S U M M E R 2 0 21 | C O V E R S T O R Y
This perspective of a Little Traverse Bay marina in Harbor Springs is breathtaking.
Postcard-Perfect
Little Traverse Bay’s allure infuses energy into Petoskey-area getaways
72
covers Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne Falls, Bay Harbor, Alanson, Bay View, and Boyne City. This beautiful lakeside region maintains “a healthy respect for its history, architecture, and culture,” he says. Adds assistant director Diane Dakins: “When Little Traverse Bay is dancing in the sunshine, even the most churlish of vacationers can’t help but be captivated by her allure. Fishermen, boaters, kayakers, and jet skiers, for example, take advantage of the clean waters of the bay and our inland lakes. The varied terrain means hikers and bikers (on the roadways, paved paths, and mountain trails) get the best of both worlds — flat and leisurely, or hilly and exhilarating.” Fitzsimons says downtown Petoskey’s signature feature is the famed and walkable Gaslight Shopping District, a collection of around 80 family-owned shops and more than a dozen restaurants. Harbor Springs, meanwhile, is known for its specialty shops, marinas, and fun places to eat — such as the classic waterfront Stafford’s Pier Restaurant, whose airy outdoor deck rates among my summer favorites. What else makes the list of favorites?
Fourteen wineries, six breweries, and four distilleries, all well worth a visit; a selfguided Ernest Hemingway Petoskey driving and walking tour; the Little Traverse Conservancy, which features more than 60 preserves around the region for hiking and bird-watching (including the Sunset Coast Birding Trail); and a promise (fingers crossed!) from Fitzsimons that many of last year’s COVID-canceled events and cherished activities are coming back with pizzazz this summer. Best Bets: The area’s charm centers around its natural beauty. The region presents a wonderful environment for golf courses, the arts, shopping and dining, water sports, biking or hiking, parks, historic sites, and so much more. It’s an inviting mix that’s hard to find elsewhere. The stories on the following pages include updates that showcase the splendors of life all around Little Traverse Bay and highlight what visitors can expect this summer. Enjoy!
PLAN IT! Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau petoskeyarea.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETOSKEY AREA VISITORS BUREAU
E
xperiencing the picturesque 20-mile drive around Little Traverse Bay reveals why this slice of Lake Michigan’s splendid north country attracts so many visitors. It’s a delightful route I’ve traveled countless times: rolling through M-119’s famed Tunnel of Trees into the charming cottage town of Harbor Springs; driving past Petoskey State Park, where the sunsets seen from its westward-facing beach prove dazzling almost every night; and swinging around into the historic Bay View community — and then on to Petoskey’s downtown shopping district — before landing in the ever-developing golf and boating resort area of Bay Harbor. Together, these points frame a mesmerizing waterfront landscape of the approximately eight-mile-long and 3.5-milewide featured attraction that reigns over this laid-back, yet lively, Up North destination. “Petoskey sits on a bluff overlooking the bay. The panoramic views and sunsets over the water never get old,” claims Peter Fitzsimons, executive director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, which
Stories by Ron Garbinski
MICHIGAN BLUE
072.FT.Petoskey.Summer.21 .indd 72
5/17/21 2:29 PM
