The Little Traverse History Museum in the evening. | Photo by the Little Traverse History Museum.

Activities & Attractions in Petoskey

Here's a sampling of the many activities and attractions Petoskey has to offer:

Little Traverse History Museum

This beautiful museum is located just a Petoskey stone’s throw from the marina. The Bayfront Park surrounds the Little Traverse History Museum. The history of the Petoskey area is captured by the museum’s three main exhibits- Ernest Hemingway, Faces and Places that Shaped Emmet County, and the Parlor Exhibit, outline the area’s history.

Petoskey State Park

Petoskey State Park was once the Petoskey Bathing Beach, a park for the city of Petoskey, and now has all the amenities of a state park plus a spectacular beach area. The park is open all year long and features activities ranging from camping to biking, to swimming to hiking, to cross country skiing. Picnic areas, camping areas, marked trails, miles of beach, a beach shelter, playground, and summer recreational activities are all available for visitors in the 304-acre park.

Harris Gardens

The North Central Michigan College campus is the home to a spectacular sculpture garden filled with 26 pieces of vibrant art. The sculptures in Harris Gardens are made from a variety of materials including steel, bronze, copper, and stone. In addition to the sculptures, there is a beautifully landscaped garden area with benches and pathways. The gardens are open to the public all year long, free of charge.

Petoskey's Top 10 Attractions

According to a "local"

Petoskey has so much to see and do. Only listing 10 of them, well, that’s a tough assignment. Petoskey’s Gaslight District is well known as a beautiful downtown shopping district. So what are 10 places to explore in Petoskey?

*Great shopping with wonderful shops in in the Gaslight District.
*A variety of restaurants ranging from family to fine dining and coffee shops.
*The Petoskey Library and two book stores.
*The Crooked Tree Arts Center complete with a theatre and a gallery.
*The Little Traverse History Museum in a restored train depot.
*A vibrant waterfront with a marina, picnic tables, playground, and even a waterfall.
*The Little Traverse Wheelway that connects Petoskey to Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.
*Pennsylvania Park with benches and picnic tables and the spectacular, new Bear River Valley Recreation Area.
*Downtown activities like Concerts in the Park twice a week during the summer, Art in the Park, Sidewalk Sales, and the Winter Blues Festival.
*Walk through Petoskey’s history with a self guided tour through the downtown area.

Northern Michigan is a place filled with recreational and cultural opportunities. Visitors and families have come to the Petoskey area for generations and for good reason. Yes, the Petoskey area is filled with places to explore and things to do!