Inland Water Route Historical Museum
The history Northern Michigan’s Inland Water Route is preserved at the Inland Water Route Historical Museum in Alanson.
Northern Michigan Guides Stock Photo
We have many Up North Specialties that indeed make us special. From a planked whitefish dinner to Blissfest Music Festival to the historic Bay View Association to Bay Harbor to the Little Traverse Wheelway, Northern Michigan is filled with so many wonderful opportunities.
Victorian architecture is prevalent here. Drive through the Bay View Association or along the waterfront in Harbor Springs and marvel at the Victorian ‘cottages.’
What makes Up North special? Castle Farms in Charlevoix is a gorgeous setting for an art fair, celebration or garden tour. How about a festival devoted just to spring’s morel mushroom, Boyne City’s Morel Mushroom Festival. Or a tasty cookie baked in Harbor Springs but known country wide, Tom’s Mom’s Cookies.
What else makes Northern Michigan special? The Heritage Highway between Harbor Springs and Cross Village is spectacular and the Tunnel of Trees is not to be missed. The fall color in Northern Michigan and along the Tunnel of Trees is gorgeous so bring along the camera to capture photos of our Fall Foliage. The newly completed Little Traverse Wheelway connects Charlevoix through Petoskeky to Harbor Springs, a 26 mile bike path, that is drawing bikers from around the country to this scenic part of Michigan.
A huge part of what makes Northern Michigan unique–the people who live here. Local residents love Northern Michigan and have chosen it as a place to live, play, work, and enjoy. Customer service is indeed a specialty in Northern Michigan and you will find it at the golf course, ski resort, restaurant, hotel, and our many fine shops.
Speaking of shopping, it’s often a reason many visitors head Up North! Shopping in Northern Michigan is a wonderful activity.
And, of course, we wouldn’t be unique without our visitors! Our visitors and seasonal residents love Northern Michigan and it is such a delight to hear someone exclaim “I love it up north!”
The history Northern Michigan’s Inland Water Route is preserved at the Inland Water Route Historical Museum in Alanson.
Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was during the era of 1880-1917.
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.
Charlevoix has beaches on Lake Michigan and also offers the warmer swimming waters of inland lake beaches on Lake Charlevoix.
Wildlife sanctuary Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is located 3 1/2 miles north of Harbor Springs, between Lower Shore Drive and Lake Michigan.
The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the U.S. and stretches from North Dakota to New York, passing through Northern Michigan.
Northern Michigan builder Earl Young created the unusual mushroom houses in Charlevoix. Tours are available.
Get the sleds and the skates out, put on the cold weather clothes, and enjoy sledding and ice skating in Northern Michigan.
The majestic and historic Grand Hotel is one of the first sights visitors see as they head into the harbor on Mackinac Island.