
Northern Lake Michigan Ferries
When visiting Northern Michigan, be sure to ride one of the local Lake Michigan ferries. It’s an adventure that should be on every travelers’ Up North bucket list!
Northern Michigan Guides Stock Photo
Northern Michigan may be a place where many travel to because of our great outdoor activities, but there is more here than a kayak tour or a day of skiing. Our arts scene mean visitors can spend the day on the golf course and then enjoy fabulous music or theatre.
The arts are an important part of the year ’round culture of Northern Michigan but in the summer months, art opportunities galore await visitors and residents.
The galleries of the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey and the many fabulous art galleries in Northern Michigan provide days and days of art to view. Art has a significant presence in Northern Michigan. Art fairs? Oh, yes!
And arts education is abundant in Northern Michigan. Big Water Creative Arts in Petoskey is dedicated to promoting the arts in the Great Lakes region through education, instruction, interaction and performance. And the Interlochen Center for the Arts has served as a global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts for nearly a century. This is just to name two of the many Northern Michigan organizations that serve to educate and promote the arts.
Nothing brings people together more than music, and there is certainly no shortage of concerts and performances in Northern Michigan. Outdoor music fills the air with events such Music in the Park on Mackinac Island, Stroll the Street in Charlevoix, and many live musical performances at parks and under pavilions. Many of the local bars and restaurants host live music throughout the summer, as well. There are also many festivals and events where live music is a highlight.
Small towns are known for arts and crafts fairs, and Northern Michigan is no different. July 4th boasts a spectacular art fair in downtown Harbor Springs. Petoskey’s Art in the Park and arts and crafts fairs bring art lovers from around the state. The Women’s Club of Northern Michigan’s annual art fair at Nub’s Nob is a rite of summer for many.

When visiting Northern Michigan, be sure to ride one of the local Lake Michigan ferries. It’s an adventure that should be on every travelers’ Up North bucket list!

Travel along the Tunnel of Trees in Northern Michigan and you will pass through Good Hart and see historic Saint Ignatius Catholic Church.

Arch Rock is a geologic wonder on Mackinac Island and stands 146′ over the Lake Huron shoreline- nearly 15 stories tall.

In Northern Michigan, you’ll find lighthouses where lighthouse keepers once lived and worked that have been restored and are open to visitors.

With woods, dunes, and frozen lakes, the trails near Charlevoix and Boyne City are the places to cross country ski from December-March.

Northern Michigan has many varied settings for kayaking- whether it by river, one of the inland lakes, or Lake Michigan,

A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.

Why do people enjoy being up north so much? Find out what makes being up north feel special with our list of Northern Michigan specialties.

This Inland Waterway covers 38.2 miles from outside of Petoskey to Cheboygan. Find state parks, fishing, swimming, and more along the way.