Michigan Travel Destinations – Harbor Springs
Located just 10 miles north of Petoskey, Harbor Springs is a quaint and charming town nestled on the north shore of Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The area offers an abundance of natural beauty, four seasons of outdoor activity and an array of cultural and culinary attractions. With two city beaches in harbor Springs and nearby beaches at Petoskey State Park, Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, and Sturgeon Bay, beach days are a must. Fall brings fabulous foliage color and the still warm waters of the lakes. Winter sports with two ski resorts plus miles of trails for cross country skiing, snow shoeing and snow mobiling offer days of snow fun.
In 1691, Catholic missionaries came to the area to work with Odawa Indians. The area known as L’Arbre Croche from Good Hart to Harbor Springs was a thriving community during the 1880s. The Odawa supported themselves with trapping, fishing, shoemaking, carpentry, tailoring and more. In 1858, the Village of Little Traverse was created and in 1886, Emmet County’s first courthouse was built on Main Street in the structure that is now History Museum. Beginning in the 1870s, visitors became coming north by steamship, and later by trains, to escape pollen and heat. Hotels and boarding houses popped up along the waterfront and by the 1920s, harbor Springs was known as the Naples of the North.
Local Restaurants
LEGS INN
6425 N. Lake Shore Dr., Cross Village, 231-526-2281
www.legsinn.com
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram Thrillist.com 21 Definitive American Food, Drink & Travel Destinations. Landmark family dining destination, authentic Polish/American cuisine. Unique atmosphere, decor. Panoramic sunsets, lake views, garden dining.
DOUGLAS LAKE BAR & STEAKHOUSE
11010 Douglas Lake Rd., Pellston, 231-5398588
www.douglaslakebar.com
Lakeside dining. Voted Northern Michigan’s Best Steak/Dining Experience. Outdoor patio, screened-in porch. Live music Sundays. Seafood, steak, and other delicious courses available.
STAFFORD’S PIER
102 Bay Street, PO Box 576, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
www.staffords.com
A tribute to the maritime heritage of beautiful Harbor Springs, Stafford’s Pier Restaurant offers true waterfront dining, quite literally, as the Pier Restaurant was built on original pilings over the harbor. Enjoy upscale cuisine in the Pointer Room, casual dining in the Chart Room and a favorite watering hole in the Wheelhouse Lounge.
Accommodations
INN AT BAY HARBOR, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
3600 Village Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor, Michigan, USA, 49770, 855-811-4402
www.innatbayharbor.com
Built in the style of northern Michigan’s great turn-of-the-century lakeside inns, the Inn at Bay Harbor enchants with spectacular Lake Michigan and quarry views.Beautifully decorated rooms and suites are ideal for a family getaway, romantic retreat, girlfriends trip, golf outing, ski vacation, or relaxing sanctuary from the everyday. The resort also features lakeside dining at Vintage Chophouse and Wine Bar, 45 holes of championship golf, The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor, a private Lake Michigan shoreline, summer season swimming pool, kids’ activities, bicycles, as well as shuttle service.
VILLAGE SUITES BAY HARBOR
4160 Main St., Bay Harbor, 231-439-2400 or 888-BAY-HARBOR,
www.bayharbor.com or www.bayharborvacationrentals.com
Luxurious condominium and vacation home rentals in the waterfront Village at Bay Harbor. Waterfront wedding venues, shopping, dining, marina, performing arts center and premier events all just steps away.
BIRCHWOOD INN
7291 S. Lake Shore Dr., Harbor Springs, 231-526-2151
www.birchwoodinn.com
A four-season inn restored in lodge decor on the “Tunnel of Trees.” Suites, pool, golf/ Mackinac Island/casino packages. Near shopping, golf, skiing, beaches, nature preserve.
THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS
www.highlandsharborsprings.com
Refined mountain resort with multiple restaurants, 4 golf courses & a snow sports academy.
Area Attractions
HARBOR SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET
9:00am-1:00pm
Saturday / May 29- Oct 16
Wednesday / June 2 -Aug 25
POND HILL FARM – WINERY, BREWERY, CAFE & MARKET
5699 S Lake Shore Dr, Harbor Springs, MI 49740, 231-526-3276
www.pondhill.com
Pond Hill Farm is a year round destination for fine wines, homemade beer, family fun, and a fresh farm to table dining experience! The farm offers daily wine and beer tasting, lunch and appetizers in the Garden Cafe, hayrides, pig racing, animal feeding, several squash rockets, an ice cream shop, a trout pond to feed the fish, a very diverse pumpkin patch, Christmas trees, a market with a huge assortment of mouth watering homemade canned goods, wonderful year round pesticide and herbicide free produce, farm raised antibiotic and hormone free meats, handmade soaps and bath salts, a great selection of organic and natural foods, crafts and more.
HARBOR POINT GOLF CLUB
8475 S. Lakeshore, Harbor Springs, 231-526-2951,
www.harborpointgolfclub.com
Home of quality golf since 1896. Harbor Point Golf Club is a classic layout featuring 18 holes. Full-sized practice facility and fully stocked golf shop.
NORTHERN LIGHTS RECREATION
8865 M-119 (Harbor-Petoskey Rd), Harbor Springs, MI 49740
www.northernlightsrec.com
Northern Lights Recreation is open all year for Bowling, Laser Tag, Redemption Arcade, Billiards and more.
NUB’S NOB
500 Nub’s Nob Rd., Harbor Springs, 231-526-2131, 800-SKI-NUBS
www.nubsnob.com
Consistently ranked the #1 ski/snowboard area in the Midwest, the “Can Do Crew” at Nub’s has been delivering “First Class and Friendly Skiing” for more than 60 years.
