GRAYLING

More than 75 percent of Crawford County is state or federal land, so there’s plenty of playground to enjoy with snowmobile trails, ORV trails, hunting acreage and more. Anglers from all over the country fly fish the Manistee and AuSable rivers. But the busiest weekend of the year is the AuSable River Canoe Marathon, held the last full weekend of July. Starting in downtown Grayling, 100 two-person teams enter the water for a 120-mile canoe race through the night to Oscoda—in a carbon fiber racing canoe about as heavy and skinny as a toothpick and 18 feet long. It’s an all-town spectator sport!

Out your door: Hanson Hills Recreation Area prettttttty much has it all: a ski hill, sledding, fat-bike trails, hiking/running trails, groomed cross-country ski trails, a baseball diamond and two disc golf courses. Opened in 1929, it was the first downhill ski area in all of Michigan. Rent a canoe at Shel-Haven on the Manistee or Penrod’s on the AuSable River, or invest in equipment and make a trek that works for you.

(Try the section of the South Branch of the AuSable known as the Mason Tract. This stretch of water is about a 10-mile float, and the majority of it has no house on either side of the river— just you and nature.)

In your garage: Northbound Outfitters and Skip’s Sport Shop are your go-to spots for gear. Northbound focuses on outdoor recreation, including a huge selection of proper clothing, while Skip’s has all you need for hunting and fishing. Be sure to take time to get to know the owners of these stores—they’re local, work in the store every day and can offer tips to find local gems.

In the neighborhood: Grayling created a special social district where patrons can purchase drinks from one establishment and walk to another establishment to visit. Paddle Hard Brewing, Rolling Oak Brewing Co., Michigan Brew and Spike’s Keg O Nails each have their own personalities. Try Paddle Hard’s “River Water” cocktail or Rolling Oak’s “Call Your Mother” IPA.

Real Talk

Realtor with RE/MAX of Grayling remax.com, 616.644.0246

MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN TOWN: $158,500

WHAT’S NEXT FOR GRAYLING: “Downtown Grayling has seen a drastic upgrade over the last few years. Grayling Main Street is a volunteer-run organization that has been putting together community events like car shows or live music where people are literally dancing in the street. I have always found that locals and tourists in Grayling are willing to help others, especially in a time of need. For many, that may just be when they get stuck on a trail in the middle of nowhere!”

WHO’S BUYING: “Most buyers in this area remain secondary home purchasers looking for a cabin Up North, whether it’s on the river or in the middle of the woods sitting on acreage. However, we have also seen a surge of buyers purchasing their primary home to move out of the city and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle.”

WHY LIVE HERE: “Grayling remains low-priced compared to other areas, so your money goes a lot further when it comes to buying a home or purchasing vacant land. With Grayling being in the center of the state, it’s a perfect spot to have a home base while also being close enough to other towns to go enjoy for the day or the weekend. It’s an hour and 15 minutes south of the Mackinac Bridge, an hour east of Traverse City and Lake Michigan, 10 minutes to Higgins Lake, an hour and a half to Lake Huron, 30 minutes to Treetops in Gaylord and an hour to Boyne Mountain. That being said, most people simply come to Grayling to stay here and relax on the river.”

6260 Fox Run Dr.,

3,461 sq. ft.

$429,000

Grayling,

This five-bedroom, three-bath home with a three-car garage sits on the 9th hole of the Patriot Golf Course. It features an updated kitchen, massive living room, large laundry room and a 20x20-foot main floor bedroom.

Meet Your Dream House

3008 Indian Hill Rd., Honor, 1,805 sq. ft. $269,000 (SOLD)

This three-bedroom, one-bath home is only minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It’s complete with creature comforts such as a solarium style entry/mudroom, gas fireplace and a hot tub on a large outdoor deck. The temperature-controlled garage has its own bathroom and is equipped for an industrial-level air compressor, and includes an additional attached 18x19 area for toys.

Honor

Tiny Honor is known not only as the “Coho Capital,” but also as a gateway town to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. August’s National Coho Salmon Festival celebrates the region’s history (in 1966, Coho salmon were first introduced into the Platte River in Honor, and each year they return to spawn at the hatchery). Weekend anglers grab a table at Platte River Inn for coffee and bacon to write home about. Meanwhile, no joke, the “current temp” sign over Honor Bank along US-31 is everyone’s favorite to peek at on a hot summer day on their way to float the Platte River just minutes away. Out your door: It ’s a rare retro find these days, but here in Honor, there’s family fun under the night sky in the form of a 1950s-era drive-in movie theater, the Cherry Bowl. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking and tubing down the lazy lower Platte River. A short drive takes you to M-22 and the beaches, trails and overlooks in the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Deck out your pad: Labadie’s Summer Place Casuals offers outdoor furniture and fire pits galore. Need the deck first? Honor & Onekama Building Supply has supplied lumber, paint and hardware to local DIYers since 1963.

In the neighborhood: Honor Family Market smokes its own meats and keeps one of the most impeccable meat cases in the North. Jim’s Joint slings phenomenal BBQ. And get in the locals’ summer habit of chasing the sunset: Grab a late-evening chocolate malt at JoMo’s Ice Cream Shop and zip over to nearby Beulah to see the sky turn pink over Crystal Lake.

Real Talk

MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN TOWN: $302,432

WHAT’S NEXT FOR HONOR: “Honor is growing! In the past few years, new businesses have opened, some have relocated, old buildings have been removed, a new park with access to the Platte River is being created by the Honor Area Restoration Project (H.A.R.P.), the

National Coho Festival is being revived, new housing is in the works and more.”

WHO’S BUYING: “We are seeing more and more early retirees or people who are looking to retire within the next five years and want to lock in their retirement location.”

WHY LIVE HERE: “Honor is close to everything Northern Michigan has to offer. From the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore just minutes away to freshwater rivers and lakes in each direction. Honor is just on the outskirts of Traverse City (about twenty-five minutes away), so it is a mix of being close to the amenities of a larger city, but still at a slower pace. Smaller family-owned businesses provide this charming Northern Michigan town with an overall ‘family feel.’”

Manistee

The deep-water channel running right through a Victorian-era downtown sets Manistee apart from other beach towns. Quaint and charming, nestled on Lake Michigan, it’s a bite-sized version of Up North, with plenty of room for opportunity.

Out your door: S and: First Street Beach at Douglas Park and Fifth Avenue Beach offer concessions and bathrooms. Water: Both the Big and Little Manistee rivers offer kayaking, fishing and canoeing. Trails: The Manistee River Trail, North Country Trail and Big M Recreation Area are just a few of the public trails in the area. Nearby Ludington State Park provides a beautiful 15-mile coastal ride through forests and dunes. Inland, revel in the endless acres of the Manistee National Forest. Snow: Come winter, your new hometown hosts the Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend, complete with an adorned Christmas tree pulled by horses down main street.

In your beach bag: You will definitely need your swim suit and flip flops at the ready to get the most out of Manistee. Go downtown to visit Snyder’s Shoes (Teva sandals), The Outpost (Patagonia shorts and ball caps) and Glik’s (Huk outdoor shirts).

In the neighborhood: Sip a local ale at Third Life Brewing or North Channel Brewing Co. Or head downstairs to your very own “Cheers”: the lower-level T.J.’s Pub inside the 1890’s Ramsdell Inn. Reserve Friday nights for the famous pizza at the eclectic-yetupscale Fricano’s Manistee River.

Real Talk

Brandon Ball

Broker/Realtor, Dwelling Realty-Keller Williams brandonball.kw.com

MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN TOWN:

$240,000

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MANISTEE:

“Manistee is definitely on the rise. We have a brand-new Hampton Inn being built on the South beach. We are slated to have eight new restaurants opening within the next year. Commercial real estate sales in the area have increased substantially. We also have a large development happening at the corner of US-31 and River Street labeled as the Gateway Project, which will be mixed-use.”

WHO’S BUYING: “We have a lot of second-home buyers and vacation property buyers. The access to our beaches and downtown area provide plentiful parking and easier access than most small beach towns on Lake Michigan.”

WHY LIVE HERE: “The commercial activity happening in Manistee shows that big businesses are confident enough to invest heavily in the area. It has been largely undiscovered in the past and now people are seeing all of the potential. There are excellent condo associations here that provide additional amenities like pools and boat slips.”

Your Dream House

375 Lighthouse Way S., Manistee, 2,240 sq. ft. $380,000

This duplex-style condo at Lighthouse Landings is just a short distance from First Street Beach on Lake Michigan yet in a private and secluded setting. The living room features a gas fireplace and a sunshine-filled, south-facing three-season room. Main floor has a primary suite and laundry, and the lower level features a third bedroom, full bath and patio walkout.

Cadillac

Located in the Huron-Manistee National Forests, Cadillac seems to be Michigan at its finest: the snow comes by the buckets in the winter (even when towns farther north are still doing snow dances), and in the fall, the colors turn early (offering day-trippers both north and south a first autumn before their own hometown cooperates). This little Northern oasis offers big-box convenience but also small-town charm— with biking, hiking, skiing and boating literally a step from town in every direction.

Out your door: The shores of Lake Cadillac (a local fave for sunsets) and Lake Mitchell offer boating, fishing and swimming. Nearby Pine River—quick, tight and not for novice paddlers—is a destination river for kayaking and canoeing. (Adventure paddlers looking for a challenge? Behold the whitewater rapids on the lower stretches of the Pine after a significant rainfall.) The ever-improving Cadillac Pathway with a brandnew pavilion and outdoor fireplace offers miles of single-track mountain biking, hiking and winter fat biking. And let’s not forget Caberfae Peaks with downhill skiing and snowboarding one season and golfing the next.

In your pole barn: This is a yearround playground, so you’ll want it all: skis, snowshoes, kayaks, bikes and paddleboards. Hit up Sun ‘n’ Snow Ski Shop or newcomer bike shop Einstein Cycles on Mitchell Street.

In the neighborhood: Clam Lake Beer Company has 40 brews on tap, brick-fired pizza and a nod to Cadillac’s past—originally known as Clam Lake. Willow Market is a gourmet coffee bar, BBQ spot and deli, with local brews and—surprise—The Greenhouse, a greenhouse-turned-event space with trivia nights on Wednesdays and live entertainment on Fridays.

Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and avid Michigan outdoor adventurer. mi-girl.com

Meet Your Dream House

8073 Quarter Rd., Cadillac, 2,170 sq. ft.

$337,000

This three-bedroom home with a garage and pole barn sits on 10 wooded acres just 10 minutes from downtown and half that to the beaches of Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. The home has had an entire makeover, including a new roof and siding.

Real Talk

Michelle Maidens

Associate Broker/Manager

RealEstate One-Cadillac michellecansell.com

MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN TOWN:

$207,000

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CADILLAC:

“Cadillac is definitely on the rise. The downtown district has grown substantially in the last several years, offering many more places to shop, eat and enjoy entertainment. It’s not the Cadillac it was even a few years ago.”

WHO’S BUYING: “Over the last couple of years, we have seen many buyers relocate here because it’s a central location to be closer to family and friends. Cadillac is also a great place for a first-time buyer because prices are not as expensive as in the surrounding counties, offering the chance to get a nicer home on a smaller budget in a gorgeous area.”

WHY LIVE HERE: “Cadillac is a wise place to invest because its growth will continue, yet things are still very affordable. It’s a beautiful place to call home.”