Summer up north

Summer is when most visitors come up north, and it is easy to see why: long evenings on the beach, boats in every harbor and a festival on most weekends somewhere along the shore.

It suits families, boaters and anyone who wants the full lake-town experience. The tradeoff is company. Beaches, trailheads and rooms fill on July weekends, so book early and start your beach days early.

Lake Michigan beaches

Many harbor towns have a beach close to downtown. In Traverse City, Clinch Park lists lifeguards in summer and a splash pad, while East Bay Park has shallower, warmer water. Grand Haven pairs its state park beach with a walk out the south pier and Musical Fountain shows every night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. In Ludington, swim at Stearns Park Beach in town or at the state park, which has both Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake.

Further north, Petoskey State Park has a mile of sandy beach, Charlevoix has Michigan Beach by the pier, and Zorn Park Beach in Harbor Springs has a floating raft.

Calmer inland water

When Lake Michigan is rough or cold, head inland. The village beach in Beulah on Crystal Lake has a marked swimming area with a sandy bottom. On Lake Charlevoix, Young State Park near Boyne City has a beach, and Ferry Beach in Charlevoix suits small kids.

Dunes and lighthouses

At Sleeping Bear, the Heritage Trail runs from Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb. The sand is loose and the terrain is disorienting, and rangers search for late-running groups every summer, so leave yourself time to get back. In Ludington, Lakeshore Keepers opens the area’s lighthouses for tower climbs; Point Betsie Lighthouse near Frankfort runs museum and tower tours in season; and the Muskegon South Pierhead Light is open for tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Manistee North Pierhead Light is closed for 2026, with a reopening listed for May 21, 2027.

On the water

For boaters, the boating section covers harbors, transient slips and the rules. Paddlers have easy options: the Platte River is a clear, shallow float through Sleeping Bear to Platte Bay (crowded from late June through August), the White River near Hesperia has liveries in Montague, and the lower Boyne River takes you down to Lake Charlevoix.

Summer festivals

• Mackinac Island Lilac Festival: ten days in June, timed to the bloom, ending with a horse-drawn Grand Parade.
• Manistee National Forest Festival: Manistee’s Fourth of July, with a parade, a lumberjack show and fireworks over Lake Michigan.
• National Cherry Festival: a week in early July in Traverse City, with concerts, parades, an air show and free family events. Cherry season starts in July and can run into August.
• Charlevoix Venetian Festival: a July evening boat parade and fireworks over the harbor.
• Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival: a summer festival honoring the Coast Guard, with waterfront mainstage events.

Between the big weekends, the Interlochen Arts Festival brings summer performances to Kresge Auditorium in Interlochen, Bay View has its music festival and Sunday vesper concerts, Arcadia Daze fills Finch Park in late July, and Mackinaw City hosts a free summer concert series at Conkling Heritage Park.

Trails and ski hills in summer

Bike the Little Traverse Wheelway, the Leelanau Trail or the Hart-Montague Trail through orchard country. The ski resorts stay busy too: Crystal Mountain has singletrack and golf, and Boyne Mountain has SkyBridge Michigan. For golf, see our golf guide.

Visitor preparation tips

• Book early for festival weeks. Lodging near major festivals fills well ahead. Check confirmed dates on our events calendar before you book.
• Respect Lake Michigan. Waves and currents, especially near piers and breakwalls, can be dangerous even on sunny days. Check local beach conditions and posted warnings, and stay off piers in high waves.
• Plan parking and passes. Michigan state parks require a Recreation Passport for vehicles, and national park sites have their own entrance passes. Popular beaches and trailheads fill early on summer weekends.
• Bring bug spray and sun protection. Both are useful on the dunes and in the woods.