16 Best Things to Do in Petoskey, MI

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Petoskey State Park, is a 33-acre park located on the north side of Little Traverse Bay, near Petoskey, Michigan. It is a popular weekend destination for its lovely sandy beach, hiking trails, restrooms, picnic facilities, biking on interior roads, sand volleyball courts and a kids’ playground. In the winter, there is one mile long cross country skiing trail. Kayaks, bikes and paddleboards are available for rent. There is a concession stand during the summer.. The park has two modern campgrounds. Tannery Creek Campground has 100 campsites with all modern facilities. Dunes Campground has 80 campsites and some campsites have 50 amp service.

2475 M-119, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-2311

© Mackinaw Trail Winery

Mackinaw Trail Winery is a family owned business founded in 2004, producing great wines from their own vineyard. One of the major wineries in the area, Mackinaw Trail Winery owns state of the art production facility in Petoskey, Michigan. Owned and operated by Ralph and Laurie Stabile, the winery is surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful rolling hills which are planted with 15 acres of wine grapes. After ten years of operation Mackinaw Trail is one of the most awarded and recognized winery in Michigan. They have four tasting rooms in Michigan, Because of its beautiful location and a charming event pavilion, the winery is a popular destination for weddings and other large celebrations.

3423 US-131, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-487-1910

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Odawa Casino Resort is located in Resort Township, on a hilltop overlooking the city of Petoskey and Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The casino opened for business in 2007 and is owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. In addition to gaming, Odawa Casino Resort includes a number of restaurants, retail shops, a concert venue Ovation Hall, The O Zone Nightclub and Rendezvous, a huge circular lounge and bar in the middle of the 50.000 square feet gaming floor. The resort hotel rooms are beautifully decorated in warm colors and all have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers and free WiFi. The guests enjoy an indoor pool, a hot tub, a cozy breakfast room and a rustic, comfortable lounge area with a stone fireplace.

1760 Lears Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 877-442-6464

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Bear River Valley Recreation Area is a 36-acre scenic area along the banks of Bear River, in the heart of Petoskey, Michigan. The area is famous for its quarter mile long whitewater course, the only one of the kind in the Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The park features a number of trails, boardwalks and a 1.5 mile long path along the Bear River. Birding is also very popular, as well as snowshoeing in the winter. There are a few pedestrian observation decks and restrooms. The Bear River has more falls than any other river in the lower peninsula. Dense forest and open spaces are rich in plants and local history.

302 Ione St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-2500

© Crooked Tree Arts Center

Crooked Tree Arts Center was founded in 1971 in Petoskey, Michigan, under the name Crooked Tree Arts Council. Its goal is to encourage and support artistic activities for residents of Charlevoix and Emmet counties. The Center has four galleries, a dance studio, a theater, classrooms for classes in arts, dance and music, a culinary arts kitchen and more. The art galleries are free and open to the public. The name Crooked Tree comes from the local landmark important to the indigenous peoples of Northern Michigan. The hope of the founding members of the Center was that the center would also become a gathering place for those within the community interested in the arts and would also become a local landmark, this time for the arts in Northern Michigan.

461 E Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-4337

© Walloon Lake Winery

Walloon Lake Winery is one of Emmet Counties’ newest wineries. It is located on Dennis Farms, a family farm located just outside Petoskey, Michigan, in Resort Township, less than one mile from beautiful Walloon Lake. This modern winery is focused on creating the high quality wines made from cold-hardy grape varieties. The winery production facility and tasting room are surrounded by 36 acres of rolling hills, with about five acres planted with hardy Marquette grapes. The first Marquette grapes were planted in 2013. The winery is a perfect spot for weddings and other big social events and celebrations, with a covered pavilion, room in the winery and back patio.

3149 Intertown Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-622-8645

© Maple Moon Sugarbush Winery

Located on 80 acres near Petoskey Michigan, Maple Moon is the only maple winery in the States. This family farm is nestled on the edge of the mature sugar maple grove, and it offers a true “up north” atmosphere in a beautiful setting unlike any other winery. The wines are fermented with the sugars in the maple syrup and the product varies from semi dry to sweet. These intriguing original wines are complex but surprisingly smooth and are receiving rave reviews. There are currently nine vintages of wine and a maple ginger hard cider. The farm offers free tours every day when they are open. Visitors can learn how maple syrup gets converted from maple taps to a table and can purchase farm’s other products - maple syrup, maple cream, maple candy, honey, jam, salsa and sauces. Maple production happens most of March and April. The rest of the year visitors can enjoy nature walks, snowshoeing, educational tours, bonfires and wine tasting. The farm is only closed in January.

4454 Atkins Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-487-9058

© Bay View Association

The Bay View Association is an unincorporated resort seasonal community with residence limited to May through October. Many current cottage owners represent the third and forth generations of their families. It is located outside Petoskey, Michigan, on the shore of Little Traverse Bay. Bay View was founded in 1875 by Michigan Methodists to serve as a camp meeting “for scientific and intellectual culture, and for the promotion of the Christian religion and morality.” The Bay View community consist of about 440 cottages and 30 community-owned buildings. There are two hotels - Stafford's Bay View Inn established in 1886, and The Terrace Inn. There is also a post office, beach with a swim area, children's pool and a sail house. Bay View Music Festival held every year is the longest reigning music festival in the States. Festival students come from all 50 states and many foreign countries.

1715 Encampment Ave., P.O. Box 583, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-6225

© Bills Farm Market

Bill’s Farm Market is a neighborhood farmers market in Petoskey, Michigan, providing locals with fresh, home-grown goodness for the last 100 years. Bill’s Farm Market is located about four miles east of the water’s edge, on US 31. The farm was owned and operated by McMaster’s family, started by Bill’s great grandfather, who emigrated here from Germany. The market provides colorful, fragrant fresh-picked flowers daily, locally grown, seasonal produce, handmade jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, marmalades, fresh herbs, wreaths, swags, trees, garland and greenery. In the summer, Bill’s famous sweet corn, potatoes and tomatoes are available. As the days grow shorter, pumpkins and squash are ready to be picked up. When the snow falls, the farm looks like a romantic postcard with a Christmas tree and wreath farm.

4450 E Mitchell Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-6735

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McCune Nature Preserve is a 168-acre area located east of Petoskey in Emmet County, Michigan. The property was originally homesteaded by Allan Purchis. It was donated in 1984 to the Little Traverse Conservancy by Allan and Virginia McCune. Most of the land is covered by harwood forests but McCune also includes plantations of red pine, open meadows and cedar swamps. The preserve’s most important feature is its 3,400 feet of Minnehaha Creek. A network of 2.4 miles of trails winds through the preserve in three loops. The trails are easy to follow and are well-marked. Many of them are former tracks cut by loggers, In the winter they are perfect for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, d but are not groomed. The parking area is plowed but keep in mind that the entrance is on a slope and can be slippery at times.

McCune Nature Trail, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-0991

© Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Great Lakes Center for the Arts has a mission “to inspire, entertain, and educate through the performing arts with year-round, world-class performances, affordable ticket pricing and robust educational programming, and to serve as a cultural and social hub for Northern Michigan.” Since it was opened in 2018 in Petoskey, Michigan, the Center fulfilled its purpose. It offers year-round events that include music, dance, movies, theater, film, intellectual dialogue and education. It became a regional and national performing arts destination. The Center’s building is an architectural landmark designed by renowned theater designers Fisher Dachs Associates and architects TowerPinkster. The Center includes an intimate 527-seat theater with a large stage and state-of-the-art features, the Community Engagement Room, Main Level Patio, Rooftop Terrace and Donor Lounge.

800 Bay Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor, MI 49770, Phone: 231-439-2600

© Somebody's Gallery

Somebody’s gallery is an art gallery located in the heart of Petoskey's Gaslight District, The Gallery showcases unique and innovative artworks from all over Michigan and tries to help the artists to reach their full potentials. There is something for everyone: beautiful paintings, handmade furniture, jewelry, sculptures, and all kinds of objects to make life a bit more inspired. The gallery organizes a variety of special events such as art and craft classes, art demonstrations, live music, extended hours for events in downtown Petoskey, and many other art-related happenings. The idea is to create a place where people come not only to look at art - but also to participate in it.

302 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-881-4745

© Petoskey Brewing

Petoskey Brewing is a Michigan microbrewery located between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, Michigan. The brewery occupies the 1898 building known as the “Old Brewery” that used to brew Petoskey Sparkle beer until 1915. After brewery closing in 1915, the building was used as retail shops, as warehousing and possibly even as a goat barn. In 2012, the new owners completely renovated the building so beer once again flows within the walls of the “Old Brewery. Their brews can be found state-wide at most pubs and liquor shops. All beers are hand- made and packaged on-premise using the best ingredients and pure artesian water. Their tap room is great place to sample the beers, enjoy some great burgers and panini and meet interesting crowd.

1844 Harbor-Petoskey Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-753-2057

© City Park Grill

City Park Grill is an upscale restaurant and bar in Petoskey, Michigan, located in one of Petoskey’s oldest buildings. Beautiful Victorian was originally constructed in 1875 as a males-only billiard parlor where men could enjoy cigars and “intoxicating beverages.” From 1910 – 1920, Ernest Hemingway made northern Michigan his summer home and used to hang out in The Annex, as the establishment was called at the time. In 1997, the new owners renovated the building and brought it to its original glory, changing its name to City Park Grill. The elegant décor is dominated by the original 32-foot long carved solid mahogany bar made in 1888. The scratch kitchen focuses on daily and seasonal specials. The menu is small but exquisite, offering such treats as Apple Sausage Loaded Pork Loin and Shaved Pork Sliders. The restaurant has an award-winning wine collection, 16 rotating beer taps and occasional live music.

432 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-0101

© Beards Brewery

Beards Brewery is a microbrewery founded in 2012 by two Petoskey, Michigan locals Ben Slocum and Peter Manthei. From 2012 to 2017 they created more than 100 recipes inspired by local, seasonal products and beautiful Northern Michigan. Their original pub featured ten taps, plenty of board games, local art, a record player and was known for unique community events. In April 2017 they moved to the new home, on the edge of downtown Petoskey, overlooking Little Traverse Bay. The newer location offered more space for local art, game and trivia nights, community events, concert series for local musicians, and more. A huge outdoor patio overlooking the bay has a firepit, plenty of seating, and direct access to the bar. There are now 24 taps and a popular food menu with pizzas, burgers, wings; Pho, Soba, and Poutine. Beards Brewery currently distributes beer in draft and in package all over Michigan.

215 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-753-2221

© American Spoon Cafe

American Spoon Café is a popular café in Petoskey’s Historic Gaslight District overlooking Pennsylvania Park. Modern black and white space full of light serves freshly made and thoughtfully prepared seasonal meals including Panini, hotsoups fresh salads, gurmet pizzas and 24 flavors of house-made gelato. Café serves breakfast and lunch and has a full bar. American Spoon is the local company known worldwide for their gourmet handcrafted fruit preserves and condiments prepared in small batches, with exceptional flavors of fresh fruits grown in Michigan. Their shop is located next to the café. American Spoon Café sells its products in small shops all over Michigan and online.

413 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770, Phone: 231-347-7004

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