We just returned from our first summer vacation up north! As someone who vacationed in South Carolina each summer of my childhood, I was very confused about what all the buzz was about with these Northern Michigan summer trips. But confused I am no longer! It was absolutely wonderful. The temperature was refreshing and the trip in general was fun and relaxation filled. Here are the details in case you would like to replicate!
WHERE TO STAY:
So, of course, there are many nice lake locations in Northern Michigan for family vacations. For example, I have friends that have family homes on Lake Charlevoix and Lake Leelanau, and their photos are dreamy! But this post will cover a visit to the area between Glen Arbor and Frankfort. We stayed at a rental home on Platte Lake, and we would definitely return, but Crystal or Glen Lake would work as well for being within driving distance of the activities recommended here.
Here is the link to the house we rented: https://www.vacasa.com/unit/82884
It can easily be split between three families making it a little more affordable, but it was a great home base. Things that may be a necessity to your lake rental:
Lake access for swimming and to dock a boat rental
Kayaks and paddle boards provided by the property (You can rent your own if necessary -- we got a ton of use out of what was provided)
A fire ring with nice seating around the fire (we loved relaxing by the fire at night)
Comfy outdoor seating and eating area (our rental could have improved upon this, but the screened-in porch was our favorite hang-out)
July/August weather. The water temperatures were perfect when we went, which was the third week of July, though close friends went late-June and also had a perfect trip.
Some additional photos from our rental:
Activity Ideas :
Riverside Canoe Trips.
An absolute must-do family activity for this vacation is the hour-long tube floating trip down the first leg of Platte River. Riverside Canoe Trips is the go-to river tubing vendor. We chose the green tube ("dry bottom") which was $12 a tube. If you are worried about little people floating away in their separate tube, they rope the tubes together (this worked well for us).
We had the best time! The water was clear and felt great. FYI - they offer a longer tubing trip through Loon Lake and then on down the river to Michigan Lake. The current is not as strong, so I don't recommend that longer leg as a "family trip". It might be okay for an adult "take your" time float, but not for kids with low attention spans. Also, FYI, at the end of the one-hour float, you have to walk the tube on a ten-minute walk back to the starting point.
We loved the river so much, we came back a second time for a paddle board trip down the entire river to Michigan Lake. They recommend starting the paddle trip either before 11:00 or after 3:00 to avoid the tubing crowd. We started our paddle-boarding trip at 5:30 p.m. It took us exactly 2.5 hours, and it was very nice and peaceful.
Empire Bluff Trail.
Another wonderful family activity in this area is the Empire Bluff Trail. It is a nicely prepared trail, easy for little feet and shaded the entire way. Out and back on the trail is 1.5 miles. The view is beautiful at the end of the trail, and there is seating for a snack. Before we went on the hike, we visited the Sleeping Bear Dune National Park Visitor's Center.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Climb.
Of course, while in the area, you have to experience the beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. It was truly something to see, although we only completed the first initial climb! I understand that if you wanted to walk from the beginning to the climb to Lake Michigan, it would take approximately 3-4 hours and that you would want to start as early as possible and bring lots of water. We didn't think that such a serious hike was necessary. We climbed as much as we wanted, and then sat down and played in the sand.
Point Betsie Lighthouse
We loved taking in the history of the Point Betsie Lighthouse as a family. The Boathouse (to the right in the first picture) is a great place to start, consisting of a one-room museum with an old Coast Guard boat showcased, as well as a well-equipped gift store. You can also buy your tickets here for a half-hour tour of the lightkeeper's residence, that ends with a climb to the top of the lighthouse. Construction on the lighthouse began in 1854, and concluded in 1858, well before there were any roads servicing the area, so everything arrived by boat!
Beach Day.
Of course, if you're on vacation, there's nothing better than a day of relaxation by the water! And although the beaches in Northern Michigan are not your typical white sand (instead, lots of well-worn rocks mixed in the sand), they are just as fun! We spent our "beach times" on Esch Road Beach and Platte Point Beach.
NEARBY TOWNS AND RESTAURANTS:
Beulah
There are lots of cute little towns around this area, with cute and long-standing dining stops like the Cherry Hut in Beulah. The Cherry Hut celebrated its 100th year in 2022, and they celebrate its long history in its decor, place mats, and uniforms. The food was delicious, and especially, the cherry pie!
Also in Beulah is the Five Shores Brewery, recommended to us by friends! It was a great place to hang out, and although we did not bring our kiddos when we visited, there were plenty of families having dinner and playing games at the picnic tables.
Glen Arbor
Glen Arbor is such a cute place. Cute shops, a nice coffee shop, and the Cottage Bookstore, which was perfect because I had forgotten to pack my vacation read! We also enjoyed eating at Cherry Republic - it was packed and the tables were first come, first serve, but lightened up a little as we got further from the lunch hour. We loved shopping in the Cherry Republic gift stop after, and now my children prefer chocolate-covered dried cherries! Although we didn't find time this trip, in the future, I would love to try the Crystal River kayak route. The launch is located just outside of downtown Glen Arbor.
Frankfort
We enjoyed a few afternoon hours in Frankfort, and timed it perfectly for an ice cream stop at The Scoop! Their individually decorated waffle cones were pretty special and -- for the Disney lover like you know I am -- I was SO happy to see they had Dole Whip! What a treat. We did some street shopping for Petoskey stones, played at the playground, and stopped by Market on Main (Gourmet Grocery Market) for some local products and charcuterie snacks! Tip from a friend that we did not get to try, is that the Crescent Bakery on Main Street in Frankfort has the BEST doughnuts!
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