Soak Up Summer at Pond Hill Farm

Pond Hill Farm may be tucked away in the hills of Harbor Springs, but it’s no secret to those who live in the area or those who come visiting year-round. An autumnal staple, what with its pumpkins, gourd-launching, and fall festival weekends, Pond Hill Farm is also a great stop during the summer season. And to prove it, my fiancé and I paid Pond Hill Farm a visit to soak up a bit of the fleeting summer.

The Scene

As you turn off M-119 and enter Pond Hill Farm property, you’re immediately met with an idyllic scene showcasing rolling hills, growing vines, blossoming produce fields, colorful flowers galore, and tons of blue sky, all ensconced by a beautiful treeline.

Structures include the main establishment, which houses the market store and cafe, a lovely old barn, animal enclosures, a fenced-off playground, dining pavilions, and the WaterWheel Stage—there’s a lot to see and do here!

The main entrance to all things Pond Hill Farm is a stunning archway surrounded by Alice-in-Wonderland-esque florals—vibrant with a touch of wild! It’s a great photo op spot, too—we were asked to take a family’s annual Pond Hill Farm photo, and they happily returned the favor.

After you cross that archway threshold, you’re in for a treat as you explore the farm’s down-to-earth, rustic vibe—the 238-acre property exudes intention and respect not only for the land and environment, but also for the experience offered on-site.

 

The Offerings

The Farm Market & Gift Shop is a great first and last stop during your farm visit. It sets the tone, shows you what’s available, what the farm produces, and which Michigan brands and small businesses the farm supports. Don’t we all love small businesses supporting other small businesses? Here, you’ll find gifts and souvenirs—mementos of Northern Michigan and Pond Hill Farm to take home—honey, wine, sweet and savory treats, and so much more.

The market even carries Crooked Tree Breadworks’ Addictive Granola, which completely lives up to its name, so I had to snag some for a future breakfast or late-night snack. Then, next to the market is a hoop house for growing produce, with U-Pick strawberries being the flavor of the day during our visit.

As you walk deeper into the farm compound, you’ll spy a large playground for kids to monkey around on, goats and donkeys to feed and pet, trails to traverse in the woods that lead to the trout pond, or a trail that heads upwards to the Vineyard Overlook.

The perfect spot to visit if you need to step away from all the activity, Vineyard Overlook does exactly as its name suggests—overlooks the vineyards that wrap around the front of Pond Hill Farm. The broader view is equally breathtaking, as the vista provides an uninterrupted look at the expansive green treetops beyond and the deep blues of Lake Michigan not too far off in the distance. And when you turn around, you get to see all of Pond Hill Farm below.

Back down the hill, under the large dining and event pavilion, you’ll find the WaterWheel Stage that hosts live music almost every day of the week while summer prevails. Everything from open mic nights and dueling pianos to folk, bluegrass, tribute bands, singer-songwriters, and more fills the late morning, afternoon, and evening performance slots, and early show times mean everyone can enjoy the music without bedtime intervening.

 

The Menu

Now, with all the activities to experience, you’ll definitely work up an appetite and a thirst during your farm visit, and fortunately, Pond Hill Farm can see to both of those needs.

Visitors can dine indoors in the cafe attached to the market, or order outside and pull up a chair or stool in their dining area of choice. Food options include fresh salads, handhelds like a chicken pesto panini or a parmesan-crusted grilled cheese, the popular pepper jelly and cream cheese appetizer, and a delectable array of stone-fired pizzas. We went the pizza route, choosing the Honey Badger and Just Peachy pizzas—both pies receiving top marks from us.

It’s worth noting that sometimes the wait for food can be kinda long, especially on busy weekends, so we recommend ordering early and grabbing a drink or a flight of beverages to sample while you walk around or enjoy a seat under the be-flowered dining area by the WaterWheel Stage.

As for beverages, we tried the summertime fan favorite blueberry cider, which was almost sold out when we placed our order! So, again, word to the wise: don’t delay in placing your orders; you may regret it. We also did two custom wine flights, trying an assortment of libations from sweet and fruity to dry and rich. After our late lunch, we ended up returning to the market to grab bottles of our two favorites: Woodland Nectar and Pond Hill White.

The fun part about doing a drink flight is that you can sample beer, wine, or cider, or a combination of all three, allowing you to curate your experience.

 

The Overall

From arrival to departure, our time at Pond Hill Farm was, as my fiancé would say, “like a movie;” fun, blissful, and coming full circle, as we started at the market and ended at the market.

The best part of the farm experience is that the property is not only family-friendly, but welcoming to everyone. We were surrounded by families, happy children, young couples, groups of students on summer vacation, and intergenerational groups—proving that Pond Hill Farm is a place where everyone can soak up summer, or any season for that matter. Here, in the rural hills of Harbor Springs, everyone gets to feel right at home. Plus, Pond Hill Farm is dog-friendly—can it get any better?

Whether you’re trying to cherish the last bit of summer or are planning for an early fall adventure, Pond Hill Farm is a spot to stop!

 

About the Author: Alex Dailey is a long-time Northern Michigan resident who happily calls Petoskey home. When she isn’t at her computer writing and editing, you can find her taste-testing craft cocktails, patronizing downtown shops (especially bookstores), and participating in as many local literary events as possible. She looks forward to sharing her Petoskey Area favorites with you!