Photo by Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
With a beautiful, trillium-accented spring to a summer afternoon on the beach or water, Harbor Springs is the place to be. Situated on a beautiful natural, deep harbor, this tiny, beautiful community has a wonderful downtown business district with fabulous shopping and dining overlooking the water. And as if all that wasn’t enough, Harbor Springs offers fun events and festivals during every season.
May
This event is a 25-year-old rite of spring in Northern Michigan. The Zoo-de-Mack is a leisurely bike ride from the Zoo Bar at Boyne Highlands, to Harbor Springs, to Mackinaw City. The ride takes cyclists through the Tunnel of Trees to Cross Village for lunch at Legs Inn and onto Mackinaw City. In total, the trek is 51 miles. Hundreds of people participate every year.
September
A Taste of Harbor Springs invites attendees to enjoy the best from participating restaurants, food and beverage retailers, and wine distributors. Complimented by the beautiful fall season and located on the waterfront, this event is a must for a perfect Northern Michigan fall. The event is also held for a good cause as two $1,000 scholarships are given out to Northern Michigan culinary students at the culmination of the event.
September
This unique event is a three-day gathering of nationally known presenters where they and participants celebrate what makes their works great. Harbor Springs Festival of the Book brings authors and readers from around the country. Registration begins in July and those attending can expect a full schedule of events by mid-August.
The history of the fur trade in Northern Michigan is captured at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
Within the historic Chicago/West Michigan railroad depot in Petoskey, the Little Traverse History Museum is a history filled gem.
The Andrew J. Blackbird Museum is named for a counselor who helped Native American veterans. Native American artifacts fill the museum space.
Charlevoix has beaches on Lake Michigan and also offers the warmer swimming waters of inland lake beaches on Lake Charlevoix.
Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was during the era of 1880-1917.
The history Northern Michigan’s Inland Water Route is preserved at the Inland Water Route Historical Museum in Alanson.