I honestly was not too excited until actually going on the tour. Very happy went with the in-laws and my wife. Learned a lot. This guy was very very talented. If you know anybody that’s into wood carving or carpentry work this is a hidden treasure for sure.

Shrine of the Pines is a very neat hand built cabin worth the visit! Seeing the craftsmanship that went into every detail of the house is very intriguing.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would recommend it. The staff was exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. My creative brain was very inspired. My only feedback is to update the wares at the gift shop. I wanted to support the Shrine and was ready to make a purchase, but couldn't find anything interesting and specific to the site. I would have loved to have seen locally designed stickers with the "Rest" design for a water bottle or laptop, knick knacks and creations out of white pine, Christmas ornaments with the mantle design, etc. The site attracts many from outside Michigan and I am sure they would love to bring some Michigan home. I don't know if it would be possible, but could you host a food truck or an ice cream stand? Something to ask people to stay longer and spend more.

True story of a man's love for wood and his wife. Interesting.

My husband and I were in Big Rapids and were looking for things to do in the area. We drove less than 30 minutes to see the Shrine in the Pines, figuring a $5 per person admission wasn't too much of a gamble. We are so, so glad we went. We spent about an hour at the museum, but it's fantastic and we're taking friends and all of our kids back next week. It's an incredibly unique collection - something you wouldn't find anywhere else in the world. The only negative is that this isn't more widely known and easily accessible to larger cities. It's 100% worth the drive and the very inexpensive cost of a personal tour - which everyone gets. The history behind each piece is incredible. Any woodworker would absolutely love this museum. It's magnificent work and I had no idea that virgin pines grew so large - 7 feet in diameter! I can not recommend making the trip enough. There is a place to tip your tour guide and we didn't have cash on hand, but he definitely deserved a tip. :)

A big strike in the trees deep in the Forrest of Baldwin. Very wholly place

Great place to visit, beautful woodworking The building structure is amazing in it self, houseing so much more inside. Every piece of furniture is uniquely hand crafted ..A step back in time when people were totally self sufficient....A must stop when in Baldwin Michigan....

Always an excellent adventure at Iron Fish. Excellent craft cocktails, great 4 cask bourbon and friendly interactional staff. Stayed out there for a night as they are also members of Harvest Hosts. Happy to be a member of their whiskey club. Great folks.

This place is fun! Worth the drive food is very tasty and reasonable priced (yeah usually doesn’t happen) Had toasted godfather old fashion great drink! Spin dip was amazing and mote than enuf great value for $12 Would come back here and spend time with friends

This was our first time to the Iron Fish Distillery, despite it being a rainy August day in the 60’s this place was great. I ordered a whiskey flight to try the different offerings and was pleasantly impressed vs some other Michigan distilleries that’s we’ve tried over the years. We ordered a margarita pizza that came out delicious and was enough to split between two people with a cocktail or flight. On the way out we checked out the bottle shop and were able to taste a few awesome bottles that aren’t in shops locally to us. At the end of the day I ended up buying the Mad Angler B&B 100 proof. Cheers and definitely make a stop here if you’re looking for a great food and drink experience.

Very neat place. Staff was very friendly and super knowledgeable, highly recommend! EDIT: ended up coming back a couple months later, and the staff was just as friendly and helpful. Really loved the wood fired pizza and the rotating slush. This will be a stop every vacation moving forward.

The entire energy is wonderful especially for groups of people. The outside seating is cozy, plenty and relaxing feel. The staff was friendly and attentive to our group and made the experience of taste testing fun!

Had an absolutely WONDERFUL time! Got a fabulous tasting with Taryn who explained all of the different spirits & came home with a big assortment of things. Wish we lived closer because of all of the fun events they have!

Off the beaten path but well worth the trip. In the middle of fields of grains to make the bourbon & whiskey, there’s a distillery, tasting room & restaurant with in room & outside dining. We love it all.

The host Lyndsey had an adorable dog named Cheddar! Super cute and friendly, BOTH of them! The trail itself is intense! Hilly, and rutty. Nice hike, IMO, I like a work out. Art was decent.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount, quality, and variety of artwork found along the extensive walking paths at Michigan Legacy Art Park. Since this is an entirely out of doors exhibit, you can expect that all of the sculptures are under assault by wind, rain, and snow, but to me that slow wear and tear is part of the appeal. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into nearly all of the sculptures. My favorite was the Stockade Labyrynth -- inside the structure, I felt as though I was on the set of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" or maybe transported back in time to pre-colonial America. Very cool and this exhibit alone is worth the price of admission. I tried to capture some of the essence of the structure in B&W photos, but the space itself is entirely three dimensional.

Amazing sculptures and views. Trails are well maintained, but it is very hilly. They do warn you of this before you start. There also isn't much parking in the immediate area, not sure where overflow parking is, but there was a wedding when I went so I imagine parking isn't a huge issue under normal circumstances. Regardless, it was very worth the visit.

Another unexpected stop that we loved. I saw information for this while visiting the spa at Crystal Mountain so on a rainy day we put on our jackets and set off. We had no idea it would be so extensive. We hiked round in the rain for about an hour enjoying the installations and the beautiful fall leaves. I would highly recommend this!

Outhouse at beginning of trail & about 10 min ahead on trail at education ctr & small amphitheater. Take water with you! Be prepared for some steep hills up & down. Watch for tree roots & some fun sculptures!

Interesting hike with art sculptures scattered about. I would like to go back and explore the entire hiking path when more time is available. Bring appropriate shoes for hiking as the path can be steep or loose in spots.

The Legacy Park gives children and adults a quiet, reflective, and physical adventure that is incredibly rare. The Park is of paramount importance at this time in history. Patricia is incredibly accommodating, calm, and communicative. She brings art projects to our school each year and the kids love being part of the Park's art. The volunteers have been wonderful to work with as well. We love the MLAP and its members!

Yes, the views of Crystal Lake are amazing! Our king room looked right to the lake. The room was clean, but small. Because of the time of year, the room stayed humid, even with the air/fan going constantly. It was comfortable temperature-wise, though. The bed was very comfortable, with good pillows and nice linens. As others have mentioned, it seemed a bit expensive for the quality of the room. I was very grateful when my husband got sick, and we had to go home a day early. They refunded my last night's room cost without question.

This resort was perfect for a little Up North pit stop. We were scheduled for 2 nights but when we had an issue at our Air BNB we were able to get in for a 3rd! The owner was amazingly sweet & accommodating! Kelly at the front desk & the 2 gals in house keeping were super friendly too! Great location & loved the private area by on the lake, very peaceful! My only suggestion would be to get better pillows. The pillows were too thin & not comfortable. Sleeping in a foreign bed is hard enough but hotel pillows always make a huge difference.

We enjoyed our stay. The rooms were comfy and clean. Well stocked with the things you would expect. Microwave, Kurig, small refrigerator, towels and toiletries. Large TV. Beds were medium firm and comfortable. Pretty view of the lake.

We booked a 1 night stay here and had a wonderful experience. Service was wonderful. We appreciate receiving champagne and a nice card for our honeymoon. Beach access is just steps away. Beautiful sunsets. Crystal lake is clear and beautiful. Definitely recommend if you need to stay somewhere in northern Michigan. Thank you again for the wonderful hospitality.

My husband reserved a room during the triathlon this weekend (9/14/24) He called yesterday to confirm his reservation and was told he was all set to check in today. When he arrived he was told that they had sold his room to someone else and there was nothing they could do. They claimed someone called and told them to release it. This is not true. Thankfully he was able to get a room somewhere else after calling around everywhere. Mind you he drove 5 hours to get there, and was told he had no room. The front desk staff was unhelpful and showed no remorse or offered any way to fix the problem. He never requested the room to be sold. The place he was able to book successfully said that this is a common occurrence with this establishment so I would be cautious when booking. I can't comment on the rooms or location since he had nowhere to stay. However we will never book with them again. He had confirmation of reservation and payment from Expedia and his email, he offered to provide it and was told it was too late it had already been sold.

Rooms were very, very small. Could not get the heat to work. Shower was 24 inches square and TV has very poor reception. Beautiful spot on the lake.

The people who run this place along with cold creek are amazing hosts. I will only stay here when I come up to the west side.

Really love this camp ground! Nice sites and the bathrooms and showers we always cleaned and well maintained. The showers never ran out of hot water and the pressure was amazing. The access to both lakes there was also great, the one you can watch the sunrise and stays pretty calm which is nice for younger kids and the other you watch the sunset and gets deeper which the older kids really enjoyed. It does get windy over there for more waves but plenty of shallow for the littles. Would definitely recommend.

A very nice State Park along the highway that is well shaded by many mature trees. There's a spacious pavilion, a large boat launch and a well-manicured beach.

Beautiful area to see both lakes and the canal. A sandy beach located on Mitchell lake side to soak up sun and waves.

First time camping here. Nice large camping spots. Boat ramp and tie up area. Very clean and quiet considering its almost full on July 4th week. Friendly helpful staff. Would definitely stay again.

Went to fish there on our way outta state. Nice beautiful park with a canal connecting two lakes. We fished the canal and had a great time. Could only imagine getting the boat out there.

Its a nice park, the only thing is no water hook ups so there is a big line to wait to fill up. It was pretty quiet and full over the holiday weekend. The funny thing is I looked to see if i could bring my own firewood and the website said no. But after being here a few days I saw a few sites had enough wood to heat for the winter and it wasn't purchased from the park! If they are going to let that happen then take it off your site that I can't bring my own wood.

Nice camp ground with boat ramps to both lakes (connected by a canal). Full of history and fish!

Booked the new “Taste of the Village” tour to visit the underground tunnels and try some beer & wine. Joe was an excellent guide and the stops were delicious. I was completely shocked by the community itself, i had no idea there were people living there, a bustling market, and great eateries & coffee. Highly recommend swinging through.

Creative reuse of a old ventral institution. Basement area filled with lots of quaint and charming retail shops with friendly staff. Worth a visit.

The asylum tour sounded very interesting so my husband and I booked a 2 hour tour dispite our kids teasing that it sounded “very romantic”🙃. While waiting for the tour to begin I was impressed with the very thick walls and the historical timeline on the wall that said that more than 8 million yellow bricks were used in building the asylum . Our guide was Clover, and she was very informative and answered all our questions. She not only knew the history and material very well, but her passion for the place was very evident . We learned a lot of history of the asylum, facts about the buildings and grounds, its founding members and other people who were key in making life better for the mentally ill at that time. She pointed out the ventilation system, cutting edge at the time, that gave them the best cure rates for the TB patients among many other benefits. She took us through the main building, I loved the chapel, through one of the cottages where residents lived, up into the attic and down through the steam tunnels with the concave floors. She warned us if we were claustrophobic we might have issues down in the steam tunnel, but I never felt confined down there. It has one hallway with a low ceiling, but I was able to walk through with no problem. Clover had all kinds of stories of the patients lives at that time. Clover was very eager to share her knowledge and even after the tour was done she tried to help my husband find the book with a perfect quote that she had used. When she wasn’t able to put her hands on it right then she took his contact info to get back with him with the information. Her enthusiasm and attention to the individuals in our tour group was greatly appreciated.

I went with my husband on the 2-hour guided tour. We are from out of town. It was interesting and the tour guide herself was very enthusiastic and you could tell she really loved her job. My only caveat, which I think I would have reconsidered doing this all together if I knew, was that you were outside in the cold the WHOLE time. 1 hour and 45 minutes outside/in the abandoned building with NO heat and broken windows, and then maybe 15 minutes actually inside (the tunnel was heated, and the historic building itself where you start and end the tour). I was freezing. Truly. Freezing. It was cold out, but I dressed to prepare for approx 1 hour outside as it’s stated, not for near 2. It’s 37° outside. I think this should be a point to tell newcomers, as it kind of tarnished my enjoyment of the tour because near the end I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. A majority of the tour is also just standing outside of the building, looking at it, and listening to facts. There’s less “touring” and more just listening and staring at similar things. Again, my enjoyment was not as high as I would have liked, because I just kept wondering when I’d get into warmth. I couldn’t even take off my gloves for photos because it was that cold. I would NOT recommend touring this is it’s under 50°, unless you love cold weather. Even my significantly large husband was very cold.. the guide was kind, the facts were interesting. It could have easily been a 1 hour tour.

We booked the 1hr tour and had Ruth Ann as our tour guide. She was delightful. The tour was interesting, well timed, and personal. Definitely a great way to start our vacation! Thank you!

The Village was a fascinating and enjoyable location to visit in Traverse City. Interesting enough, the building was used as a state of the art mental facility where patients were treated with kindness and respect. The building is now used to house small shops and food stalls. The building and grounds are absolutely beautiful. The shops inside are fantastic and you could find pretty much anything of interest to you. The history of the building was interesting and reading about it gives you a glimpse into the importance of Traverse City to the region. Make sure you visit when all the shops and stalls are open inside.

The 90-minute Explorer Building and Tunnel Tour at GT Commons was outstanding! Our guide (Sean F) was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Would recommend it for people who want to learn about the history of the former GT State Hospital. What an amazing, innovative, human-centered and healing place this once was.

Unique atmosphere. Not busy. Hard to be a 'first timer' - no host, busy bar staff. Lots of pinball - fun, but noisy. Pizza was delicious (in spite of lingering smell of burnt food). Beer was nothing special, but not bad. Sunday special is a good value.

This place is incredible. A super great atmosphere with a ton of vintage pinball machines and some other arcade games. The beer was delicious & has a huge variety that you can't go wrong with. The pizza was absolutely incredible. I had that BBQ chicken and it was awesome. Great service too as the owner, Russ, was there to personally greet us. Definitely a must stop if you're ever in Traverse City. Keep Beer Curious!

Pizza is awesome and the garlic cheese bread sticks were great. The big pretzel is huge and takes up a medium size pizza box. I’m not a drinker but they have a huge selection of different drinks. They have lots of pinball machines and the kids love it. Very family friendly.

One of my personal favorite stops in the Traverse city area. They have a solid selection of different beers and some seltzers. Lots of different arcade games available to while you're hanging out. Looked like the night we were there they had a comedian in the back room. Chips and popcorn were available for snacks.

Update August 2024- We just visited here again with four adults, two toddlers, and a baby. The drinks and food were still great. It’s louder than we remember, but still a great time. Parking seemed a lot easier than last time with a lot nearby. Thank you Right Brain for a very enjoyable and safe experience during Covid. This is located outside of the crowded (with many unmasked) downtown Traverse area, making it a great stop if you’re around and want to feel like you’re making a safer choice. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Check out the food truck for tasty eats if you go here.

Great beer, excellent pizza, and an extensive variety of well-maintained pinball machines. Spent over $30 in quarters in the span of a few hours. Money well spent! I'll be back.

Super funky and eclectic brewery with old school pinball machines that were lots of fun. Very kid friendly with super interesting beer flavors. Probably our favorite brewery during our visit to traverse city for the chill vibes!

Very fun, informative tour. Harrison was knowledgeable, friendly and a caring host. The company is ran professionally and I greatly appreciate the local sourced and natural ingredients. Thank you!

I have nothing but good things to say about this place. If you are looking for a good family owned place in traverse city I would highly recommend. The lady who served us was an absolute delight. She was so funny and so helpful and very knowledgeable about what she does. We went in not knowing what to expect but left very pleasantly surprised. Not to mention the liquor was very tasty. 10/10 would recommend!

Showed up on a beautiful day and Kent, the owner, personally walked us through his business and educated us on his passion for distilling. Such a great time! Amazing staff all around and then the absolute pinnacle was the tasting. Shelby was awesome and provided so much knowledge on each flavor and style. I recommend this hands down....100% for a fun and enjoyable outing up here in TC.!!!

We just left Grand Traverse Distillery and Omg what an awesome tour!! Harrison was super informative and extremely interesting. We have been to some larger places in KY and they have nothing on this place. The pride in their products shows 100% and I back my 5 star review. Its worth the time & $. I'll bet you'll take a bottle home with you!!

Super fun tour! Very informative, and the tasting that comes with the tour is amazing! They'll even let you taste their most expensive bottles if you'd like! They like to let the whiskey sell itself as the tour guide told us!

We took the Saturday afternoon tour and it was amazing!!! It’s a pretty quick tour, about 30 min, but for only $10 a person it was a great deal, we learned a lot, and it came with a free tasting glass. Our tour guide was fantastic and made great drinks. You can get a cocktail beforehand to take on the tour! Lots of unique items to buy in the shop. We also loved that all staff is vaccinated, and masks were required on the tour, it made us feel more comfortable and safe.

My husband I drove in from Cleveland, OH and decided to sign up last minute for a distillery tours in the hopes for something original and authentic and we got just that! Loved it. Thank you Grand Traverse Distillery.

What a wonderful experience at Chateau Chantal! First of all, the views are epic. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Our host and server, Bill, was absolutely fantastic — a great storyteller who made the winery tour both entertaining and educational. His knowledge and passion for the winery truly enhanced the entire experience. The food was outstanding, and the staff was incredibly accommodating with food allergies, which made the evening even more enjoyable. To top it all off, we had the special treat of meeting the owner, who shared an incredible personal story that added such a meaningful touch to the visit. A truly memorable experience — highly recommend!

The view of the bay on the patio of Chateau Chantal is breathtaking. The wines are great. I do wish they would add more umbrellas to their patio, because on a hot and sunny day it is almost unbearable. But we love it here. Especially recommend their wine dinners.

The view here is absolutely stunning and probably the highlight of the visit. Unfortunately, the overall experience felt too commercialized, with more emphasis on the sales side than on creating a genuine wine experience. The wines were fine but fairly standard, nothing that really stood out. If you’re coming for the scenery, it’s definitely worth a stop, but if you’re looking for something more authentic or intimate, this may not be the place.

This winery was one of a handful I visited on a trip from Ohio. It was a pleasant midweek August evening with a moderate crowd. My wine experience is moderate to advanced, so I selected a wine flight. The pours were substantial enough that I was able to determine if bottles were coming home with me; not all Michigan wineries had such a privilege. I brought home the 2021 Malbec Tango, and the 2022 Proprietor's Trio. Fantastic!

We have traveled really far away from Singapore back Michigan to revisit. This time we choose to stay with Chateau Chantal. It’s so pleasure experience that the room is well designed, all staff are very friendly, breakfast is very delicious. AND, there is beautiful sunset here at the top of chateau. What a wonderful holiday, we love it. At the last but not least, we are amazed by Mr Bob’s incredible introduction of winery’s history. We wish him and the family all the best. Many thanks.

Great setting, wine decent food not good at all we got a flight of red a flight of white and a "local bread". The wines were okay, nothing special and the bread came out still frozen in the middle. All in all for over $50 with a tip average at best.

Been to a lot of wineries in the TC and peninsula area but we keep coming back to Chateau Chantal. Not only do they have amazing wines but the building and views from the outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards are breathtaking. The staff are wonderful and friendly. If your doing a wine tour I highly recommend Chateau Chantal to be on your list!

This winery was one of our top 2 wineries in Traverse City. Both the wines and the service were excellent! We did 2 tasting flights and ended up buying a case of all of them. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and efficient! The menu included fresh charcuterie boards and mocktails for the designated driver. Our daughter/driver said the healthy drink she ordered was the best she has had. The location is breathtaking! This winery is definitely a 5-star winery! We will be back!

Our favorite wine on the peninsula! The menu is simple compared to others in the area, but each wine they offer is a classic that's bound to please. The building itself is a louder/open atmosphere, but the view is beautiful and there was some seating outdoors. We tried 3 different wines in the flight and each were very good

Enjoyable stop at 2 Lads Winery on the Old Mission Peninsula. Great views of Grand Traverse Bay while enjoying a glass of wine and a splendid charcuterie. Not being a wine enthusiast i cannot comment on the wine quality however the charcuterie was top notch amd the staff was extremely engaging. This is great stop while visiting the peninsula and i would have given a 5 rating if not for the deisel tour bus parked next to the outside seating, idleing loudly, and kinda ruining the serenity of beauty and views.

Amazing view and tasty wine. They have a wide variety to choose from. The basic tasting includes three flights and costs $15 (September 2025). We sat in the terrace and enjoyed the view. Great plan for a sunny day!

Had a lovely visit amongst many wineries this fall season! We enjoyed the wine, but wish there was a better way to order and bring drink outside - we were in a line at the front bar that seemed to grow very fast but was slow to move through in order to order. I think offering menus while we waited in line would have helped move through the line much faster. The menu was not giant which was nice, but more limited options for picky people. Next we went outside and the views were stunning - water, open yard, and chairs on a hill to take in all the colors. I wish there were more outdoor chairs - at peak season, 15ish chairs outside were not enough and a lot of people standing around with food and drink in their hand waiting. We did play Cornhole which was very fun. Wishing there was more space and more menus to review before ordering!

A delightful tasting room in a spectacular location! We tried other wines on the peninsula and this was our favorite. Knowledgeable and very friendly bar staff. Plus -- that view!! We went in September on a Sunday and there was no wait at the bar.

2 Lads has always been one of our favorites. Their wine is some of the best. The view over the lake is amazing. Jess is very knowledgeable about anything you might ask. She knows about harvesting the grapes and how the weather affects the harvest for the year. Besides just being very knowledgeable she is also very professional. She is a lot of fun and has a great personality. We always enjoy meeting up with her at 2 lads. It is always a welcoming atmosphere.

The water was very low so we were able to walk out and look for rocks. It started to rain and we saw a rainbow! The lighthouse is pretty as well. Nice place to come check out and look for rocks 😊

This is a wonderful historic lighthouse that has been refurbished and maintained well by the local historical society. You can enter the lighthouse for a fee, but parking and access to the shore is free. It is great to walk into the water especially in the summer. You can walk at least a couple hundred feet into the lake because it is very shallow. A great place to visit with family and friends of all ages.

Fabulous area with historical interest and a beach. The beach is shallow so it’s a great spot for kids, the lighthouse offers self guided tours with many historical and informative displays. Cool items at the gift shop and many photo opportunities in the area

Wonderful park with the historic lighthouse. The beach access is easy and takes you out to a large beach in either direction. The water was shallow very far out which made for a great rock hunting spot. But you do need water shoes the broken shells that pile up hurt your feet. There are a few benches and a swing set on the beach. Next to the lighthouse before you go to the beach there's a few picnic tables which makes for a perfect shady spot to enjoy a meal.

We visited the Old Mission Lighthouse this morning. It is definitely worth a visit! Beautiful view and nice, little gift shop. You do have to buy a ticket to climb up the stairs into the lighthouse. An old cabin is also on the trail to the lighthouse. You can actually go into the cabin through the door on the backside. Very interesting!

We did not enter the lighthouse, but we did see it from the outside. While the parking lot was busy we still felt like we had the beach to ourselves which was nice with our dog. Just an overall beautiful place!

I had never been to Old Mission and wanted to go skygazing and it seemed like a good spot to do that. And it was totally spectacular! It was a super clear night when I went out and could visibly see the milkyway, shooting stars, and a very pleasant surprise showing of the Northren Lights! Even though most of my visit was in the dark the view did not disappoint and was totally worth it. I would like to come back another time during the day to explore.

I've never seen more gorgeous fruits and veggies for sale. If I wasn't traveling for my job, I buy the stuff to make a primavera! It w as fun to walk through the lawn and garden center too. Whimsical displays and beautiful flowers too. I saw the place as I drove by, turned around and stopped in. I dont regret the decision!

Visited the market on Tuesday by Thursday they had started to rot/mold before canning them. I should have been able to get around 10 quarts from the half bushel I purchased, but only got 6. Definitely not impressed with the quality of produce purchased. Have the proof of the receipt for date of purchase if needed.

Great selection of fruits and veggies. Local strawberries are not quite sweet. Cherries are a little sour still.

Super great prices. In season produce. The plums, peaches, and grapes were super good. The honey crisp were huge sweet and crunchy! So good dipped in caramel. They had the most beautiful mum plants in a vibrant purple color.. lots of great buys. Stop in its great. Only 2 blocks from main/131.

So many yummy things! Amazing fresh produce and plants!

I have to say, I'm not very happy with this place right now. Early this week I purchased deer feed, carrots, beets, and apples. The apples were being sold as "deer feed" in small clear bags and I bought a few. When I got home I noticed those apples were actually marketed for human consumption, had defects or were rotting, and subsequently removed from the bins for people and added in random amounts to sell as deer feed. The PROBLEM here is this business left stickers on every single apple I had to remove so deer don't end up dying because their stomachs cannot process paper. This is just lazy and puts wildlife at risk, i can't imagine how many people did not notice this when distributing these in the woods.

Very great place first time coming here however fresh pears, peaches, avocado and limes, oh and the chocolate milk from a grass fed cow was amazing we drink it before we got home! Very friendly people and great variety of fresh veggies and fruits along with pies, pastries, and, canned goods!

The area is super nice. Great golfing. Many things to do. Food is average, nothing special. The rooms well I could not find pictures on their website when I booked. The king studio was roomy and bed was good. But the room looks like it's from 1985. Super old microwave, stove and fridge. Room is big and they have thee smallest TV on the wall. Maybe 27 inch. For the price they charge per night at least update. Not a premier resort IMO

We just wrapped up an 8-man guys’ golf trip at Shanty Creek Resort in the heart of northern Michigan, and let me tell you—it delivered in every way. We came for the fall weather, three straight days of golf, and a little escape, and we left more than impressed. The Golf Our itinerary: 18 holes on day one, followed by back-to-back 36-hole marathons. We played every course on the property—The Legend, Hawk’s Eye, Cedar River, and Schuss Mountain—and somehow each round felt like it topped the last. Schuss Mountain is the resort’s hidden gem. Don’t let it fool you—it’s beyond tranquil, framed with mountain views, and home to a par 3 that feels like teeing off inside a pine-tree colosseum. Easily the most undervalued track of the bunch. The Legend, Hawk’s Eye, and Cedar River are exactly what you’d expect from a premier northern Michigan golf destination—scenic, challenging, and pristine. Summit is in good shape but plays like something you’ve seen at home. Compared to the others, it can be skipped without guilt. Every single course was in exceptional shape. The greens? Some of the best you’ll ever roll a putt on—true, fast, and consistent. Lodging & Amenities The common areas and restaurants feel updated and modern, while the rooms themselves are slightly dated—but honestly more than good enough for the value. Beds were comfortable, everything was clean, and that’s what matters. I read some complaints about the small TVs, but if you’re doing your trip right, you won’t be in your room long enough to care. What you will care about after two days of 36 holes is the fitness center, hot tub, and sauna, which are absolute lifesavers. The shuttle system is another perk—call for a pickup, and you’re on your way in under 10 minutes. No driving required, which keeps things easy and safe for groups. Food & Drink I’d read a review before our trip saying the food was “just okay.” That person couldn’t be more wrong. Every meal our group had was excellent and fairly priced for resort dining. My personal recommendation: the beer-battered chicken tenders (tendies). Absolute must. Final Take Shanty Creek gave us exactly the trip we were hoping for—great golf, good food, easy logistics, and plenty of laughs along the way. If you go, make time for all the big courses, don’t sleep on Schuss, and whatever you do, order the tendies.

The stay here was fine and the view was pretty, but I would compare it to a roadside motel not a resort... The rooms are SO dated and the buildings need major work. The ladder in the pool was broken and my husband hurt his foot (when he went to the front desk to tell them so no one else got hurt, they asked if he wanted an incident report and then sent a maintenance guy in there to literally rip the ladder out), the railings on the balconies are wobbly and the wood is rotting, not to mention the wasp nest above us. In our room the hair dryer didn't work and the hand towel rack fell off the wall. My husband went down to get a hair dryer for me and the front desk asked if we would remind them when we checked out... The service at the restaurant there was subpar... Waited quite a while for anyone to come over to our table. Didn't have the happy hour menu when we sat down and when the server gave it to us they expected us to know what we wanted to drink and what apps we wanted right away. Then we order dinner and the food was really good but I asked the server for a sauce and she just never came back. We waited at least 20 minutes after we finished eating for our server to come over for boxes and a bill. We finally had to flag another server down. Then close to 10 minutes later someone came over to ask how the food was and get us our bill... I would have understood if they were crazy busy but there were multiple servers and only 7 tables.

Booked a stay for Nov. 21st, thinking there would be snow since they said they make snow. Turns out, their ski activities don't open until December, but nowhere on their website does it say that. Speaking of their website is not user-friendly, and they don't have updated pictures to properly show what the resort looks like. I lost $90 reserving a room just to pretty much be told I wouldn't be able to do anything if I went--would have been nice if the website had "WINTER SEASON OPENS DECEMBER" on their main page.

It is a dated building, not all of the staff are amazing, but the views and ambiance are. My wife compared it to dirty dancing resort. We overlook the minor and celebrate what matters. We come for our anniversary nearly every fall

Went here for a work conference in the fall & the scenery was beautiful with all of the leaves changing color. It was very convenient that they give you a card allowing you to charge things to your room. While the lobby was updated the rooms are lacking modern updates. Walls are pretty thin & doors at the end of the hallways slam shut which is annoying when trying to relax in your room. Also inconvenient, & this might have been due to the time of the year I was there, is that they didn’t have any food available to order after a certain time in the evening, I believe it was 10pm, even though their site states that the kitchen was open until 2am. I did love that they had a bar & coffee bar in the lobby & the fact that there was a small pub within walking distance of the main resort. I would definitely stay there again but I’m hoping they make some changes.

0 stars if I could. Unsafe property: No sidewalk from our Airbnb to the main resort. We had to walk across parking lots and a steep grassy slope with exposed wires. My father’s foot got stuck in the exposed wire, fell into the parking lot, bruising ribs and injuring his knee. Management failed us: Maintenance quickly dug up the wire and apologized. But when we submitted medical bills, the GM refused to cover them, blaming us for the fall despite there being no safe path and exposed wires. Outdated facilities: The resort feels old and poorly maintained. Bottom line: I regret spending money here. Dangerous property and uncaring management make this a place I would never recommend for families.

Amazing place to go to the beach! To the sandbar goes out a long ways so there’s plenty of room for everyone to be in the water and it’s not crowded. Even though there were hundreds of people there we had plenty of space.

Fantastic park! The bathhouses and restrooms are well maintained and new, there's drinking water available at a few spigots and the walk to the lake is relatively short. The only drawback is that some sites back up to a main road which is rather noisy; do yourself a favor and pay attention to the site map.

Great place to go camping and boating. Family-friendly clean water. Nature trials and playgrounds. Can be hard to get a site on certain dates. Been a fav for 40 years.

This State Park is absolutely beautiful. But if your first trip is approaching Memorial Day or before, the park is in maintenance mode. Site lawns aren’t cut, park is short staffed so if you need something or have some questions, it’s best to write them down and ask when you find someone! No registration until 3 pm so plan accordingly or you will be waiting around the dump station with a hundred other campers all making a beeline to the registration shack at 3! It’s crazy and ridiculous. It’s especially frustrating when previous camper has to be off the site at 1 pm and when you arrive at 3 with garbage in your fire pit and extra long grass. Fast forward 2 hours: So shortly after I was told the park was short staffed, we noticed a Park Truck with 4 or 5 park people in it. The truck was marked. We thought they were checking out what needed to be done. Until they stopped at the playground and started swinging on the swings!!! Our tax dollars at work!

The water has a nice sandy bottom and you can wade out for a very long way with it still being very shallow. They have campsites. Grills. A bit down from the regular beach is a dog friendly beach. Great for kids and adults alike.

We had the best day at the beach! Shallow water to put your beach chair in! Clean water. Great Atmosphere. Will be back.

Gorgeous Michigan gem! We discovered there are now several paved full hookup sites one of which we were able to enjoy. Just a 5 - 8 minute shaded path to the pristine waters of North Higgins Lake. They have a dedicated dog beach, doggy potty bag stations, and everything was clean and well maintained. There are newer restrooms and large showers close by.

My wife and I spent a peaceful morning rock hounding at Fisherman’s Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan, and it was a truly rewarding experience. The quiet shoreline, especially in the early hours, offered a perfect setting to search for Charlevoix and Petoskey stones. We found a few beautiful specimens and really enjoyed the simple joy of exploring together. This spot is a hidden gem for anyone who appreciates Michigan’s natural beauty and the thrill of uncovering unique rocks along the water’s edge.

Great beach. Very secluded. You can definitely find a spot to call your own. Lots of rocks to look through just into the water. There is nice one mile hike along the shore if you want to walk.

This is our favorite beach to go to! The kids easily find Petoskey stones, Charlevoix stones, and other fossils. The beach is mostly sandy with some stoney areas, and places to sit in the shade of trees. There are 3 parking areas for beach access, and the one at the very end puts you within walking distance to the island. That's the coolest thing to do, too! You can walk right out to the island and then walk around it! The camping is also pretty great, and there are nice/easy trails to hike. No electricity, vault toilets, water available. Good for tents and small trailers, like pop-ups. There is a cement factory nearby that produces a constant humming noise, and small planes frequently fly overhead between Charlevoix and Beaver Island.

We camped at the south campground. The beaches are wonderful but rocky. Wear water shoes. And if you’re camping try to get one of the beach side sites.

Best beach on the north end of the park .bedrock with fossils on the south end. Limited camp sights not on top of each other. All rustic. Good day use access 😎

The beach is beautiful! Perfect sunsets every night! The campsites were clean and everyone was so friendly and helpful! Dog friendly even on the beach!

This place was absolutely amazing. My wife and I loved looking for Petoskey stones. If that’s what you’re looking for you’ve come to the right place. There are several right underneath your feet.

I'll say this place is truly amazing and I appreciate that they saved it . However, it needs some upkeep. The self tour us nice but some of it is run down again . No fish could be seen in the reflection pond as it looked horrible. The 35 garden was over grown and dangerous. It's nice, but if you're gonna charge full price, have it ready.

Our daughter got married at Castle farms on July 25, 2025 and it was beautiful. Castle Farms is a huge venue as well as a tourist attraction. Once you rent the area you want, she had the knights castle and courtyard, you can get the table and linens from there but everything else is outsourced. We live in NC so photography, catering and flowers were all done via FaceTime. Everything turned out beautiful - there were a few little things that should of been ready and waiting but weren’t - we had to remind them - like the AC and mini fridge in the bridal suite were not turned on until until tight before we got there and were on low do the room was warm - the make up / hair stylist had to turn it down cause the room was too warm ( she has done several weddings there) and they did stock the mini fridge after we were already in there getting ready but everything was hot and no ice so it didn’t really help , had to remind staff about the golf cart and the lawn games- don’t get me wrong it is a beautiful place but for what you pay even the smallest details should not be overlooked. I would recommend Castle Farm for events and just to tour .I really love everything about it! We enjoyed the wedding and I loved the Dragon- I do wish we had more time to explore the grounds and buildings. We will on our next trip! Also they allow dogs at the ceremony but not in the buildings.

What a nice adventure. So much too see. Operating outdoor trains, inside pub, outside "enchanted forest" ...fountains and gardens. What a great place for weddings and family gatherings. Price includes a ride around the facility otherwise enjoy the stroll around the estate.

This is a MUST stop for anyone visiting the Charlevoix, Mi area! Steeped in history and extensive collections of memorabilia, beautiful gardens, enchanted garden trails, miniature whimsical train village, reflective pool, wine tasting, tram tour of the grounds and more. This site also has 5 amazing private venues suitable for truly royal wedding experience. Tickets are reasonably price and you'll want to make plans for a full day to take in all that Castle Farms has to offer.

We got married at Castle Farms in the Knights Courtyard & castle and truly cannot recommend it more!! The day was beautiful, Bella our coordinator (provided by the Castle) went above and beyond to make it perfect, and the guests were all amazed with the venue and kind staff. The bridal suite in the knights castle is perfectly located by the ceremony space and they were extremely prepared for all vendors involved. We don't live nearby (6++ hr drive) and they were wonderfully accommodating to any questions we had. Thank you to the Castle Farms staff for a wonderful day, but mostly thank you to Bella for being the most reliable, friendly, and detail oriented coordinator we could have asked for!

It was nice and pretty. There wasn't as much to see indoors on the tour as there was to see outdoors and the grounds and it was pretty chilly outside so we didn't stay very long. Seems like it would be a great place for a wedding venue.

Castle Farms is a great place to plan an event like a wedding because it has numerous banquet rooms in one large Castle structure. As far as historical interest or a tourist destination, it's not worth it. There is a model railroad that's cute but the gardens are rather limited in scope. If you're looking for historical furnishings, you will be disappointed.

A must if you are visiting Charlevoix! We had a great tour guide. She was super friendly and informative. I can't believe we have never considered doing this. We live within 30 minutes and have driven by a few of the houses and thought we were good but WOW! My husband and I even bought the book.

First time visitor to this area and highly recommend this most unusual attraction in Charlevoix, MI. Locally owned and operated by area residents makes this tour an "insider's delight" with facts about the fantastic history and most fascinating cottage homes in the historic district along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Super friendly guides, reasonably priced and our host allowed ample time for picture taking. Unable to view the inside of the homes as most are privately owned properties, but the tour included photos taken of many of the home interior features. Cute little gift shop for browsing local treasures while waiting for the tour, too!

Edith was a wonderful guide. We saw beautiful homes and heard the stories behind them. Lots of great info about charlevoix!

The owner who led the tour was very knowledgeable and informative. We enjoyed her company and the tour very much. Though we couldn’t see the interior of these beautiful homes, she gave us the code to see the interior virtually. She is A plus.

We had a great time during the tour, learned way more than if we had just walked around on our own! Plus it was fun to ride in the cart! 10/10 would recommend, I only wish we could go in the houses!

The tour was excellent. You learn so much about the town and the houses. Each house has its own character and design which makes learning about them fascinating. The day we went it started to rain but the tour car was very comfortable and made the experience fun. Go see the architecture even if you're really not into that stuff because you'll enjoy it.

This was a fun tour and I'm so glad that my wife and I went. Edith was a great guide and you could tell that she really enjoys what she does. Lots of information regarding all of these houses and how Earl Young built them is amazing.

Great place to camp! Enjoyed our stay. We had electrical site. Nice place to fall camp as you can also do some hiking. And you can visit the logging museum. With trails that will also take to you to a chapel in the woods.

Been going here for years. So sad all the damage to the good old pines. Our grandkids will never know. Bit I think it's time to mark the oldest tree's left. Along with what's left of the oddest. A lot was closed due to ice storms that came through in March. Very clean.

Beautiful park with full hookup campsites if wanted. Nice hiking trails with beautiful pines and aspens. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Very dog friendly.

Awesome campground! Very clean and staff are very friendly. The Visitor Center and Logging Museum are a great place to learn about Michigan's logging history and the development of the park. Tons of hiking trails!!!

Awesome park. Campground was full for our entire stat but very quiet. Beautiful park, well worth the drive.

Perfect place to visit when you need a peaceful walk. This quiet park has the best paved paths and very neat Logging Museum. Great place to bring lunch and sit at the picnic tables and take it all in!

The campsites are very nice along with all facilities. The visitor center is being renovated, ready about May 2026.

This is our second time here. First time was 5/5- workers were great, check in easy. Today was exact opposite. Check in was a nightmare. Only one worker checking in. Absolutely no organization. When second desk opened, they allowed other guests just cut in front of all of us that had been waiting well over 20 min. When someone tried to correct it, we were told too bad so sad. My kids love the park. And the slides are great. But just a cluster truck for check in and seating.

The kids enjoyed the park but did complain of cold water and it was cold. Water cold, cold. At 45 dollars I didn't even go down any water slides due to water temp. The hot tubs were tepid with very foamy water and could use a cleaning.

We have been to this hotel and Waterpark before and had been wanting to go back. The hotel was clean with friendly and efficient staff. The location was nice as it wasn't too far from home and there was a lot to do for my family. The Waterpark was disappointing. The water was cold especially in the lazy river. The slides were fun for my 5 year old but they were too big for my 3 year old to go alone and adults arent allowed on with them. The toddler area was full of bigger kids throwing water basketballs so my 3 and 1 year old could not enjoy that. The pool at the hotel was a lot more fun than the Waterpark. If we come again, we will skip the waterpark.

We went for the day for my son's birthday and it was so much fun. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The water park was a great size with lots to do. Our favorite part was the vertigo water slide!

Great place decent choices of water slides and related. Far better then great Wolfe lodge in my opinion as far as water park goes the location is the only downfall I believe being its hour from Traverse City which would honestly bring it way more business if there or even 30 min closer . But overall well worth it. Cheaper also

Really fun water park. Went for a day trip to the waterpark. My 3 year old LOVED it. I enjoyed the bigger slides too! Great experience.

Brought my daughter here for her birthday and we had fun. It was a decent waterpark we might come back 😉

It got a lot more expensive for everything than it was last year. I'm handicapped(I have a TBI)so I can't walk real far and they don't offer wheel chairs, well they do but they only have 3 wheelchairs on the property. Once they are gone they are gone. I only saw 1 being used the whole time and they had no idea where the other 2 were. You have to be quick about getting one because you can't have 1 held for you. Luckily the evening before I was coming home I found 1 just sitting up by the skybridge. That's a huge place that everyone should be able to enjoy and with all the walking I did the first day and a half I didn't get to enjoy it completely. The only enjoyment was spending time with my family. You would think that they would get a large supply of wheelchairs or some sort of walking assists so everyone can enjoy all the scenery. After paying for the travel there and the room it gets even more expensive because you don't really get anything included with the room. Food costs at least $40-$70 for 2 people to eat a small meal and $8-$10 for 1 drink. The pop and water machine is at least $3. So don't go here unless you really want to spend a lot of money

Great experience with friends and family. Waterpark is so much fun and at night the lights go out and kids have glowsticks. The lifeguards are just kids and don't really do much and kinda look like robots doing the same footwork. It's almost like their paying more attention to their footwork than the actual kids in the pool. But the whole resort is nice and clean. We had a blast and will definitely return.

We had a really great time over the weekend at this resort. The staff was incredible and took care of us for our 16th Wedding Anniversary. The resort is really clean and affordable, with plenty of things to keep busy. The spa staff was amazing and the food was really good at the different restaurants. We will definitely return for the ski season and for golf season.

All of northern Michigan is pretty but this resort is extra special. The grounds are vast and have exquisite landscaping. Thoroughly enjoyed riding the ski lift on a crisp Fall day to experience their Skybridge. A remarkable engineering feat, the bridge is the world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge. Breathtaking and fun to walk across. Thereafter, rewarded with a food truck/bar and the best Mother Nature could offer. Additionally, resort staff everywhere were sincere in their efforts to ensure we had a great time. Hope you’re lucky enough to run into Walter (who was actually security detail) since he’s a wealth of information and clearly appreciated his surroundings! Lovely gift shops, epic Spa (separate review,) restaurants … absolutely worth visiting. Don’t wait!!

Boyne Mountain Resort is absolutely amazing! The atmosphere is vibrant and relaxing at the same time — surrounded by beautiful scenery and cozy spaces that make you feel instantly at ease. Everything was well organized, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. It’s the perfect place to enjoy nature, relax, and have fun with friends or family. Truly an amazing experience that I would highly recommend!

Our family had a fantastic stay while there for a soccer tournament. We came a day before the soccer tournaments and wished we had another day to play. This was October 10th - 12th. We enjoyed the sky bridge, along with the festivities ( pumpkin smashing, horse back rides for the kids, axe throwing, the water park). The clock tower is a bit dated, but was clean. 98% of our group was together do all had fun. Charming old place with lots of beauty all around. Check in was the only thing that annoyed us, seemed very late on that part. We did arrive early and were patient about that, plenty to do, but it almost 4:30 by the time we got room keys. The kids could finally grab swim suits for water park which is only open from 4pm to 8pm.

The resort was nice - it felt like Disney world in the mountains. We loved the Skybridge and the ski lift up. We were here early October (as season is slowing down) but I was disappointed to learn that many of the activities closed early or were entirely closed. While I understand season was about over I wish we would have known beforehand that restaurants were closed and the hours were shorten than advertised online. Overall, I liked it and would love to see what it’s like during ski season.

The Sage Restaurant is not worth the price. The service was poor, the Oktoberfest menu was nice but had no October beer available with the German meal offerings. We were there on a Wednesday afternoon/evening, 2/3rds of the restaurant was empty. But still it took the server 10 minutes for our drinks as she had go to the other bar for my bottle of beer. Our food was good but over priced for the meal. Also the food was delivered on cold plates so by the time my pork medallions arrived they were cold. Also I had to go to the server station and get my own salt and pepper as we only saw the server when she delivered our drinks and brought us the bill. I have worked in food service all my life, this restaurant was very disappointing!

Nice casino, we didn't stay in hotel. We played slots, didn't do good or bad but did get adequate game play. Was very clean, friendly staff and customers. Only visited for a few hours so not a really indepth review. We wouldn't go out of our way to come back here but if we were in area anyway we would definitely stop in.

I love the Casino because it is smoke free and just feels cleaner!! I like that you can win here!! The machines do pay out!! Met some other players who were very nice and friendly! The workers at the Casino were also friendly and helpful! The hotel room was clean and the bed was comfortable- the TV was easy to use! The breakfast buffet in the morning was pretty good! Bagels, English muffins , cereal, fruit, and peanut butter and jelly! The coffee was ok!! I had a yogurt and toasted English muffin with jam and peanut butter and an apple!! 🍎 it filled me up!! I have happy memories at the Odawa Casino and hotel!! Oh and they do have a pool and hot tub!!

Alright. Come or coole bucks ahead. See what happens next time. The pizza lady was real nice. Gave me a deal on pizza just before closing. Thank you pizza lady.

Save your money and avoid this casino. Been going here for years and would at least win a little or get a hand pay once in a while. The floor wait staff used to be great, and you hardly see them. We are good tippers if they deserve it.The last 2 years have been a joke. Don't waste your time or money.

I truly don't know why or how but I am uncommonly lucky at casinos. I rarely go but I have some pretty good techniques for gambling. I've only been here 3 times and I left with close to what I started with twice and walked away with $1200 more than I started with once. DON'T TAKE THIS AS SOLID ADVICE! Most people lose...a lot. Best advice is to not go. Second best advice is give Odawa Casino a try. It's clean, fun and you just might run into me, Mr. Lucky!

Located off 131, behind Gordons', it was a little tricky to find. We followed a casino bus after we had missed our turn....twice...thanks to gps and digital maps. Typical casino with machines and eating options. Plenty of parking. We used complimentary tickets from our hotel and played the penny machines. Different from the Mackinaw Odawa, this one "keeps the change" when you want to switch machines with a low amount still available on your voucher. The desk attendants and cashier were friendly and helpful.

Quaint little museum, decent price and the staff was very friendly! It's also very educational and they provide scavenger hunts if you want them at the front of the museum. I took my three year old and he had so much fun!

This is a fun place for everyone. The museum was nice and interesting. They do have put put golf, go carts gift shop and fudge.

I just love this Michigan Gem. A wonderful little museum and shop that has the most beautifully done taxidermy dioramas, Showcasing Michigan wildlife and history. We visit at least once a year.

A little older but very interesting. The staff was very friendly. Huge selection in the gift shop. If your looking for fudge this is a must stop, they make it in house. its better than what we found in the bigger cities and for a better price! The exhibits in the museum are very interesting to look at. We especially liked listening to the animal sounds and seeing the ones that change. Definitely recommend this for families of all ages. We brought 4 kids between 12 and 18 and they all found something they liked.

Cute place to visit. I like that they have informational plaques at all the exhibits. They also aren't just "on display", the animals are in a nicely executed exhibits. Gift shop has some great items and really good fudge.

I have been here a few times, but recently stopped with our 4 and 2 year old. They have scavenger hunts which my 4 year old absolutely loved! My 2 year old was so very excited to see all the mounts. Definitely recommend.

Beautiful store. Great customer service, cheerful, helpful tons to look at and choose from. Fair prices. Fudge taste amazing. Did not get a chance to go into the museum this time but will be definitely be going back and touring the museum.

Love to check out the elk. Don't check them out from the viewing area though, you won't see them usually. Go to the back edge of the fence where they all hang out. They were within a foot of the fence right in front of us. So cool!

We were told that you do not always get to see the elk, but we got lucky. We had six bulls come out to feed at the viewing area and they were spectacular.

We were able to see some elk there. My complaint is the bathrooms at the picnic pavilion were locked.

I've never seen elk before. Husband and I were going to go elk spotting where we might not ever see any, however, this place allowed us to see them. Ironically on the way back to camp, 2 ran out in front of us. I wouldn't necessarily make a drive just to see them unless I was doing other things. I drove about 45 mins to see them.

Amazing views and if you catch the Elk at sunset they are very active!

Great place to see Elk up close. Would like to see them in a more natural environment.

This was Hey , good experience seen white deer and lots of elk very cool place to go and You just pull up a new watch and noplease.I would definitely suggest to try this out

Great place for an overnight stay..Has electric only in the sites 😔 so fill your tanks up.. Walk the beach,,look for rocks,, sorry NO sea shells here !! The Sand dunes are hard for walking,hope you are in shape!!! The black squirrels are fun... didn't see to much of the park,,I bet it's has more to offer than we seen so give it a shot you like it.... PS.. we don't like the registration fee for the out of state campers..$11.00 sucks!!

Great experience here! Less populated, slightly quieter than West Michigan beaches.. but amazing views looking straight at the Little Traverse Bay! The water is shallower and very blue. Easy to swim due to the protection of the bay. Snack bar and restrooms very clean and the parking was easy. Will 100% be back!

Great beach! You can park in the parking lot and literally take your shoes off at your car and walk straight into the sand! Can get busy. But we have visited here last year on a day it wasn’t easy at all. Clean restrooms and showers as well as outdoor showers, volley balls court, and bike rack. Lots of beach shoreline to walk and walking trails in the dunes in the trees. Lots of parking and easy in and out access. Great place to watch the sunset. And swimming beach. Find soft touching rocks.

Even though I didn’t go swimming, I absolutely loved my time at the beach in Petoskey State Park. The scenery was peaceful and beautiful, especially during sunset — truly a breathtaking view over the water. The beach was clean and well-maintained, with a relaxing atmosphere perfect for unwinding and taking in nature. A great spot for a calm evening by the lake!

In search of Petoskey stones. First went to the beach, did not even park because of crowd, and didn't think there would be many rocks on the beach. Drove to campsite entrance and walked .5 mile to boardwalk. We found several stones pretty quick. We also realized we could have much easier walked to rocky areas from the beach.

Park only had beach open this time of year(September). Walked the beach hoping to find Petoskey stones. Didn’t find those but found some other beauties.

Gorgeous beach to see the sunset. Rock hunting nearby with a shelter on the beach. Plenty of parking but we visited off season in early fall.

Wonderful spot for prayer or quiet meditation. Lovely garden walk with squirrels, chipmunks, and variety of birds. So peaceful. They also have daily Mass & an excellent gift shop.

I am not religious at all! I am gay, I grew up protestant. I visited this place on the way to Petoskey because it was listed online as one of those road side attractions you get out of the car and walk to. I saw the giant crucifix in the woods and the nun doll/mannequin museum. I was amazed, the crucifix is truly a work of modern art. And the grounds surrounding it are beautiful, a nice addition I’d say. I can only imagine how nice it is to actually attend this church and have some sermons outdoors or however they use that outdoor bit right below the crucifix, the church grounds also had these lovely statues and some beautiful flowers painting an overall contemporary and peaceful vibe to this establishment. And to that, the nun doll/mannequin museum was a really cool addition and gave you an opportunity as a guest to walk around the church, and see just how differently Christianity is amongst the different churches and branches. The mannequins and the dolls are each dressed to resemble the nun/pope/priest attire of whichever local church was labeled beneath it. Being from Metro Detroit, I thought it was so cool to see attire from nuns from Fraser and Detroit churches to make it to this museum, as well as across our other 50 states. This was also seemingly the largest collection of the sorts in the United States so that was awesome to see. Now, here is my few complaints. Growing up as a protestant: it was against my belief system to prop up Christianity in a way which is selling itself to others. I’ve never in my life been to a church that was so obviously monetary and tried to sell itself as such. I went to a smaller, quite frankly probably dying church, a German Lutheran one. The donations there, while I assume so here aren’t required; we’re definitely not required there. We took in massive amounts of homeless people and fed and housed them on the weekends. Perhaps it is just my smaller community, and the upbringing I have. But when you go, you’ll likely see what I mean; the gift shop, the optional donation boxes scattered around the church and outside. It must be great to exist in such a large and popular denomination, and I’m hoping that with this incredible budget (I’m assuming) the church has, that they do in fact give back to local communities such as mine did. Nonetheless, it was an interesting stop and I’m happy that I stopped by to see it.

1) The crucifix is the centerpiece of this beautiful shrine. It is massive 2) Multiple indoor chapels around the outdoor area such as Divine Mercy, St Peregrine and more. Each one should be visited and to pray for intercessions. 3) The grounds are very peaceful. Great to pray in nature 4) Gift shop is large 5) The doll museum feels 1970s but is worth looking at. I think the carpets need to be replaced down there. 6) I love how the museum connects to the church. Another place to pray and see the Crucifix without the elements.

Beautyful and Open to the Public this space of worship is amazing and epic! As soon as you reach the cross you feel soo happy, joyful and closer to god. I enjoyed the open space the walk thrue the land everything was kept soo clean. The groundskeeper needs a raise. hahaha

It was snowing lightly and was so beautiful. I have never been there in the winter. It is such a peaceful place. It is kept up very well. The ladies in the gift shop were so funny and kind.

The path to the cross is beautiful! The shop has alot of beautiful items as well and the church is just amazing! We didn't go for service but it's open to just sit there and speak with God.

An unexpected find on a drive towards the Upper Peninsula. The grounds are well maintained and have some other interesting sculptures along with the stations of the cross.

Big Bear Adventures was a wonderful choice for our anniversary Side-by-Side trip on the trails. We did the 2.5 hour guided trip with Dave, our guide, and it was perfect! Dave is very knowledgeable and makes safety a priority. I highly recommend Dave and we will be back!

Great outfitters! Loved the organization, helpfulness, and knowledge of all the employees. Our family of four did the two hour raft trip on the Sturgeon, and we had a great time! I will admit, the first hour was hard for us with all the downed trees (as we had been warned). Our kids (10&12) are fairly inexperienced and it was challenging for them. Overall, a really good experience!

Had a great experience with Big Bear Adventures. We did a 2 hour tour on a tube tracker. The first half of the trip was a bit tough through the downed tree obstacle course but the second half was a nice float. A little bit of a workout but not bad. What I want to highlight was the excellent young team they have hired - leadership, organization and customer service.

Horrendous! Not safe for a 5yr old to do rafting. Almost impaled a few times by fallen trees that they never cleared. Do not take your kids on the raft until they fix that issue. Also their directions are bad! We were told to turn right(should have been left) and we did and ended up almost by huge motorboats that were flying back and forth and could have hurt us. Not recommended for beginners or little kids as it was very frightening!

Had a fantastic time, everything was very clearly explained to the entire group. We had the ability to meet new people and help people get unstuck from obstacles. We also saw ducks on the river, which was great!!

What a AMAZING experience!!! Never experienced nicer stuff than here. Highly recommend to do 2 hour kayak trip it’s so much fun

Fun Time tubing the river, but this is not a lazy river to casually float! You need to be paying attention for obstacles above and below the water. We did have kids in our group (ages 6-16) that never tubed or canoed a river previously and the start of this trip was very overwhelming for them. All have been in and around water and know how to swim, but where we started the float was very fast and had a lot of trees. after the first 15-30 min they all got the hang of it and had a lot of fun as well! Tying tubes together is not recommended for large groups, but we did alright keeping 2-3 together without any issues. Overall very fun experience and would recommend, but we did have some issues to start our trip. As soon as we walked in the doors to the store, the workers seemed very overwhelmed and there is a lot of chaos even though I do not think they were really that busy. when we were paying and going through all of the rules and processes, we paid for all of our tubes including 2 cooler tubes. Those two tubes got left off our paperwork that we had to take from the store, drive our car around the building, give it to someone else who helps load the tubes and drives to the drop off spot. We reminded the driver of the cooler tubes that were not on the paper work, drove 10 minutes to the drop point and realized we were missing one tube. The driver had to go all the way back while we waited at the river. I don’t think this was his fault, it seems their process could be streamlined to set them up for more success.