Looking for a great place for a summer vacation? If so, then be sure to check out these places to visit in Northern Michigan.
We are just about a week past our trip to Northern Michigan now; however, I wanted to share some fun little things we did while we were on vacation in case you may be planning a trip to the same area. We visited Indian River, Michigan and stayed in a house right off the lake. The views were absolutely stunning, now the lack of air conditioning and bugs were another issue…but the view. Amazing!
We headed to Indian River to visit family there, but we also went sight seeing and enjoyed our trip checking out the area as well. We stayed on Burt Lake and it was beautiful. I’m still just amazing at how clear the lakes are. In Oklahoma, the lakes are so muddy, in Northern Michigan, you can see right to the bottom. They are crystal clear and actually many are shallow for several feet before dropping off, so the kids can play at the beach and are able to walk out on many of the lakes and stand up. That was something my kids really enjoyed. We loved being able to walk right out on the dock and be on the water. Now, of course it was SUPER cold…but our kids didn’t seem to mind.
Let’s get to some of the highlights plus things to do!
Places to Visit in Northern Michigan:
Visit the Lakes in Northern Michigan – This would be a given for us, be sure to take in the beautiful lakes. They have beautiful beaches, it honestly felt like we were at the ocean and not the lake because they were so clear.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park – Be sure to take one day to go across the Mighty Mac Bridge and visit the falls. These are in the Upper Peninsula and they are absolutely breathtaking. There are spots to sit and eat as well. We packed a lunch and ate at the park there. There is also a concessions and restaurant area at the Upper Falls.
Mackinac Island – Take the ferry across Lake Huron to this beautiful island. It’s full of history, shops, and so much fudge! They banned cars in the 1800s, so the only way to travel on the island is by bike, foot, or horse carriage. It’s so gorgeous and again that water is so clear and beautiful.
Visit Petoskey Area – This was my favorite town and it really reminded me of Gilmore Girls. I felt like I was in Stars Hollow. They have a beautiful town with lots of shops plus a gorgeous park that is right on the water. The kids loved it as did we!
Kayak or Canoe the River – My husband enjoyed a kayaking trip down the river, Sturgeon River. It’s a beautiful area that you can go down. The river does get swift so remember that, but it is a fun trip with beautiful scenery.
Chillermania – Chillermania is a book store owned by author, Jonathon Rand. He writes Michigan Chiller books and kids books. He is one of my son’s favorite author and this was the highlight of the whole trip for him. He LOVES to read and as we walked in, we were surprised to see the author himself walk in the back door right as we walked in the front. We ended up meeting him, his wife, and their dog, plus he was able to show Dakota books, sign them, and take a picture with him. He will be talking about this for a LONG time. It completely made his whole trip and probably year. We left and he told me he’s going to be an author someday too. It really wouldn’t surprise me either, he does love to read and write.
These are some of the highlights, we had such a great time and hope to visit again soon. Are you planning a vacation this summer? Where are you headed?
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