Petoskey Area Group Tour

PETOSKEY AREA, MI GROUP TOUR GUIDE

P E T O S K E Y • H A R B O R S P R I N G S • A L A N S O N • B AY H A R B O R • B O Y N E C I T Y • B O Y N E F A L L S

VICTORIAN CHARM ALONG THE LAKE

The Victorian charm of the Petoskey Area makes it the perfect “home base” for your group to explore northern lower Michigan. The Visitors Bureau can assist in setting up a tour of the Bay View Association with 500 cottages and buildings on the National Historic Register. Stop for lunch or spend the night in one of two historic inns.

FOLLOW IN HEMINGWAY’S FOOTSTEPS

Summers in the area were magical for young Ernest Hemingway. Visit some of the northern Michigan spots that inspired many of his short stories and writings. The Michigan Hemingway Society offers self-guided tours, or a private tour may be arranged.

HISTORY COMES ALIVE

To learn more about the history of Petoskey and the area, visit one of our wonderful museums.

The Little Traverse Historical Museum at the waterfront in Petoskey is a restored train depot. Exhibits feature Ernest Hemingway’s life in Michigan, rare Odawa Indian artifacts and historical exhibits which include the history of the Little Traverse Bay Region.

Once a center for local government, a grand old building in the heart of Harbor Springs is now a center for local history. The Harbor Springs History Museum features exhibits documenting the unique history of the area.

There are more museums, and walking tours in many area communities are available. Private tours may be arranged, or attendees can explore on their own. Brochures, maps and guides are available.

TAKE A TOUR OR SET SAIL

Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen is an American success story with a tradition of quality chocolates and other sweets. Tours are complimentary. Discover how they make delicious Tuttles, ice cream, caramel corn and more. Free samples at the end of the tour!

Get out on the water aboard the Little Traverse Bay Ferry. It travels daily between Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor. Each location’s dock is walking distance to shopping and restaurants.

FRESH AS ALL OUTDOORS

Experience the sight, scent and taste of lavender at Lavender Hill Farm, near Boyne City. Explore the farm and take a tour, visit the gift shop or enjoy one of many activities — Lunch & Lavender, Movie Nights, Lavender Fest Fridays, The Concert Series and more.

Pond Hill Farm is a more traditional working farm near Harbor Springs. Stroll through the farm market filled with unique canned items, wines, beer and farm grown produce. Enjoy lunch in the Biergarten. Feed the farm animals, go on a hayride, try a gnome house hunt, visit the pumpkin patch or launch the Squash Rocket.

IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTS

The Great Lakes Center for the Arts has a year-round lineup of world-class events – music, dance, theater, cinema, intellectual dialogue, and more. Built on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Center houses a 525-seat theater that meet the demands of internationally acclaimed artists.

Visit the Crooked Tree Arts Center in downtown Petoskey to enjoy fine art exhibits in the gallery and purchase local artists’ work. Concerts, plays and films are featured in the 220-seat theater, originally constructed in 1890 as a church.

There are several other options for theatre, live music and the performing arts in Petoskey and the surrounding communities. If your group is interested in a performance, we can see which venues have an event.

BEAUTIFULLY DISTINCTIVE

Traveling about 20 miles south of Petoskey to Charlevoix, your group can experience a couple of very unique attractions!

Castle Farms offers group tours of great stone buildings, soaring towers, and stunning gardens based on European design. Museum collections include castles, antique toys, artifacts from World War I, plus royalty memorabilia from around the world. Check out the memories from the Castle’s concert years, when rock n’ roll was king. Visit Michigan’s largest Outdoor Railroad with over 70 G-scale trains operating on 2,500 feet of track.

Another Charlevoix treasure are the famous Mushroom Houses. A self-guided or step-on tour of these homes and buildings created by architect Earl Young is sure to please. Designed to fit into the landscape, flowing lines and cedar shake roofs make many of these structures gnome-like in appearance.

PETOSKEY AREA TREASURES

The Petoskey stone was designated Michigan’s state stone in 1965. Today, the most popular place for hunting them is a Lake Michigan beach. The hotspot is the Petoskey breakwall, but there are more great places to hunt as well. Several local shops also sell polished and unpolished stones with polishing kits, as well as beautiful jewelry and other gift items.

The famous Tunnel of Trees hugs the shoreline of Lake Michigan along M-119 between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. The twisting, turning road is lined with tall trees, their branches rising and arching toward the sky. In the fall, the trees create a canopy of color as you make your way to Cross Village.

At Cross Village, it’s a fantasy-like atmosphere at an unusual restaurant that is a National Historic Site serving Polish and American cuisine. Legs Inn is an architectural wonder both inside and out and has been featured on many TV shows. Groups are welcome inside and on the gorgeous patio overlooking Lake Michigan. Incredible group photo opportunities are possible out back atop the bluff.

NATURAL WONDERS

The Fish Hatchery is a must-see! You’ll find hatchery tours, nature programs, self-guided trails, interpretive exhibits and interactive displays. Birders may even see an osprey or bald eagle. You can’t drop a line, but you will enjoy seeing fish through the glass of the stream viewing chamber. Special programs for groups are available and admission is free.

The Headlands International Dark Sky Park is among a handful of Dark Sky Parks in the US. It offers an uninterrupted view of the stunning night sky above northern Michigan. People from cities will be thrilled and inspired as they gaze at the thousands of bright, twinkling stars. Marked trails and cultural docents guide the way along the paved ½-mile trek back to the event center and gift shop.

MACKINAC ISLAND

National Geographic voted Mackinac Island one of the top ten most beautiful islands in the world. A visit is the perfect day trip — the ferry docks are only 35 miles from downtown Petoskey. Once on the island, take a carriage tour. Stop at historic Fort Mackinac. Sample some fudge and browse the shops. Visit the magnificent Grand Hotel and even plan lunch for your group in the main dining room.

SEE YOU SOON

Enjoy your visit to this very beautiful and special region of Michigan. Please let me know if I may assist you in planning the details of your trip.

Suzanne suzanne@petoskeyarea.com