9 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Michigan You Should Visit
Michigan, the Great Lakes State with its Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, has you covered for all-season getaways from the city to its ambient small-town scene. With many lakeside beauties to choose from, you can immerse yourself in real blissful time spent with your loved ones while achieving R&R from life. Visit in the summer for all the Great Lakes fun, waterside recreation, and shoreline sunset strolls. The towns with historic hearts will delight your eyes with architecture galore of Victorianas housing marvelous surprises for your taste buds, including the little sweet teeth and something for the shopaholics in your gang. Come anytime for local culture on a trip to Germany in Frankenmuth or grace Mackinac Island for the greatest summer escape.
Cadillac
Cadillac, a beautiful small city on a scenic namesake lake with Lake Mitchell a few minutes away, is a must-visit for your water-fun-loving family. Take a stroll through the idyllic town enriched with numerous historic landmarks with feel-good pursuits inside the beautiful architecture, like the Cadillac Carnegie Library. Sightsee the Charles T. Mitchell House and Cobbs & Mitchell Building, and stop by the famous Shay Locomotive, with its big delights for the little train fans in your gang. Choose to dine at the top choice, Beatie's Bar & Grill, just one of Cadillac's many winners in the food department.
Come this winter to the Caberfae Ski Resort for skiing and a resort-style hotel over a magical holiday in town that achieves a special glow with its Greenwood Disciples of Christ Church under all the snow. With regular festivals like the Mesick Mushroom Fest, Festival of the Arts, Freedom Festival, and the popular Craft Beer Festival, there's always a reason for every taste to get excited about returning to soak up more of the small town charms in Cadillac. Try the Lakewood Grill or Burke's Waterfront for lakescape views, and grab a drink at the bustling Clam Lake Beer Company.
Charlevoix
Charlevoix is a real champ of sophistication, greeting curious new faces and loyal fans in northern Michigan with a fine mix of old charms and an elegant vibe for one little ambient town like no other. Enjoy lovely times with your loved ones on any season getaway from the city, particularly if you like practicing sports or cheering on athletic events. From spectating high school games or the BMX cyclists and rollerbladers frequenting the town's skate park to getting down (and squeaky clean) on skis in the winter, the staple town will have you calling it Charlevoix the Beautiful, just like the locals.
Not convinced yet? Just get a glimpse at all the beautiful landmarks, including the natural ones in the namesake lake, perfect for those water sports fans. Choose the beautiful Hotel Earl of Charlevoix for the best stay and dine in 50s Americana style at the popular Village Pub family eatery. The pristine Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore calls for strolls until you find the perfect lounging spot. Hop on a boat ride to Beaver Island for a dayful of wild ventures, while the Ironton Ferry connects Ironton to Boyne City for your onward travels.
Copper Harbor
Copper Harbor, with its rich natural attributes, offers a perfectly quiet getaway for every taste at the doors of Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. Exchange the city feel for the small town's old-timey atmosphere with modern attractions and nature like Lake Fanny Hooe and Rooks Memorial Nature Sanctuary. Grab a bite at Jamsen's Bakery and dinner at the Harbor Haus Restaurant or the Brockway Inn, a great stay to see more of the lovely town.
Enjoy summertime water pursuits and anytime shore strolls in serenity in between Copper Harbor's charming cultural destinations, like the nearly century-and-a-half-old one-room schoolhouse. Venture out from the marina on an open vessel ride to the beautiful lighthouse from 1849 with a museum inside, or visit in time for the 4th of July fireworks show, and you will be head over heels in love with the town. The friendly locals here are always willing to share a cold pint at Brickside Brewery!
Frankenmuth
The German crown jewel of Michigan, founded for its beloved location by the Germans, is a must-visit small town for architecture and culture fans. Take a stroll through Frankenmuth's Bavarian-style village, in the scenic embrace of many European vestiges and modern-themed attractions, for a feel unlike anywhere else in the country. The charming town with unique sights at each corner hosts big annual festivals with regular attendance among world travelers. Come anytime for the trendy mom-and-pop shops and some of the best Bavarian munchies on this side of the Atlantic to stumble on a cultural event in town that is always celebrating its vibrant history.
Frankenmuth is your perfect atypical vacation to visit Europe in your own backyard, with the same innate Michigan beauty you seek from a Midwest adventure. Take the Bavarian Belle Riverboat in the evening for unmatched water and town vistas along the best spots. Meander among all the architecture on a stroll to the Frankenmuth Aerial Park, a fun ropes course and zipline attraction that highlights a family vacation for the older kids. Seek your own playtime over downtime at Frankenmuth's top wineries, and don't forget its beer scene—a destination in itself on par with a real German town.
Harbor Springs
Harbor Springs' effortless beauty and natural attractions offer a family atmosphere on a friendly small-town escape from the sooted, snobby city. Enjoy easy access to this quaint harbor town of endless charms along the gorgeous shoreline on the North Shore of Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. With nature at your doorstep, explore some of Michigan's best natural features, like the area's few nature preserves and state parks. Venture the waterside in the summer to Zorn Park Beach for some love from the sun—hands down, the best place to take a load off.
Petoskey State Park is a real burst of color for a plethora of relaxing pursuits and adventures in summertime greenery along the golden shores, crashed by big, bright blue waves. Immerse yourself in bliss along its all-level trails to a real soothing melody for your soul at a sight easy on the eyes, and feel the stress melt away. When you get lulled to sleep by the waves in one of the lakeside cottages, you will feel like the luckiest person in the morning, so gamble away at the Odawa Casino. Return to work off the built-up energy in the winter wonderland of skiing at Nubs Nob Ski Resort, with unmatched runs and trails and a great place to stay with all the cozy comforts.
Hillsdale
Hillsdale, the largest city in Hillsdale County with just over 8,000 friendly locals, is a fun place to visit for the entire family, with cute attractions and some glorious Victoriana sights. Immerse yourself in the warm ambiance emanating from the architectural grandeur preserved since the 19th century. Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, offers its Slayton Arboretum and the Liberty Walk inside the campus, with statues to shake hands with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
Visit this fall for the best feel of the local lifestyle and fresh produce at the Hillsdale County Fair, and check out the hit of the town, the Historic Dawn Theater, after a tasty bite at El Cerrito Mexican Bar and Grill. Settle in one of the converted inns for a night in history and try the whole array of old-school eateries, like the adorable Sharon's House of Pancakes and the Finish Line Family Restaurant for dinner.
Ludington
This must-visit town on the coast of Lake Michigan bursts with friendly vibes and cute attractions for the whole family to enjoy in any season away from the city. Ludington's natural charms will fulfill all of your watery dreams this summer, including kayaking, biking, and canoeing, as well as rafting down the great Pere Marquette River for the brave. Enjoy fishing and swimming, as well as all-season scenic waterside strolls and picnics, complete with an old-school lighthouse for the best photo ops.
The bustling downtown scene makes Ludington a real Main Street destination with historical architecture and modern hotspots for all tastes. Spend an entire afternoon in the 19th century when you hit the Historic White Pine Village, with 30 historic buildings centered around the Mason County Courthouse from 1849. You can learn more about the coastal town's rich maritime past at the truly unique Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, housed in a former coast guard station.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is a longtime beloved destination for its remote feel and the most pristine nature in the state, thanks to the no-car atmosphere and impeccable conservation efforts. The small town of under 600 souls welcomes you with activities, eateries, and small-town charm like you wouldn't believe. Enjoy the removed vibe from the rest of the world with all the modern comforts that will keep you occupied, satisfied, and well-rested to explore everything around the magical island. The small town, with one big downtown scene, offers sites like Mission Point Museum, showcasing the history of Mackinac Island, as well as the state's oldest Mission Church.
Enjoy a scenic ferry ride to the island destination and walk, bike, hike, or maybe even take a horse-drawn carriage to explore and get some exercise you will surely love. In the summer, take out a vessel on the glistening surface of the crystal blue lake or stroll along the immense shoreline with unobscured water views, including the Round Island Lighthouse. With fewer tourists off-season, you can drool over all the notable sights without distraction and unmarred photo opportunities while exploring the remains of the beautiful preservation of Colonial forts or the Indian Dormitory. Grab the famed fudge from the many shops around before a stroll to Catholic Saint Anne Church or a round at the Wawashkamo Golf Club, Michigan's oldest.
Petoskey
Petoskey, the top-tier resort community on the scenic southern banks of the glistening Little Traverse Bay, is a little ray of sunshine in the state through every season. Visit for some real R&R, with something for everyone that is designed to make you return for more of the town's changing seasonal beauty. From spas to golf and sauntering the shoreline at sunset, Petoskey is a real paradise of feel-good pursuits to make all worries float away in your favorite way. Visit in the summer for activities and relaxation, from the boardwalk to taking on the whitewater rapids, which will recharge you for the game of life over time spent with your loved ones.
Enjoy the great outdoor hiking or take in the scenic bay views over a picnic while others kayak around the harbor. Find all this and more at the Bear River Valley Recreation Area, strewn with all-level hiking trails to various viewpoints, like the 1.5-mile path along the Bear River for strolls and bike rides, or tackle the steep bluffs. The town's famous sandy beaches are wonderful for sun-soaking and swimming, but if you missed the sunshine, come in the fall for the gorgeous autumn foliage that few others can compete with.
Choose a Michigan gem to bond oversights and activities, or take a relaxing couples getaway to be embraced in beauty from day to night through history, local culture, and nature, all working to make your trip unforgettable. These towns, with delights for all tastes and ages and a nearby lake, invite you to a warm ambiance of history. Find cute pursuits and attractions your whole family will love, with Instagrammable sights at each blissful corner. Strewn around the state, you can enjoy easy access to make memories in a vibrant atmosphere anytime, from sparkling waters with lighthouses to fall foliage and even skiing in the winter.
