The Best Small Towns In Michigan For A Weekend Retreat
Formally admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th State, Michigan is the sole state in the Upper American Midwest’s Great Lakes region that is bifurcated into two massive land segments: the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula and the mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula, besides being circumscribed by four of the five Great Lakes. Distinguished for its varied geography and blessed with unspoiled natural splendor, Michigan captivates travelers with its sugar-sand beaches, cobalt-blue lakes, colorful forests during fall, and unlimited recreation opportunities.
Although tourists flock in large numbers to the state’s crowded urban centers such as Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, etc., it is the charming small towns peppered across “The Great Lake State” that are ideal locales to spend a rejuvenating weekend.
Petoskey
The seat of government of Emmet County, Petoskey is one of the northernmost towns in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, situated along the Little Traverse Bay’s southern shores, about 70 miles northeast of Traverse City. Placed at the heart of the Midwest’s famous all-season resort area, the town is a sought-after vacation destination providing abundant interesting activities for holidayers. The adjoining Petoskey State Park is a popular spot for those who wish to hike and camp in this scenic area apart from connoisseurs of the valued Petoskey stones.
Petoskey’s historic Gaslight District is packed with landmark properties as well as a variety of independently owned boutiques, retail stores, art galleries, eateries such as Julienne Tomatoes and Palette Bistro, and accommodations like Stafford’s Perry Hotel and Hampton Inn & Suites Petoskey, is perfect for strolling, shopping, dining, and overnight staying. A short walk through a pedestrian tunnel will take one to any of Petoskey’s beautiful waterfront parks, while wine aficionados are especially drawn to the Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery and the Petoskey Farms Vineyard & Winery.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an acclaimed summer resort and tourist getaway in Northern Michigan’s Mackinac County, at the eastern tip of the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron. Vacationers visiting this historic town can travel back in time and survey the entire area on horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, or by foot as using motorized vehicles is not permitted here. The Mackinac Island State Park encompasses a significant portion of the island town and comprises the British-built Fort Mackinac aside from portions of the harbor and downtown area.
Countless landmark buildings, such as the Biddle House, Stuart House, Mission Point Historical Museum, McGulpin House, and Mission Church; retail shops, diners, and hotels like Bicycle Street Inn & Suites and Waterfront Collection fill the downtown. The town hosts multiple cultural events, such as the Lilac Festival, Epona & Barkus Parade, a yearly American art show at the Grand Hotel, the Feast of Epona, and the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival.
Charlevoix
Occupying a narrow strip of land betwixt Lake Michigan and the western end of Lake Charlevoix, this seat of Charlevoix County in Northern Michigan is located about 50 miles southwest of Mackinaw City. Named after a French Jesuit missionary and explorer, the community brands itself as “Charlevoix the Beautiful,” pertinently reflecting its conspicuous natural surroundings.
Charlevoix’s notable sites of interest include Earl Young-designed Hobbit Houses, Charlevoix Historical Society Harsha House Museum, Fisherman’s Island State Park, Castle Farms, Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, and Belvedere Golf Club. Find time to participate in any of the town’s special events, like Petunia Planting, Venetian Festival, Car Raffle, Apple Festival, and Art & Craft Show, while relaxing at either Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites or The Earl of Charlevoix on your vacations.
South Haven
Home to 3,964 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, South Haven extends across Allegan and Van Buren counties along the shores of Lake Michigan at the Black River’s mouth. Boasting immaculate sandy beaches, outlying parks, lighthouses, nature preserves, and a pleasant downtown chock-a-full of fanciful boutiques, shops, classy eateries, wineries, and hotels like Yelton Manor Boutique Hotel B&B, South Haven indeed has something for every taste.
When in town, the South Haven Lighthouse, the South Haven Center for the Arts, Michigan Maritime Museum, Michigan Flywheelers Museum, Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, Kal-Haven Trail, Scott Club, the Historical Association of South Haven at the Hartman School Building, and the adjacent Van Buren Trail State Park and the 400-acre Van Buren State Park are must-visits. Approximately 50,000 revelers head to South Haven on the second weekend of August to participate in the annual National Blueberry Festival.
Frankenmuth
A picture-perfect town in the southeastern corner of Saginaw County, Frankenmuth is roughly 90 miles north of Detroit and 75 miles northeast of Lansing. Originally settled by Lutheran evangelists hailing from the German State of Bavaria, the town’s German heritage is well reflected in the Franconian-style architecture of numerous landmark properties in the commercial district. For a tour through the old streets, travelers can either ride a horse-drawn carriage or book a PedAle Trolley and peruse the quirky Frankenmuth River Place shops and eateries.
Additionally, check out the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, Zehnder’s Holzbrücke covered bridge, and Silent Night Memorial Chapel; taste locally-made wines and brews at St. Julian Winery & Frankenmuth Brewery; savor delectable chicken dinners at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant; collect some souvenirs at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland; and enjoy your stay at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Frankenmuth. Yearly events such as the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, Frankenmuth SnowFest, Frankenmuth Dog Bowl & Balloons Over Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival, and Frankenmuth Fire Muster are held in the town.
Traverse City
Traverse City, Grand Traverse County’s administrative center, located at the southern extremity of Grand Traverse Bay and surrounded by four expansive townships, Elmwood, Garfield, East Bay, and Peninsula, forms a portion of the bigger Northern Michigan region. A celebrated all-season adventure mecca and a top destination for adrenaline junkies, Traverse City is known for its mixed culture, flourishing vineyards, shopping options, and local gastronomic delicacies. The town rightfully promotes itself as “The Cherry Capital (of the World)” due to its location just close to the Old Mission Peninsula AVA and the Leelanau Peninsula AVA, with over 50 vineyards and wineries surrounding it.
The City Opera House, Boardman River Nature Center, Clinch Park, Dennos Museum Center on the Northwestern Michigan College campus, the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Mission Point Lighthouse, and the neighboring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are some noteworthy sites of interest. Tourists can rest at Tamarack Lodge of Traverse City and find time to attend the town’s many festivals like the National Cherry Festival, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, and the Traverse City Film Festival.
Marquette
Marquette County’s seat and biggest city in Michigan’s forested Upper Peninsula, Marquette is situated on the shores of Lake Superior, approximately 65 miles north-northwest of Escanaba. Founded in 1849 and initially named “New Worcester,” the town was rechristened in honor of Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary and explorer of the Great Lakes region. One of Marquette’s most prominent attractions is Sugarloaf Mountain, which has an accessible hiking trail that provides panoramic views of Lake Superior.
Furthermore, outdoor lovers can take part in abundant recreational activities at the Presque Isle Park, camp at Marquette Tourist Park, use ice hockey facilities at Lakeview Arena, tour the Marquette Maritime Museum, Marquette Harbor Light, Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, and Marquette County History Museum, and unwind after a hectic day of explorations at Hampton Inn Marquette/Waterfront, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marquette.
Saugatuck
This Allegan County town is located on Lake Michigan’s southeastern shores, around 12 miles south of Holland and 45 miles from Grand Rapids. Primarily a lumber town and port on the Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck is a quintessential summer weekend getaway luring holidayers with its mind-blowing scenic beauty, cultural attractions, delicious cuisines, and an array of exciting activities.
The soft golden sands of the world-renowned Oval Beach, the comprehensive network of trails zigzagging through the coastal dunes of the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, the famed Saugatuck Chain Ferry transporting tourists across the Kalamazoo River, the scores of art galleries in Butler Street aptly reflecting the town’s eye-catching art scene, the Mount Baldhead Park offering dazzling vistas of the abutting region, the nearby Fenn Valley vineyards which produce a wide variety of premium wines, and upscale accommodations like The Saugatuck Retro Resort Motel and Best Western Plaza Hotel Saugatuck are all that draw holidayers to this peaceful lakeside town.
From the eccentric Mushroom houses of Charlevoix to Saugatuck - the most favored Michigan Art Coast retreat, each small town epitomizes the diverse beauty and cultural assets of the US’s 11th largest and 10th most-populous state. Whether you wish to chill out on the spotless beaches, explore the incredible surroundings, enjoy recreational activities, and be present at cultural events, look no further than these teeny towns for your weekend escapades in the Wolverine State.
