Northern Michigan, and the Petoskey Area in particular, is rife with quaint downtowns and districts, ideal for shopping, dining, experiencing the local culture, and more! Fun to explore year-round—there’s always something to check out or do regardless of the season—the Petoskey Area downtowns are all worth an afternoon stroll, but longer explorations are recommended.
Below, please enjoy this brief yet insightful guide to area downtowns; surely one or two descriptions will pique a traveler’s interest!
Petoskey
Lined with unique shops, historical plaques, and establishments providing various cuisines, Downtown Petoskey is the place you’ll find live music, year-round activities, and treasures galore.
Shopping: The roughly eight blocks of this downtown are home to a diverse array of shops and boutiques, including two book establishments, McLean & Eakin Booksellers and The Archives used bookstore; gift shops like Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, Flora Bae Home, and Rocking Horse Toy Company; clothing and footwear stores, Bearcub Outfitters, Dave’s Boot Shop, Glik’s (one for men and one for women), and Momentum, where you’ll find great t-shirts and sweatshirts; and art several galleries, Somebody’s Gallery, Crooked Tree Arts Center, and NorthGoods. There is also the very popular Meyer Ace Hardware that carries just about everything you’d need, from batteries and bug spray to glassware and souvenirs.
Dining: Downtown eateries range from those specializing in American fare—something for everyone—to those focusing on specific dishes and cultures. City Park Grill and The Noggin Room (situated in the basement of the historic Hotel Perry) offer broad menus, including soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as burgers, fish, and steak. Thai Orchid offers delicious Asian dishes for lunch and dinner; Leto’s Osteria highlights Italian cuisine, especially housemade pasta; and The Front Bar is the place to get high-class hoagies. Three popular coffee spots include Roast & Toast, North Perk Coffee, and The Grove, each with its own fresh vibe and food menu. Fun bar scenes to visit include Malted Vinyl, where records line the walls and patrons can select the tunes, and Gypsy Spirits Tasting Room, featuring locally made spirits and live music.
Historic Relevance: Known for the Bay View Association’s beautiful Victorian homes, Petoskey is the home of Michigan’s state stone (the Petoskey Stone) and the land of million-dollar sunsets. Literary great Ernest Hemingway visited the area regularly in his youth and young adulthood, even setting his first novel, Torrents of Spring, in Petoskey, and there’s a self-guided Hemingway tour visitors can take. Petoskey has been a popular resort town and vacation destination since the late 1800s, and the downtown district—the Gaslight District—is a beauty that people love to roam.
Specific Events Not To Miss: Art in the Park (July), Summer Sidewalk Sales (July), Movies in the Park (Summer), Concerts in the Park (Summer), Winter Open House (December), and the Winter Wonderland Weekend (February).
Bay Harbor
Lit by string lights year-round, Bay Harbor’s downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment experience feels magical under the warm glow and with Lake Michigan’s blues in sight.
Shopping: One straight street that ends in a marina, you can’t get lost in Bay Harbor’s downtown. With an emphasis on retail: Mens on Main, Rebecca’s (women’s clothing), Rebecca’s Shoes, and Sadie Rose Boutique; and art and home décor: Chatham House Lifestyle Gallery, Torch Lake Gallery, and Amy Art Gallery & Studio, featuring the work of nationally-known artist Amy Moglia Heuerman, this downtown strip is all about helping you and your home look good.
Dining: As for dining establishments, breakfast at Maple + Batter is always delicious with its specialty pancakes and decadent menu, while Salvatore’s Market and Oven provides great snacks, drinks, and grab-and-go deli options. A fun option for dinner is Brandy’s Harbortown, where you’ll find four different restaurants in one! It’s got a food court vibe, plus live music and an outdoor bar for the summer months. For a nice wine tasting, check out Sip Wine Shop, but if spirits are more your style, Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge across the street is the place for you.
Historic Relevance: Founded in 1993 by David V. Johnson, Bay Harbor has flourished in its more than 30-year existence. After a century-plus of mining operations and a cement plant, this five-mile stretch of shoreline received an environmentally friendly facelift thanks to committed developers who saw its potential. Bay Harbor is now one of the most luxurious residential communities on earth, with 32 unique neighborhoods built to nurture future generations and the nature surrounding them.
Specific Events: Great Lakes Center for the Arts (year-round performing arts), Fourth of July fireworks (July 3), Bay Harbor Arts Festival (July), Balloons over Bay Harbor (September), and Trunk-r-Treat (October)
Harbor Springs
With a rich resort-town history, Harbor Springs prides itself on maintaining old-time charm while embracing modernity with new businesses set beside historic sites, combining commerce and character in one quaint downtown.
Shopping: For a small downtown, Harbor Springs offers visitors great retail boutiques, such as Dressed Boutique, Ivy Boutique, HUZZA, The Outfitter of Harbor Springs, Harbor Wear, L’Esprit + Elle, Rocking Horse Toy Company, Between the Covers bookstore, Elizabeth Blair Fine Pearls, HANNI Gallery for locally made souvenirs and gifts, Little Traverse Tileworks, Boyer Glassworks, and more. A local favorite is Kelbel Pharmacy, where you’ll easily find healthcare and convenience items.
Dining: Restaurants patrons continually rave about are The Pier Restaurant and The New York—both present classic yet unique atmospheres and consistently good food. The place for brunch is Small Batch at the Cupola, but you’ll want to show up early to snag a table, especially during the peak summer months. Other popular locations are Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe for coffee, Johan’s Pastry Shop for donuts, bagels, and other goodies, Turkey’s Cafe & Pizzeria for pizza, breakfast, and lunch, Tom’s Mom’s Cookies for, well, cookies, and Gurney’s Bottle Shop for the Harbor Springs classic grab-and-go sandwiches (cash-only and NO tomatoes) made on homemade thick slices of bread and hefty portions for a great price, as well as wine, beer, and liquor.
Outdoor Fun & More Sites: As mentioned, Harbor Springs is located on Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay and is lucky to have a public beach at Zorn Park City Beach. Zorn is home to a small sandy beach, picnic tables, a large drinking fountain, a playground, a small bathhouse with bathroom and outdoor showers/spickets for rinsing. Marina Park is also a great little spot for a picnic to watch the hustle of the boaters in the summer months.
Historic Relevance: The downtown of Harbor Springs overlooks the deepest natural harbor on the Great Lakes and has been an ever-desirable resort destination for nearly 150 years. In the late 19th century, Harbor Springs was the premier destination for escaping the oppressive summer heat in cities, with people flocking to the iconic Harbor Pointe and Wequetonsing communities, which are still active today with second homeowners. Historic Colonial Inn has been offering a small town retreat for over 130 years and is just steps from Lake Michigan.
Specific Events: Friday Night Music in the Park (Summer), Street Musique (July & August), Ugotta Regotta (July), Shay Days (July), Annual Car Festival (August), Harbor Springs Festival of the Book (September)
Boyne City
Beautiful and thriving, Boyne City’s downtown offers great views of Lake Charlevoix, ample green space to spread out, and enough unique dining and shopping establishments to keep you busy during your visit, plus this downtown is known for its active event calendar.
Shopping: Downtown Boyne City has something for everyone: Lake Street Market for the foodies; Forgotten Treasures for the thrifters; Peninsula for those wanting some Northern Michigan merch; For Fun’s Sake for the kids and young at heart; Fibershed Yarn & Fiber Arts for the textile creatives; Freshwater Gallery for artists and art appreciators; Inspired Living for those with and seeking positive energy; and Boyne City Hardware for all the fixers and project-doers!
Dining: Start your day out with coffee from Beani’s Coffee Lounge or Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company, and grab a pastry or crepe from Gildas’ Lake Street Bakery. For lunch, Stigg’s Brewery & Kitchen or Lake Street Pub are solid options, featuring burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more. Then, when dinnertime rolls around, stop by Cafe Santé for delicious European cuisine or Provisions Wine Lounge for amazing small plates, entrees, wine, and fun cocktails. And if cocktails are your thing, next door to Provisions, you’ll find Muskrat Distilling, a spot known for its modern twist on pre-Prohibition cocktails.
Historic Relevance: A 19th-century logging boomtown, Boyne City is known for its beautifully preserved early 20th-century downtown, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, Boyne City was also one of the first four Michigan Main Street communities selected, a designation that helped revitalize its historic downtown.
Specific Events: National Morel Mushroom Festival (May), Stroll the Streets (Summer), Evenings at the Gazebo (Summer), Boyne Thunder Poker Run (July), Boyne City Fourth of July Festival (July), Pirate Fest (August)
Alanson
Alanson’s small downtown is on the Crooked River and is home to Sanctuary Island Park, a grassy wetland traversable by boardwalk, as well as a handful of shopping and dining options.
Shopping: Downtown Alanson offers utilitarian and outdoor goods at W.W. Fairbairn & Sons Hardware and Spanky’s Powersports, and an antique store called Happymess for those on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind piece for home or as a gift.
Dining: A recent addition to the Alanson food scene is Crooked River Coffee, housed in a bright-pink, renovated structure. The delicious coffee, baked goods, and kind customer service are a great way to start the day. Then there’s Bob’s Place, a classic stop for American-fare lunch or dinner, and the Jerk-N-Depot, featuring wings, pizzas, and burgers. The Dutch Oven Bakery makes all its baked goods from scratch and serves cafe items, and The Postal Market provides sandwiches, wraps, paninis, and salads, perfect for lunchtime.
Historic Relevance: A former logging town, the village of Alanson features a historic swing bridge from 1901 and is known as the “Gateway to the Inland Waterway” from its seat on the Crooked River.
Specific Events: Community Outdoor Art Fair (Spring), Annual 4th of July Parade, Alanson Hillside Garden Holiday Light Display (December)
Now that you’ve learned the high points of each of these Petoskey Area downtowns, go out and enjoy them—see what this region’s downtowns are all about!