Nature preserve
Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve
3,927 acres of dunes, forest and grassland on Lake Michigan, with more than 15 miles of trails and an accessible path to a lake overlook.
Things to do
Things to do up north
Start with an activity, then find the places in this guide that suit it.
Beaches
Lake Michigan beaches, from busy town beaches beside a pier to long quiet stretches below the dunes.
Summer · 28 places
Boating
Harbors, channels and inland lakes for sailing, power boating and charter trips.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 6 places
Fishing
Great Lakes charters, river runs and quiet inland lakes, in open water and through the ice.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter · 10 places
Hiking
Dune trails, bluff overlooks and forest paths in state and national parkland.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 39 places
Biking
Paved rail trails and shoreline paths that link towns, beaches and viewpoints.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 26 places
Skiing
Downhill resorts and groomed cross-country trails when the snow comes.
Winter · 22 places
Snowmobiling
Groomed trail networks through the northern forests.
Winter · 3 places
Lighthouses
Pierhead lights, tall coastal towers and keepers' houses along the Lake Michigan shore.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 15 places
Scenic drives
Shoreline roads, peninsula loops and fall color routes.
Summer, Fall · 6 places
Parks
State parks, the national lakeshore and preserved land along the shore and inland.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter · 18 places
Shopping
Walkable downtowns with independent shops, galleries and markets.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter · 1 place
Family activities
Beaches, lighthouses, history sites and festivals that work for all ages.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter · 43 places
Paddling
Kayak and canoe trips on rivers, inland lakes and protected shoreline.
Summer, Fall · 8 places
History and heritage
Forts, maritime museums, lighthouses and historic downtowns.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 31 places
Arts and culture
Galleries, performing arts and art fairs in the towns along the shore.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter · 10 places
Food and drink
Farm markets, orchards, wineries and harvest festivals across the region.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Golf
Public and resort courses from the lakeshore bluffs to the inland hills.
Spring, Summer, Fall · 3 places
Featured attractions
Attraction
Arch Rock
A natural limestone arch on Mackinac Island's east side, 146 feet above the water. You can see it from the shore road or from the bluff above.
Lighthouse
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
An 1867 lighthouse, 112 feet tall and banded black and white, on the Lake Michigan shore in Ludington State Park. You reach it on a 1.8-mile walk or ride.
Historic site
Colonial Michilimackinac
Mackinaw City's 18th-century fort and fur trading village, rebuilt from historic maps and one of the longest-running archaeological digs in the country.
Attraction
Earl Young Mushroom Houses
Charlevoix's curving stone homes by self-taught builder Earl Young. They are private, so you see them from the street on a self-guided tour.
Historic site
Fort Mackinac
The fort on the bluff above Mackinac Island's harbor, founded by the British in 1780 and now a living history museum with fourteen restored buildings.
Lighthouse
Grand Haven South Pierhead Lights
Two red range lights on Grand Haven's south pier, joined by an elevated catwalk, marking the harbor entrance where the Grand River meets Lake Michigan.
State park
Grand Haven State Park
A 48-acre sand beach park where the Grand River meets Lake Michigan, with a swim beach, a modern campground and views of the pier lighthouses.
Trail
Little Traverse Wheelway
A paved, non-motorized trail along Little Traverse Bay linking Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs, much of it with open views of the water.