It was clean , clear, beautiful! White sand the weather was clear sky’s and upper 80’s … PERFECT!

This is my fav spot to watch the sunrise and set with my person. Also love to take the kids here for a nice swim or a midday or early night fire at the fire rings. It's so peaceful and calming usually more so towards sunset generally pretty busy spot but great views and great times.

Great beach with delicious options at the snack bar. Playground for the kids and lots of parking. I've never seen it too crowded, but I've never been there on a weekend, and I imagine it would be busy then.

Beautiful views. Walking the lighthouses was a really cool experience, and the HUGE slides at the playground were a hit with the kids.

Came here while attending tight lines for troops fishing tournament on 18 May 2024. Another veteran showed me this awesome place. The place is a beautiful place. The lighthouse near the Cg station is a nice sight to see. You can fish along the channel, in the cement walkway it has holes to place fishing pole and lean against the railing, incase you hook that special beast!!! It has bathrooms. Breath taking sunset. Hampton Inn is across the street at the circle. The coast guard station across the channel. Public access. You can walk along the water across from the CG building. I would recommend anyone to go visit! Beautiful, clean, and definitely refreshing!A+++

1st Street Beach in Manistee is a peaceful spot with wide sand, clean water, and open views of Lake Michigan. Sunset here is something special, with the sky glowing in rich colors as the sun drops into the lake. Easy parking and a quiet, relaxed feel make it a great place to unwind.

A beautiful white sandy beach on the shore of Lake Michigan. The beach area, which has a playground for the kids, bathrooms, and a concession stand, is clean and well maintained. There's also a pier that you can take a leisurely stroll on for a beautiful view. 1st Street Beach is a very nice place for the entire family.

Great path to the lighthouse. People were jumping off the side of the walkway into the water. I just wish the beach there was dog friendly - signs clearly state no dogs on the beach. So we went to the lighthouse and left. The water is beautiful!

Absolutely beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy. The morning was shrouded in a dense, beautiful fog, and the afternoon was gorgeous! Great place to relax with the family.

Easy walk and a great breeze. We brought chairs and sat for a while just enjoying the view and breeze because it was so hot on shore.

Had never been here. Was a nice walk out to the lighthouse. People were fishing. Did see one man with a fish.

Gorgeous. Beautiful town, great wine, lovely beach.

Might just be my favorite pier in all of Michigan for the view and the fish!🐟 #fallsalmon

Was a nice walk on a beautiful, sunny day to the end of the Manistee Pier to see the lighthouse. It's on the smaller size, but on a nice day, a good walk.

The Manistee Indoor Flea Mkt has everything you can think of in the world of reselling and thrifting. Many booths and furniture and even a Harley motorcycle is available. Come check it out, for clothes, jewelry and, home decor. Paul the owner, and his partner, can help with all your needs.

Nice looking new walkway, a few restaurants along it. But the actual downtown buildings are so nicely preserved, freshly painted and pretty, that you really need to leave the river walk and enjoy the architecture!

Really cool Boardwalk along the river. Lots of entry and exit points, so you can make it as long or as short of a walk as you'd like. We had a great time!

Nice walk along the river in downtown Manistee Easy walk

Beautiful place to visit, walk, enjoy the local amenities

This is a brief review: Overall, a nice and enjoyable riverwalk. During our visit, we did see a few skunks (fart squirrels, if you are so inclined) near the riverwalk. Something to be mindful of should you have a dog or young children.

It's kind of a short river walk. It's nice though. My son and I were able to fish under the bridge caught some nice bass.

We tent camped here for two nights. Most people were in trailers. Small camp area but beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Steps to the beach were blocked off. No activities so a simple camp site. Electric hook ups. Bathrooms and showers are the cleanest I've ever experienced at any camp site. Staff were all very nice. Bonus: free charging station for electric vehicles (right outside of the check in station)

Nice campground with smaller sites. Beautiful views and sunsets. No beach access. We rode our bikes downtown (about 6 miles round-trip) for an afternoon and had a great time.

The park seems to be a large campground. The view was nice, but all the trails leading to the water have been closed or removed. We had a nice hike on the trail, but there aren't any views of the water on that hike.

Amazing first experience. Very clean. Spacious sites. Quiet environment. Great fire wood up front for sale. Check out diner 31 and trophies cafe downtown. Will definitely be back!

Wonderful SP! First visit! It’s small and it’s a fisherman’s campground! Sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan! Had an incident with our trailer during the night due to a storm and next morning we needed help as we had damage to our place! Four young fisherman (Angels!!!) an answer to prayer helped us! Thank you again guys! May you be blessed as you blessed us by saying “yes, we will help you when we were in great need”

Beautiful views of the shoreline. We have state pass and parked here to look around. Not in RV. There are a few picnic tables and benches along the wooden fence. Very pretty and there is a trailhead across the street from the park entrance

I've been to many state parks. This one is not one of my favorites. It's pretty with older trees but the camp is small, facilities are really dated. Employees were great, nice view of the sunset

Love this store🌞 Best Friday deals, amazing jerky. We have used the hardware store and purchased our fishing licenses🙂 It’s a real gift to The Community and worth the drive.

Amazing store. So many different varieties of Jerky, it took us a little while to decide what we wanted. We ended up with 4 different types of delicious jerky. It is also an excellent grocery store. The store inside and out is attractive and very clean.

This is a fantastic store. I'm so glad that after the fire, they rebuilt and expanded. The jerky is amazing. We also love the cheese bread and garlic loaf they make.

I miss the small old-time feel of the old store but this new Dublin Store is impressive. It's huge, and they have it all! Their jerky is delicious, and you can try everything from elk to kangaroo, normal old beef to Cajun seasoned alligator. I highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area.

I stop in anytime I am in the area (about once a month). I mostly shop the meat section for the nice variety. In addition to the typical pork, beef, and chicken Dublin has venison, elk(one of my personal favorites), lobster, shrimp, a variety of fish, hotdogs, sausages, brats, and LOTS of jerky. I highly recommend this store!

It was a cool experience shopping there as a first timer but the jerky prices are ridiculously high, beware. I understand the process fees and all that but do better. The america isn't booming anymore 😕

Great selection of jerky, meat, and general grocery needs. Large selection of alcohol. Prices are generally good, probably a bit lower than what you would expect from a rural store. Large hardware section that I didn't take a very close look at.

Always a fantastic experience! One of the most memorable courses you will ever play. We had a group of 8 golfers at the end of July and we booked the first twilight round right at 4pm. Played in 5 hours and 15 minutes which was better than expected. Course was in great shape as always. Dinner in the clubhouses after was a great way to end the day. A must play if you are in the area.

My wife and I had an amazing experience at Arcadia Bluffs! Even though we were only able to play the Bluffs course, we took a tour of the other two courses and they looked great. Outside of the Bluffs course showing signs of repairs needed to the fairways and some tee boxes, the course was beautiful, challenging and picture worthy! We also experienced great food and service (Lisa was our server both nights)! As for the accommodations, the property, rooms and common areas were 5 star! We would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking to play golf and enjoy a nice getaway!

Restaurant was amazing. The golf course is amazing location location, location, location. Just played golf here last week. It was an honor. One of my favorite places to play in Michigan is very unique course. Greens and fairways were in great shape. Clubhouse was beautiful. What more can I say about it?

We weren't able to play a round but we wanted to stop in and admire the beauty that we've heard so much about. We walked around the pro shop, ordered a couple drinks from the bar, and then took them outside to relax on the Adirondack chairs. We also got top notch service from a lady(I'm sorry I didn't catch her name) that went out of her way to go outside and wipe off the chairs for us. It was quite thoughtful and appreciated. We sat there soaking in the perfect views and dreaming about when we'd be able to make it back and play a round. I was very happy that we stopped.

We had the most lovely dinner with a view on our last night in town. The sunset was pristine with a bagpipe player in full effect at the edge of the course, the music was epic; it took us right back to Scotland's St. Andrews magic! Lisa was our server who greeted me at the host stand and immediately knocked my socks off with her hospitality and wonderful level of service. We will definitely be back the next time we are nearby!

The must play golf course in Michigan is Arcadia Bluffs! The challenge and the lake views are extremely satisfying! Put this course on your list and you will not be disappointed! This was our first visit and we will be back next season!

Arcadia was a great all around experience. The courses were beautiful, especially the Bluffs. Every hole you could see the Lake and the course was extremely challenging but really fun, with each hole having its own distinct design. All of the staff were helpful, knowledgeable, and just wanted to make our experience as good as it could have been. The food at both clubhouses was great, our room was clean, new, and spacious, and the heaters in the golf cart were an added bonus on a cold day. My friend was actually ready to skip our final round because he had shot a 109 the previous day, but once he saw the heated carts he couldn't resist. Overall Arcadia Bluffs is a bucket list golfing destination that we couldn't recommend more.

Was able to get one last stay in at Pine River Paddlesport Center. Stayed in the Jeanne's cabin. It was awesome and unbelieveably quiet! our favorite go-to place for a relaxed get-a-way. The newly fashioned store is beautiful. Jake and Alaney are the best! Enjoy a break and see you hopefully in the winter for winter raft trip.

We first found PRPC because they kept my friends purse safe after we left it at the Paterson Bridge. We stayed the weekend and rented both of thier cabins. The gift store is the nicest I have ever been to in Michigan! I was excited that they have rustic camping, cabins, a gift store, paddle rentals, and mostly excited about a guided winter tour that we plan to take advantage of this year. Beautiful family run business.

Super cool and nice staff! The Pine was great! Fun experience! A lil rocky here and there but the water had been low due to less rainfall!!

Wonderful family owed rustic campground. Located right on the pine for easy access. They rent iut watercraft as well. Cabin was perfect for a quick weekend away. The camp store is one of the best I've ever been to!

We rented a canoe for a two-night paddling trip. We loved the convenience of the shuttle and enjoyed the car ride with our driver Mark! The canoe was great and the trip was a blast! We highly recommend Pine River Paddlesport Center!

Pine River Paddlesports is incredible! They took care of every detail for our crew of 12 people. We had some last minute changes to our reservation and they never sweated it! They were patient, kind, and happy to serve their customers. Their reservations process online is very sophisticated, and we were kept “in the know” all along the way before the big day. They also have a great merchandise shop!

Floating down the river in the winter is an amazing experience! So relaxing with the soothing sound of flowing water and watching the ice formations and snow on the river bank and trees. It's not unusual to spot deer or eagles.. so cool. I've winter rafted the Pine 4 times, enjoyed it in the fall and kayaked in the summer. Every trip was relaxing and rewarding. Jake, Alaney and the crew of Pine River Paddlesports go out of their way to make every trip special. I appreciate you guys so much, thank you!

Breath taking view from inside the Lighthouse. Seeing Lake Michigan from the top of the Lighthouse was amazing. Water was gorgeous. Very informative tour and the entire staff was super friendly. Visit if you get the chance.

Fun little lighthouse you can go into for a small fee, I saw a couple get engaged on the concrete area below the lighthouse when I visited, good luck to them! There’s a small beach here as well with free public access but most of the shoreline here is residential, still, I’d recommend it as a stop on a sightseeing trip, it’s not an all day destination though!

Wonderful historical place to visit. You can also rent a room onsite for the night. The gift shop has a mini museum that was very enjoyable for free. Restrooms are clean. The staff was terrific!! Then take a walk or a swim on the beach. Parking is not great, side of the road. Not handicap friendly.

We were not able to go inside since we visited outside of the operating hours. But, it was still a beautiful place and worth the short drive off of "the beaten path". We walked the beach a bit and picked up a few cool rocks. This is another gorgeous spot on Lake Michigan's coast. 🥰

1st time visitor here and what can I say? STUNNING!!! The water is like the Caribbean. I have to come back when its warmer to swim. O! And the rocks!!! O! So many rocks!!!!! I found my 1st agate here as well!!❤️

We have visited this lighthouse for years and it is a treasure we enjoy every visit. The beautiful beach perfect for rock hunting, walking and catching the sunset. Tour the lighthouse and explore the grounds. At times the waves can be rough. If swimming bring your water shoes as its rocky.

A beautiful, historic lighthouse near Lake Michigan and the Crystal Lake area. There’s plenty of roadside parking, along with a small visitor center featuring exhibits and restrooms with running water. Visiting the grounds is free, but there’s a $5 fee to climb the lighthouse and explore the interior.

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!

We did the Alpine slide and the Fall scenic ski lift. $15/each Very cute area, a lot more to do but we only came for the scenic lift. Very friendly staff and beautiful views.

We went for my wife's birthday and had a GREAT time! Staff were amazing, and we had a wonderful time riding the Alpine Slide. And, Betsie River Pizza & Subs was delicious! We had pizza, wings, and salads, they did not disappoint! Kudos to the overall atmosphere of a fantastic attraction! Thank you!

We stayed at wintergreen condo. It was clean and well stocked. For the price of the lodging, the resort does not offer too many amenities.

Having a great time here at crystal mountain. We are staying in a nice bungalow close to the ski patrol office and the golf pro shop. Tomorrow we are playing golf. Today we did the zipline. The alpine slide looks like a ton of fun. We did not do it. Dinner at the thistle was a bit expensive at $350 for 5 people.

Didn't stay at the resort although I will in the future! Went on the chair lift and Alpine slide which are both Super fun and beautiful especially in the fall. Seemed very crowded but didn't feel overcrowded or annoying. Great Bloody Mary at the outdoor bar super atmosphere and really fun staff

Stayed in a Pinehurst condo that was very outdated. Bathroom shower was dark, small and outdated with cold water. I could barely fit in the shower and am a small woman. Bathtub was gross. Walls were super thin and room did not have safety features. Do not stay in Pinehurst if you are a woman alone, it does not feel safe. I had bad experience with front desk operator making fun of my concerns.

I golfed this past Saturday at Betsie Valley and the Mountain courses. Not a good experience! The young guy who took our money looked hungover and was down right rude. Forgot to give us cart keys. I can't remember the last time the cart keys were not already in the cart? My cart had several cig butts, quite dirty and the GPS was not turned on. The five minute drive to the driving range was "rough" to say the least. And that practice balls were not included in the green fees, which is cheap to say the least. The courses were in pretty rough shape. Lots of issues with the cart paths being very rough. Lots of hard packed dirt areas throughout the course but also many quite close to the greens. Just seems like the courses are not properly maintained. The holes are fine but not much variety. Very few memorable holes. The carts were driving us all crazy. Kept stopping for no apparent reason. No indication of where you should or should not drive and constantly having to back out of areas. The cart lady almost drove directly into my cart on the cart path. I thought she would pull aside and she almost ran me over. The ranger would not even acknowledge you as he constantly drove past you on the course. Usually they are friendly. As I said, not a good experience to say the least. We will warn our golf friends to avoid Crystal Mountain.

Great runs. Good for family outings. Rooms were nice, not super updated, but comfortable enough. I would go back for sure.

This is a beautiful golf course. The scenery is simply amazing. Nice and peaceful with some challenging holes. Great layout and friendly staff. If you are in this area go golf here you won't be sorry.

Antioch Hills Golf Club is such a hidden gem in Northern Michigan! The course is well-maintained, fun, and perfect for players of all levels, but what really makes it stand out is the owner. You can tell he genuinely cares about the course and the people who play there. Friendly, welcoming, and always going the extra mile to make sure everyone has a great experience. Highly recommend!

What a nice course and layout. Pleasantly surprised at how well its maintained. You can see they are really trying to improve this course. Tee, fairways, and greens in great shape. Definitely will play here again!!!!!

What a gorgeous place to play golf. We played here on our way home with a group of 7. Staff was awesome and course was beutiful. Pictures only do so much you have to see it your self to truly appreciate the beauty. Tee boxes were emaculant, fairways perfect and the greens although tricked us a few times played great. I highly recommend. I had many favorites here, but if I had to pick a hole, it would be hole 12. We came up to the tee box and just stared in awww at how gorgeous it was.

The gals working at Antioch Hills are so, so nice! It’s a great course with beautiful scenery. Great price. We will be back! 😊

For the price this is an amazing golf course, course was well maintained, club house staff were helpful.

Course was in great shape. Friendly people. Will play again

Had a great day at Riverside Canoe Trips on the Platte River! My wife and I drove up from Grand Rapids after hearing good things about tubing with Riverside. We were not disappointed. The whole staff was awesome from booking, right until the end of our float. They were very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Prices are reasonable and great gift & snack shop to enjoy and grab any last minute items you may have forgotten. I being the smart guy that I am, didn't bring a phone protecter and was able to get one there, which was great, I love to take my photos! The tubing itself was fantastic! the platte river is beautiful and made for a nice, comfortable trip. Not too crowded at all. The tubes and cooler tubes were nice, clean and comfy. I've been tubing for over 45 years all over the US and this is definitely one of the best places we've experienced. I highly recommend checking it out! Well Done Riverside!

We had a fabulous time. There is no shortage of employees, that's for sure. Though, things can be confusing, they take care of you. The cooler tube means they will rent you an inner tube that accommodates a cooler, that you supply. Note, there is a rope swing about 3/4 of the way on the right.

I have been floating on the Platte since before Riverside was the lone livery. The shop has what you need on the shelves. The staff are courteous and the craft are clean. What else could you want? One ask, allow us another hour to finish the trip, please.

Amazing experience! Canoeing along the riverside was peaceful, fun, and beautifully scenic. The staff was friendly and helpful, making sure we felt safe and knew what to expect. The equipment was in great condition, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. Perfect for a relaxing day outdoors or a fun little adventure. Highly recommend to anyone looking to enjoy nature from the water!

Excellent service and an absolutely beautiful setting for the river float. The water was still a bit on the cold side, but other than that it was a beautiful and hassle-free trip. The employees at Riverside were very friendly and knowledgeable. They made suggestions for items to take that came in very useful including a dry bag and answered all the questions we had. Overall it was a great trip and I will do it again as soon as possible!

Out family does the Platte every summer, multiple times, and we always bring visiting guests as well. Even our 2 dogs love it. This is by far my favorite NoMI summer activity!

Our family had a blast tubing! Even our toddler who doesn't like to sit still. Their check in process was fairly easy and we got in the river quick. The shop is well stocked with anything you might need. One star off for their food service. I understand the sign says their food is made to order, which I appreciate. However, 30 minutes for 10 chicken nuggets is a bit egregious... Ice cream came out fast though :)

This place is often open when other restaurants in Glen Arbor are closed which is what brought us here today. The outdoor seating area is pleasant. Food leaves a lot to be desired and service is lacking. We had veggie burgers which lacked flavor and were insanely expensive for what they were. Fries are made in peanut oil so we had to skip those due to a food allergy. Decent place for tourists - but wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for good food.

Visited the restaurant, the shop and ice cream/pie shops. It was worth the 25 minute wait at the restaurant. Nice environment. Food was good portions and tasted great. Staff was friendly and quick with service and food. Since this is the center of the cherry world had to get cherry pie. Also very good.

This was a really unique place that has cherry everything. The signs are funny too and the cherry soft serve was amazing. Loved the fries also and my burger. A lot the food and drinks were fantastic. Friendly and welcoming place.

Food was on point. The cherry cider was great. My friend had the cherry chicken salad on cherry bread instead of the croissant. The bread was dry and fell apart, resorted to just eating it with a fork. They may want to grill or toast it. Over all great experience and can't wait to go back.

We love getting cherry bbq sauce and chocolate covered cherries whenever we visit. You can taste test all the different things that they have. Delicious for sure.

The experience at Cherry Republic was a 3 at best. mediocre service, decent (at best) food quality. Was disappointed to see only cherry themed stuff on the menu. Maybe I'm a bit dense, but they didn't have just plain fries, they have cherry fries. They don't have plain coke, they have cherry coke. super annoying and I should have left after seeing the menu but I stayed to donate money to the local economy. server looked 14 (not his fault) but he knew nothing about beer so couldn't answer any questions about it. there was like 20-30 minutes where we just didn't see any servers. When he came by the table, we asked how much longer for the food and it was just a shoulder shrug type of response. I'd honestly give this restaurant a 2 rating but this strangely enough wasn't the low light of the trip... so I settled on 3. The burger I ordered was to have a fried egg. I received a hockey puck on top of my burger - which I asked my wife and she said that's what she would have expected but I think anywhere else in the world the egg should run when you break the yolk. Would have liked to try the adjacent restaurants but was overruled by family. ironically they were also disappointed.

This was so fun! Highly recommend visiting here and getting the ice cream, wine and chocolate!!

Really beautiful trip down Crystal River. They got my on the water even though I showed up early shuttled us out to the put in spot. Saw some wood ducks and babies, a green heron, three vultures, a deer, downy woodpecker, and many fish. Tons of wild Irises lining the shoreline! The waters were so clear and a great temperature. It was pretty quiet and not very busy making it the perfect chance to enjoy the nature. There are quite a few obstacles on the full kayak trip, but it made it a fun challenge.

Straight up review: Was told no private craft allowed on the river. That's not true. Some staff had an attitude. They actually forgot to pack an item we ordered. Kept urging us to finish as fast as possible. Good: The view of the river was unreal. You didn't need these folks to get it but you actually should because there really isn't a better way to see the river due to the exits. The trip is long yes. You will get a free trip in a third world like driver lol, to the drop off, then it's up to you. Carrying the kayaks was a bit tough. I could see some out of shape folks really having a tough time. But we were fine. Hopefully your experience with staff is better but the river is beautiful.

One of the best things we did on our trip! It was a cool and overcast day and we didn't see another soul on the river. We saw an abundance of wildlife, including a giant owl, deer, and river otters as well as lots of waterfowl. The second portage was tricky, not because it was long, but because getting into the kayaks on the other side wasn't easy. The little hill was steep and slippery and the water is rather deep on that side. It might be very hard for kids or for older folks, especially after a rain. Definitely let folks know that they will be paddling around obstacles during the first part of the trip. We have some experience kayaking, so it wasn't a big deal but it might be a surprise for someone who is not expecting it. The river is shallow, clear and lovely. A nice experience!

This was the second time we have gone kayaking with Crystal River Outfitters. Everyone there is very nice and accommodating. The equipment is in good shape. The drive to the beginning of the trip was short and comfortable. The river was calm and had plenty of spots to stop and enjoy a swim or the sights. I thought it was a good duration. We were slowed down a bit by some other people, which made the trip a bit longer than I would have liked, but that was not any fault of the outfitters. Great place, will come back.

Convenient and easy to work with on our schedule. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating. Jamie is excellent. River is beautiful and love that it is fast moving, makes it exciting.

If I could give more than 5 starts I would!! We had a group of 40 during the busiest week of the year. Our experience from reservation to return was smooth sailing! The staff was well prepared and incredibly helpful (special shout out to Nick!!). The river is clear, clean and fun ride for all skill levels. Some of our paddlers finished in 90 minutes while others took a full 3 hours to enjoy the float. We saw a few others while we were out, but we mostly had the river to ourselves. A great time was had by all!!

I booked our reservations for 10:00 on a Monday morning. It was a 40-minute drive from Traverse City. When we arrived, I couldn’t figure out where to park. There was nothing along the main building, so we turned around and found parking across the street down a drive. There were probably 10-15 spots, but it wasn’t busy when we arrived, so we easily found a space. We walked over to the building to check in. I was immediately impressed. They had a nice store inside, and it was by far the cleanest kayak outfitter I’ve ever seen. They checked us in quickly since we filled out our waivers online. Then we were told to wait outside by the cones for the next driver. They had several benches to sit on while you waited. There was also a port-a-potty next to the benches, but I opted to use one of the two nice bathrooms on the other side of the road. We didn’t wait very long before a driver had us load up. The exterior of the vans are very clean, but the interior of our vehicle had definitely seen use, although I still thought it was clean. When we arrived at the drop-off point, the driver explained there are 3 portage spots. One was just down the river about 10 minutes, and you had to carry your kayak around a small dam. That area was pretty level. The second portage was across a road, but you could instead just go down one of the round tubes underneath the road. You could only fit through the one to the left side. The final portage was also across a road, so you have to carry kayak up an embankment, cross the road and drop it in the other side. It wasn’t terribly steep, and the entry point does have steps. At that point, you’ll have another 10-20 minutes before you finish your trip. The beginning of the river has a lot of trees. We saw several birds and even saw a deer cross the river. It was very pleasant. The second portion of the river is much more open, and you start to see houses. If you haven’t applied sunscreen by this point, I would highly recommend it. You might also want some bug spray for the mosquitoes and biting flies at the very beginning of the trip. The water is wonderful. I have never kayaked on such clear water. You could see everything, including fish. It was such a pleasant trip. When we arrived at our final destination, several friendly staff helped us get out of our kayaks. By now, they were much busier, so I wasn’t sure where everyone had parked. It looked like most people had parked down a side street where the parking area exited, but the sign said you couldn’t turn right, which was odd since that seemed to be where most of the cars were. The total cost for the two of us was just over $100. We estimated we finished the trip in a little over 2 hours, but you could do it much faster than that. If I were to go again, I’d probably pack a lunch and eat somewhere along the river. I’d highly recommend this location for a n excursion. The staff are friendly, and the location is beautiful.

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.

Very nice flat paved trail with a large parking lot, bike fix-it station, water fountain, benches and porta-potty

This is a nice trail. I'm a bike trail Junkie and enjoyed my ride. But frankly, I always do

I believe it went to overlook of Lake Michigan, very nice... and if you want, go down to the lake and swim, the hike back up is quite demanding

Small shops. Parking is almost impossible to find. No handicap spots noted. Plus side, the Harbor ice cream shop is well worth the trip! Butter Pecan that tastes like butter and enough pecans to bake a pie. Yummy. The young staff were so kind and gracious.

Looks better on social media than it does in person. Cool place to see but hardly anything to do unless you wanna eat food or ice cream. You could maybe spend a few hours if you include the lackluster beach which you have to walk down the street to get to anyway. Really disappointing for a place that comes highly recomended. Totally overrated if you ask me. I really wanted to like it too but not really much of a destination. It could be so much more.

Such a cool spot full of life and history. It's fun to walk around or sit down and take it all in. Must stop at Carsons for some smoked Salmon! Yum! Id hope to bring some home, it was gone before my next stop! If you are a fan of cemeteries, there is one just down the road right in the lake that is quite unique!

When I was little, my family went here every year. The place has changed into more of a tourist area than a quaint little town, but this is the height of tourist season so that makes sense. The wait to get into restaurants can be long but the food is good. There are plenty of tshirts shops too.

Very cool Historic place to check out! Cute stores and a great dining area. Great place to walk around while reading a little bit about history. Small beach right next door!

Really cool spot that doesn’t feel like you’re in Michigan. Nice restaurants and just cool place to walk around. We ate at the cove and it was great! Beautiful area!

Cute little town. Parking wasn’t too bad for us but definitely need some patience lol. There were a few places that were cash only and we couldn’t find any atms so keep that in mind when coming. You should definitely walk to vans beach if you have time too!

The captain and crew were very kind, and the cruise itself was very enjoyable! The route was beautiful, and the captain was very informative, with great info on the geography and history of the area. Unfortunately, there were some other passengers who were a bit frustrating to be around, some of whom have left misleading negative reviews regarding the service here. The issue that this group had was that the crew would not serve their group alcohol when part of the group was underage. Our group had a wonderful time, and if you are looking for a relaxing and informative ride around this beautiful area, we would highly recommend!

Took the shoreline cruise on a beautiful night. It was good but it can be great with a few tweaks. If someone could provide some additional narration about the route, the crib, there’s so much history to share. Also the bench’s upstairs are so hard and uncomfortable. What about a cushion? Most of the passengers are seniors and find the seating for an hour and a half uncomfortable. Is it possible to drive by pyramid point? We only saw the back side of it before we turned around to go back to Leland. It could be a 5 star cruise and people would be happy to pay $45 it is still a bargain. Be all you can be!

We took the ferry to South Manitou Island for a day trip and then did the Cedars and Shipwrecks tour with Spider. We had a fantastic day and learned so much. This company provides an excellent service to national park visitors. It's a beautiful island and absolutely worth adding to your Sleeping Bear Dunes trip.

Ride was efficient-- friendly crew--got us to some great memories-- thanks! Camped on north 20+ years ago. Truly grateful to be able to return and have the same business still providing service so reliably and well.

The staff and service were great. Friendly and excellent communication before, during and after the trip. Thank you Manitou transit team for transporting my family safely to the island.

This is a must-do trip with and excellent tour operator. Everyone at Manitou Island Transit was extremely friendly and professional, from check-in to disembarking back in Leland. Special shout out to Captain (Admiral) Jimmy, John (Spyder), and Ellie, for being not only great mariners but excellent guides on the Island during the trip to the Valley of the Giants and the wreck of the Francisco Morazan. My father has mobility issues and everyone was very accommodating in helping our group navigate the docks, the trails and the whole island. Fewer than one percent of the visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes make the effort to see South Manitou. Make the trip, it's amazing.

These folks are awesome. Always fun to work with and upbeat, knowledgeable about all the island stuff, efficient run program with no surprises. Have been benefiting from their services for over 25 years and continues to be fun and add to the excitement of the island trips. Thank you!

The absolute reason you should come to Leland — besides the views — IS THE FISH! This town has such a rich history of fishing and was actually (of course) originally settled by the Ottawa because of its amazing resources. Carlson has the smoked salmon and whitefish you want. They also make an excellent whitefish pate and salmon pate. If you want fresh fish, they got that too! Also apparently great jerky though I’ve never tried. One of their staples. Excited to dig into the pate and the smoked fish!

I'm not typically a big fish fan but they do a great job with their smoked fish. I really enjoyed their salmon and some kind of spread. Definitely worth trying. I would go back.

Carlson’s Fishery is the real-deal heart of Fishtown—a working fishery operating out of a historic shanty, keeping Leland’s maritime roots alive and well. Yes, it smells like fish. That’s because it is fish. Fresh, just-caught-that-morning fish. Smoked or ready for you to prepare how you like, it’s as close to lake-to-table as it gets. Prices may be higher than your local grocery store, but what you’re paying for here is handcrafted, small-batch, line-caught freshness—not something churned out by a machine. From the tugboat crew putting in long hours to the smoking process in another historic shanty, every step is driven by real people honoring real tradition. Don’t skip the smoked whitefish, and if you want to level up your snack game, pair it with local cheese curds. Carlson’s is more than a fish market—it’s a living slice of Michigan heritage served with a side of brine and heart.

This was the absolute reason we came to Leland- THE FISH! But my experience was sadly underwhelming. I got the fish sausages and the lady snapped them in half to pack them up for me. Then the taste was so bland.

We tried both the smoked salmon and trout. Hands down some of the best. They were both so naturally buttery/oily and had great flavor and texture. No bad fishy taste. Great customer service from the kid from Cincinnati. We drove down from Chicago and it was well worth the visit.

The business has a different feel since it changed hands a bit back, definately more commercial feeling. They changed the recipe for the whitefish pate and I do not care for it as much. These things being said they are still my favourite place to get fresh trout and whitefish from. Make sure to ask if they are fresh or from frozen. The smoked whitefish and trout are just as good as ever. I give the salmon a skip because its Atlantic and not from MI. Make sure to get there early in the day if you want fresh fish!

We drove to Michigan just for Carson fishery’s jerky. Worth the 6.5 hour drive you ask? Yes!! The beef jerky (or Turkey) is fantastic. I love the town as well so that helps.

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.

This is a great lavender farm with cherry picking. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Cherries cost $4 per pound, and unfortunately because it seemed a little late in the season a lot of them were starting to go bad on the trees. However we were able to pick around 4 points of different varieties! They have a shop with lavender ice cream, soap, and other homemade products.

The farm itself is a great setup for cherry and lavender picking, along with all of the local products in the shop. We had a blast and the lavender ice cream is to die for!! We drove over an hour to get here and would do it again a million times over.

Friendly owners and beautiful fields. Trees full of red and almost ripe cherries and healthy blooming lavender plants as far as you could see. I hope I get a chance to come back when the cherry picking season starts.

Absolutely beautiful lavender and cherry farm. Harbor View has multiple locations and we first stopped at their empire location on our way west from traverse city and picked a bundle of lavender and then when we headed up the traverse city peninsula we had to stop and pick some cherries which was such a fun experience for adults and kids alike. They also have amazing made on their farm gifts in the shop and homemade baked goods with cherry’s in them that are grown there. I would highly recommend anyone stop here even if it is just to walk around and look at all the beautiful flowers and smell the lavender.

An amazing place, well worth the visit! The ice cream was great, and the owner is a plethora of knowledge concerning lavender and everything around it. Five stars! Thank you for the great experience, we'll certainly stop by again.

My first time visiting a lavender farm and cutting my own bunches to dry! I think my husband and my golden retriever enjoyed it as much as I did.! The staff was kind and helpful!

We saw the small Lavender ice cream sign and decided to stop and get some. We picked up some ice cream and cherries. We walked around and looked at all the lavender that was growing and drying, checked out the cherry trees and the vines. Was a cool place to get out and stretch her legs. They also sell some other items like oils substance such