Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Petoskey, Michigan
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Visit the small town of Petoskey, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay, and feel as if you have stepped into a short story by Ernest Hemmingway. The town is captured in several of Hemmingway's Nick Adams stories, inspired by his childhood summers spent on nearby Walloon Lake. Petoskey is also famous for its high concentration of Petoskey stones, the state stone of Michigan. "Petoskey" is said to mean "where the light shines through the clouds" in the language of the Ottowa Indian tribe, the original inhabitants of the area. The Petoskey stone and the city were named after Chief Ignatius Petosega (1787-1885) who founded the community. With a population of only 6,000 people, the town's prime attraction is the beauty of its surrounding scenery.
Petoskey offers many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors from the waterfront. Take a nautical history boat tour of Little Traverse Bay and you will get a glimpse of the Victorian historic villages of Bay View, Wequetonsing, Harbor Springs and Harbor Point. Fishing charters are available on Little Traverse Bay to catch salmon and trout. Jet-skiing and water-skiing are also popular. Petoskey State Park, located on the north end of Little Traverse Bay, is situated on 304 scenic acres and offers a beautiful mile-long sandy beach, famed for its sunsets and plentiful Petoskey stones. There are playgrounds, picnic tables and grills for your enjoyment.
The area offers a number of paved and dirt trails for biking and hiking. A paved bicycle path passes near the state park linking Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Two hiking trails traverse Petoskey State Park. For an absolutely gorgeous view of the bay, take the Old Baldy Trail up Old Baldy, a stable sand dune that is one of the attractions in the park. The Portage Trail winds through very diverse terrain where you may find different species of plants and wildlife. In the winter, many of these trails become popular with cross-country skiers. The park has two campgrounds, with together almost 170 campsites.
Golf lovers, head to the Crooked Tree Golf Club, which is reminiscent of the seaside courses of the British Isles. The beautiful 18-hole, par 71 golf course features century-old pines and hardwoods and offers breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay. Spikeless shoes are required.
To learn more about Petoskey's heritage, visit the Little Traverse History Museum on Bay Front Park. A popular exhibit highlights Hemmingway's boyhood summers in northern Michigan. Learn about the special haunts and landmarks that the author later wrote about, view signed first editions and family pictures, and see the documentary narrated by his nephew, Ernest Hemingway Mainland. Another exhibit highlights other famous residents and events in Emmet County History, including Ephraim Shay, Chief Petoskey, Bay View, Boyne USA, Stanley Kellog and Bay Harbor.
Familiarize yourself with Petoskey with a driving tour, and stop to explore antique shops, historic homes and lighthouses, gardens and local state parks. During the fall season, take a fall color tour which includes hilly, forested countryside, charming resort towns nestled along the sparkling blue waters of Lake Michigan, breathtaking views, fresh air and colorful wildlife.
The historic Gaslight shopping district downtown has been providing a bustling shopping scene for more than 100 years, with independent shops, boutiques and galleries, all lit by century-old gas lights. Downtown Petoskey also features great views of Little Traverse Bay as well as fine dining. The Crooked Tree Arts Center, housed in a historic church on east Mitchell Street, features two art galleries where the works of local artists and traveling exhibits are displayed. There are several other art galleries in the area, including the Gaslight Gallery, which features over 200 local and national artists in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, glass, jewelry and furniture. The town also a 260-seat theater featuring concerts, recitals and the performing arts. For families with kids, the Jungle Family entertainment facility has a large arcade, fun center, and 18 holes of indoor adventure golfing.
Whether it's a burger and fries in an authentic 50s diner or an evening at a five-star restaurant, you have plenty of options to choose from in town. Many restaurants serve Michigan specialties such as planked Great Lakes whitefish, delicious morel mushrooms, world-famous Michigan cherries and heavenly fudge. Eateries around town offer seafood, meat, grill, Italian, Chinese, Polish and American. Families looking to keep the kids busy during dinner should consider the Big Boy Restaurant with an indoor mini golf course and arcade. For Michigan-grown produce, a visit to one or all of Petoskey's three Farmers Markets and cider mills is a must!
Petoskey offers everything in accommodations from historic inns to full-service resorts, as well as rental condominiums and quaint bed & breakfasts. Cabins in the woods and campgrounds are available to those who prefer not to leave Petoskey's great outdoors at night.
Petoskey is located in Northern Michigan, on the southeast shore of the Little Traverse Bay at the mouth of the Bear River. To arrive by car, U.S. 31 connects with M-66 in Charlevoix, 16 miles to the west. I-75 is 23 miles to the east, via M-68 off US 31. Northwest Airlines serves Pellston Regional Airport, in Pellston, Michigan, 20 miles from town.