + beautiful beachy views. You can also hunt for the popular Petoskey Stones or take bucolic walks on any number of local beaches. Popular beachscapes include spots at or near Petoskey State Park and other beautiful shorelines in nearby Harbor Springs.

Wineries.  Yup for the couples (and Girl Weekend trips) looking to stroll around a few vineyards, you don’t have to go to Napa for this experience. Petoskey has twelve wineries and breweries to explore. You can find them all listed here. I tasted wine with maple syrup for the first time from the Maple Moon Winery. And I loved it. It was unique, and a delicious wine tasting experience and I highly recommend trying a glass or two.  And guess what? The Maple Moon Winery is the only winery in the world producing Maple Dessert Wine.

Retail Therapy. You can head downtown and wander down the aisles of Grandpa Shorters.  I loved Grandpa Shorters, if only because they sold me some of the best preserves EVER!! (And used them in my ham & cheese muffins!) I also got one of the best condiments on the planet, some maple syrup and not just any maple syrup but some highly prized Whiskey Maple Syrup from my new friends at the must drop Petoskey original American Spoon. You can also stroll through Petoskey’s Historic Gaslight District and browse the fares at antique and curio shops.  Did you know Smithsonian Magazine ranked Petoskey Number 6 on its list of 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013?

Visit of the best independent bookstores in the country. McLean & Eakin Booksellers is rated one of the top independent bookstores in the country. Let me tell you these people know books. They just don’t sell books. They are prolific readers who can make recommendations no matter what your literary predilections may be. And they are friendly too. Walking through the doors, I was greeted like a long lost family member. So if you’re into supporting independent Mom & Pop shop you can’t do much better than McLean & Eakin Booksellers.

Unique places to stay. If you’re looking for a spectacular, low-key, unique and off-the-beaten path place to stay, then the Elvyn Lea Lodge (right outside of Petoskey) is it. New owners, Monica and her husband Michael, operate this one-of-a-kind Northern Michigan Lodge year-round. As you walk in, you’re greeted with a big flickering fireplace and a striking hand-wrought antique Chandler overhead. Think mega-cozy plus impossibly homey. Around the fireplace, you’ll find a set of chairs that will beg you to sit, take a load off and stay awhile, which I was perfectly willing to do (and did). This is a great spot to begin your day (with a steaming hot (and potent) cup of coffee in hand, of course). Or sit stay awhile, unwind and relax after a long fun-filled day. The Elvyn Lea Lodge has a wonderful way of making you feel right at home.

Top resorts are found in Michigan! Boyne Mountain Resort, located in Boyne Falls, Michigan, is a fabulous Michigan resort. With a variety of different accommodations, you will find fun for the whole family. They offer zip lining, indoor and outdoor waterparks, spa treatments, a Starbucks, and more! They also have restaurants on-site, with breakfast buffets. Whether it’s just you and your main squeeze enjoying a romantic getaway, or a family with young kids looking for Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter fun Boyne Mountain Resort is perfectly perfect.

Unique experiences. Be sure to stop by The Annex. If you’re familiar with Ernest Hemingway, he spent a lot of time in Petoskey. The author spent his first 22 summers at the family vacation home on Walloon Lake – or Lovely Walloona, as his sister, Sunny called it.  The family cottage still overlooks this glistening lake, but is a private residence now, only rarely opened to the public. {source}

Foodie lovers will love it! The BEST rolls and I mean the BEST dinner rolls can be found at City Park Grill! OMG, they are totally the bomb.com I tried to get the recipe, but no such luck. I did learn the recipe calls for some top-secret ingredients. Other great places to eat are:

• Red Mesa Mexican Restaurant (located in Boyne City)
• Everett’s (Boyne Mountain Resort) Plus, breakfast is an all you can eat buffet and kids under 2 eat FREE!
• Beach House Restaurant (Boyne Mountain Resort)
• City Park Grill (Petoskey)- They have the BEST rolls EVER!!
• Barrel Back Restaurant (Wallon Lake)

And don’t forget to stop by Kilwin’s for delicious ice cream, other desserts, and Michigan fudge! 

In Petoskey, you will find fun for everyone. For the adventures, Petoskey offers hiking, biking, skiing, water sports and more. For families, Boyne Mountain offers a ton of activities to keep everyone happy. Couples will find romantic getaway ideas, fishing and water sports will be perfect for a guy’s trip, and up north will offer the perfect spot for a girl’s weekend. You can find more attractions and things to do by visiting Peoskeyarea.com.