The Little Traverse Lighthouse. | Photo by the Harbor Springs Area HIstorical Society
From spring days with a landscape covered in trillium to a summer afternoon on the beach or water, Harbor Springs is the place.
This tiny community has a great downtown business district and lots of activities and attractions to enjoy.
The Little Traverse Conservancy protects significant land and scenic areas and provides opportunities to appreciate and understand the environment. With more than 40,000 acres of land and 70 miles of shoreline protected, the Conservancy encourages the use of the preserves for hiking, photography, and other types of recreation. There are over 8 nature preserves located on the conservancy.
The Andrew J. Blackbird Museum is named for a man who was born in what is now Harbor Springs around 1815. His father was an Ottawa chief of the Arbor Croche, or Middle Village band of the Ottawas. Andrew was trained as a blacksmith but enjoyed education and attended Twinsburg Institute in Ohio and Michigan State Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University.
During the 1850’s, Blackbird was a counselor for both the U.S. and Ottawa and Ojibwa peoples and worked to help Native American veterans receive pensions. He helped settle land claims and worked to achieve citizenship for Native Americans.
The “Tunnel of Trees,” also known as the M-119 Heritage Route goes from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. The tunnel is a display of northern hardwoods located next to the road which creates the feeling of traveling through a tunnel.
The Tunnel of Trees is a scenic route along the Lake Michigan shoreline. While this drive is spectacular all year ’round, the fall colors along the route bring people back year after year to experience the glorious foliage.
With miles of scenic trails terrain and local snowmobile clubs, Northern Michigan is the place to bring the snow sleds in the winter.
Spring brings lots of outdoor activities to Northern Michigan but one often ends up on pancakes: making maple syrup.
The history of the fur trade in Northern Michigan is captured at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
Acres and acres of Northern Michigan are abloom with trillium during May, only adding to the beauty of spring Up North!
Bicyclists, walkers, and roller bladers can go from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix on the 26-mile long Little Traverse Wheelway.
Crooked Tree Arts Center is a place where artists from northern Michigan can display their talents and artwork to the public.
Little Traverse Conservancy protects land and scenic areas and provides opportunities for all of us to appreciate the environment.
The majestic and historic Grand Hotel is one of the first sights visitors see as they head into the harbor on Mackinac Island.
A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.
Within the historic Chicago/West Michigan railroad depot in Petoskey, the Little Traverse History Museum is a history filled gem.
The many ski resorts in Northern Michigan have winter activities for the entire family including sledding, sleigh rides, tubing, and more.
This Inland Waterway covers 38.2 miles from outside of Petoskey to Cheboygan. Find state parks, fishing, swimming, and more along the way.
Fisherman’s Island State Park has more than 2,600 acres and miles of gorgeous Lake Michigan beach and is located just south of Charlevoix.
The Oden State Fish Hatchery in Alanson produces three strains of brown trout and one strain of rainbow trout.
Northern Michigan has many varied settings for kayaking- whether it by river, one of the inland lakes, or Lake Michigan,