I really wanted to love Joe's Friendly Tavern. The name suggests the kind of welcoming, family-friendly spot where you can enjoy a good meal without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, while the atmosphere delivers on that promise, the food and pricing tell a very different story. Let me start with the positives: the staff was friendly and attentive, and the interior has a warm, inviting vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. You can tell they've put effort into creating a comfortable environment, and that shows. However, that's where the good news ends. The pricing at Joe's Friendly Tavern is simply outrageous for what you're getting. Case in point: they charge $23 for a run-of-the-mill chicken sandwich served with tater tots. $23 for what amounted to cafeteria-quality food that you might expect to pay $8-10 for elsewhere. When even my kids — who rarely get the treat of eating out and are usually thrilled just to be at a restaurant — were disappointed with their meals, you know there's a problem. What made this particularly frustrating was that this was supposed to be a special outing for our family. The kids were excited, we were looking forward to a fun dining experience, but instead we left feeling like we'd been taken advantage of. There's nothing fun about paying premium prices for subpar food, especially when it's supposed to be a treat for the family. I understand that restaurants have overhead costs and need to make a profit, but there's a line between fair pricing and price gouging. Joe's Friendly Tavern has crossed that line. You can find better quality food for half the price at countless other establishments. My 1 Star review is due to the high cost and poor quality of food, and is not a reflection of the staff.

When you have a Joe V & a Joe VI with you you have to go to the Friendly Joe's Tavern. Food was decent a bit pricey for no sides being included. Draft rootbeer was good. Staff was amazing! Food came of quick. Overall glad we went!

Wanted a quick bite in-between stops at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and this was great. Off the main road by only a few blocks its was fast, tasted great, and we enjoyed the patio area. The menu in the patio area is a small version of the dining room, but for a quick lunch it was great. That cherry hot sauce on chicken was amazing! Ask to have it on a chicken sandwich, you won't be disappointed!

$18 for chicken sandwich with zero sides... understandable if it was an exceptional sandwich, unfortunately quite the opposite. Equivalent quality to a school cafeteria. Also was served this tomato...

Joe’s has been our go-to stop for the past four years, but unfortunately, this might be our last visit. I ordered my usual Onion Wing Burger — topped with fried onion rings, cherry wing sauce, and bleu cheese dressing — and paired it with their homemade root beer on draft. We ended the meal with an ice-cold slice of peanut butter pie, covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzle, which was the highlight. That said, portion sizes have gotten smaller, prices keep climbing, and the overall quality just isn’t what it used to be. Still a nostalgic stop, but it no longer feels like the must-visit it once was.

Best clam chowder I have ever had. My husband really liked the chili as well. Our turkey panini was very good and big enough to split. People were so friendly. Jessica was our server and did a very nice, efficient, friendly job with us. Visit if you can.

This place reminds me of the taverns in northern Wisconsin my family went to. The wooden bar, wood paneled walls and gas fireplace all added to the ambiance. The food was delicious. We had the cheeseburger and fries and prime rib sandwich and they didn’t disappoint. I’d definitely go there again.

We had an unplanned pit stop here, while returning from the dunes nearby. Quaint little lighthouse, with a beach adjacent. There is a good view of the bear dunes from here.

Absolutely beautiful beach full of amazing rocks and crystal clear water! We went there to watch the sunset, and it did not disappoint. Everyone was friendly and loved enjoying the sunset together. The beach was clean and quiet, despite the amount of people. There were two playground and a restroom and ample parking.

We like to stop in at Empire along Route M22 when we can. This beach is very accessible and with the high winds significant wave action for lake Michigan.

As Lighthouses go, this one is tiny. It has a nice. Popular beach. Parking is $1 per hour.

Absolutely amazing beach with so much to do in one place.

We stopped to visit while we were on tour with our classic cars. Very beautiful park.

Beautiful area. Nice beach area. The lighthouse is very well maintained and the tour guide was very interesting and informative. We managed to stumble on a free tour day cost is usually $5 per ticket and well worth it) so that was an additional bonus. Gift shop was very clean and organized and the attendant was friendly and helpful. Overall exceptional experience and would definitely recommend.

This is one of my favorite parks because it has everything! Decent parking and nice bathrooms to start. There's a really nice stretch of sandy beach. When you wade into the water it's rocky though, so bring water shoes. It's perfect for rock hunting. The playground is so fun with soft sand for the kiddos. The park gets busy around sunset, so plan ahead. On the other side of the park, there's a lake with a dock the kids like to jump from. The water was so warm when we were there! There's another dock for fishing in a more secluded area. My kids caught so many little fish. We visit this park every time we are in Empire.

Good for swimming and saw an amazing sunset. Decent parking. Super pleasant walk from downtown too. I walked from our hotel (Empire Lakeshore Inn) but my husband drove his mother and our kids to the beach.

Beautiful sandy beach with public restrooms, playground, & a great view of sleeping bear dunes! $1 / hr. to park which is monitored & there is a parking pay machine near the restrooms.

Beautiful beach. Safe area. Playground, fairly decent bathrooms, parking could be better organized with 21st Century systems (the quarter/credit card machine is routinely inop). Gorgeous sunsets. You will love it here.

Took a little mini vacay to Lake Michigan and Empire Beach was one of our stops. This is a smaller beach but so cute and family friendly…dog friendly too! Doggie waste bag stations were available around the area. They had pavilions with picnic tables, a nice playground, public restrooms and water fountain, and even a basketball court with a basketball provided. Very clean and well maintained. Really enjoyed walking the shoreline with my pups and checking out a new place in my state! There is South Bar Lake on the other side of the picnic/play area so do some fishing if you want as well. Definitely recommend if you want a great place to have a beach day!

Incredible natural beauty, white sand beach for miles, crystal clear blue water with hardly anyone else around.

It's a beautiful beach! It's crystal clear water and close to the Sleeping Bear Dune.

We stumbled upon this place accidentally, in our search of a place for some refreshments and having found the sleepy dunes visitor center closed. What a happy and fortunate accident! We bought a delicious iced cardamom latte, and cold drinking chocolate. There were also many specialty chocolate items for purchase. The store (and bathroom!) was beautiful and spotlessly clean and all of the staff were exceedingly friendly, respectful, and just generally seemed happy to be working there. If I ever find myself back in the area, I’d go out of my way to visit again. Highly recommend!

Wow. 🤩 Words cannot even describe how excited I was when we explored this shop! I’m allergic to milk and gluten and they had stuff for me! Dairy-free, vegan and gluten free. I did NOT expect that. And what’s more, that had a lot of options! So good! The flavors were off the charts! I so want to go back again before we head home. My kids and family enjoyed their selections as well! 🍫

This place was such a pleasant surprise. Their chocolates are beautifully handmade and come in fun shapes (I particularly loved the sleeping bear shape!). If you are hesitant because of the higher prices, there are plenty of small chocolate bars that you can try, starting around $2 or so. I got a 70% dark chocolate and was blown away by how smooth it was. Truly, this is good chocolate. I love that they are committed to ethical practices too. In the cafe next door, I got a cup of the vegan drinking chocolate and a sorbet. The drinking chocolate is REALLY good. I am almost never wowed by hot chocolate from a cafe, but this is different. It's made with water and isn't overly sweet. It's hard to find drinking chocolate like this. The sorbet was excellent too. I will definitely return.

This place is always a must stop on our visits. The chocolates are incredibly delicious and flavorful. And love their hot chocolates are thicker like drinking chocolates. There is one with chili spice that have a nice spice tingle to go with the sweet. Prices are a little more than grocery stores but the quality is outstanding. Give them a try if you’re in the area and support local biz!

Cute place w coffee, chocolate, and gelato. Cute garden in the back to enjoy treats outside with flowers and butterflies which was magical

Super cute ice cream and chocolate shop with beautiful garden

Who would expect the Empire as the go to place for exceptional ethically sourced chocolate? This iconic small business is known for its care and respect of both staff and customers. Any way they prepare the chocolate is creative and delicious. They also have a gelato shop next door providing lots of interesting flavors. Their building is very identifiable because of its green color.

Highly recommend coming in for Pizza and great service. The Parmesan fries was a great appetizer and we ordered a large Pep & Cheese with half mushroom and it was enough for a family of 4. Max was our server and was polite and attentive; one of the best servers we have had anywhere. We even played some arcade games. We’re from Ohio and love coming up here during our vacation.

This is a bare-bones place that I'm sure is essential to the locals. It definitely delivers some spot on comfort food. We had very few options on our trip and ended up here out of sheer necessity. We ordered a water, diet pop, and two sandwiches: burger with fries and a pulled pork with tater tots. Both sandwiches were $21 each and the drink $4...so that put us at around $49 with tax, plus a tip, we were right at $60 all in. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed the food...it was was fresh, well prepared and seasoned, and we enjoyed it. BUT, $60?!? Holy moly. Talk about overpriced. $30 per person for a basic, staple kind of sandwich, frozen and fried potato sides and one fountain pop.......I definitely felt as though the prices were raised because of the proximity to the Sleeping Bear Dunes/tourist scene. All of that said, our server was extremely friendly and efficient. Our food and drinks came out quickly and, as I said, we enjoyed it all. My biggest complaint for atmosphere was that the tables were "sticky". They were clear of food and grime but the finish on them was not right and if you put your hand on them, it stuck to the table. It was very sticky, tacky, and unpleasant to the touch. We left with satisfied bellies, but definitely felt that we overpaid for such a basic experience.

High quality food that you may not expect in a small town. Brussels sprouts are incredible, we got carry out 3 times during our trip. My husband loved their pizza great crust flavors, the Philly Cheese steak and the Cubano sandwich. For the kids we got them chicken finger and fries. The veggie pizza is great and loved they had a Gluten Free crust option and goat cheese

Waited almost an hour for food. I understood because of it being a busy holiday weekend. Staff was friendly and working really hard. We had two pizzas one Meat the other aloha. Came out pipping hot and for the price was excited to try. The sauce is so spicy and overpowering. The aloha pizza that is all i could taste unless i got a piece of pineapple. The meat pizza pepperoni was also spicy on-top of the sauce being spicy. Crust was tough and crunchy. My dog made lots of crunchy noises eating it. The ham does not taste like good quality ham and very little cheese on either. I saw all the great reviews and it must be because there isn’t much to compare to in town? But $50 for two small pizzas?

Best pizza I have had in a long time, Mr Meaty is great. An unexpected gem in the small town of empire. Better SERVICE, price, food, and drink selection than others in town

Charming place like an old fashioned pizza parlor but with a definitively upscale menu — they have Kimchee on the menu and pickled onions on some sandwiches— things I would not have expected. We arrived about 7:30 and within a short time this place got filled on a Wednesday night. The Deluxe pizza with garlic Parmesan crust was fantastic!! Crunchy /soft crust with plenty of ingredients. Thank you chef!

Oh man - this place is the definition of “looks can be deceiving.” Nothing impressive from the outside, and you’re thinking beer, pizza and fried foods. But their spin on their menu items is outstanding. The brussle sprouts were outstanding, as were their burgers and sandwiches. And we didn’t come in to the restaurant wanting pizza, but ended up really wanting it - but they had run out! Highly recommend.

Really beautiful trail along the water. You can go past the view point and walk along the dune. We didn’t go super far but you can get really beautiful views. The weather when we went was looking like it was going to storm but still amazing views! Easy hike.

Absolutely beautiful scenic views at the end. A quiet hike through the woods that isn't too difficult, and then suddenly you're looking at a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. Beautiful even on cloudy days like today. I'd suggest hiking past the log that most people stop at, as there's a trail that continues on for quite a ways with some beautiful views at the end.

It was pretty neat.. on my trails app it almost looked like you could piece together a loop, but the sand dunes were a little meh.. wind was blowing in our faces. I will say that the Great Lakes are pretty impressive and if you’re just looking for a decent vantage point, this is a good one.

Another breath taking view! This was a nice 1.5 mile round trip hike with minimal hills! There are two great overlooks along the trail! This trail is also dog friendly! 10/10 recommend this trail! Especially for the doggos!

Beautiful and easy trail which leads to a lovely outlook. The initial (2/3rd) portion of the trail is covered and shaded. The trail starting point is slightly hidden and is difficult to find

Panoramic vistas of Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline from an elevated dune trail. Beautiful! The most scenic hike in Sleeping Bear Dunes. The trail leads out from the parking lot to a small area to sit down overlooking Lake Michigan, with views north and south high up. We continued on from there, heading south along the shoreline, with pristine dunes mixed with some greenery, all at an elevated vantage point. Quite a trail! The overlooks, along with the crashing waves heard down below and the expansive skyline are breathtaking. 5 stars plus. This trail, along with the Escarpment trail at the Porcupine Mountains and the Grand Portal/ Mosquito lake trail at Pictured Rocks are the 3 best trails in the state for stunning overlooks and wide open vistas.

A beautiful moderate hike in the woods. Lots of trillium and wild flowers along the trail. Picturesque views of Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan at the turn around point. A wooden plank pathway assists hikers at the sandiest portion of the path with a few wooden benches placed to relax and enjoy the view. A great way to see the lakebed contours and get a bit of exercise.

Delicious food and reasonable prices. My wife and I both had the Carl Bradley (ham, bacon, Colby Jack, lettuce, tomato….), and a chocolate, cherry cookie). All the sandwiches are named after ship wrecks.

Everything about this place is AWESOME. The sandwiches are delicious with large portion sizes and great selections. Service was fast and the staff were very friendly. My family and I hiked the dunes and this was THE BEST choice for food after the hike.

We were passing through and decided to grab a bite at Shipwreck. Wow! What a pleasant little place. We had the Fitzgerald and a pepperoni pizza. They were both excellent. It is obvious they use plenty of high quality ingredients. The pizza is the best we've had in a very long time-thin crust with lots of cheese. The young man at the register was very helpful and enthusiastic. If we lived in the area, it would be a regular stop for us.

Food here tastes like something you can make at home in 5 minutes. We both got the southwestern chicken wrap and it was below average. Very bland and they mostly added lettuce. Very little salsa and beans. Chicken tasted like it was premade. And they were $16 EACH! With outrageous price, I didn’t leave the kid at the register a tip (plus I ordered takeout) and after he saw I left no tip he didn’t say anything and just gave a rude look the entire time we were there after. It was funny too because before that he was decently nice. Definitely do not recommend this place at all, we just needed something quick after spending the day at Sleeping Bear Dunes. I’d recommend visiting Glen Arbor instead. Only positive memory I have of this place is looking at the shipwreck map they have of the Great Lakes, that was pretty cool.

Pizza is delicious and the tasty. They stay busy but the service is fast.

Quick and delicious sandwich shop. We took our sub to go to the dunes. Perfect lunch stop

Stopped in for lunch and Wow happened. My sandwich was the Three Brothers Italian Sub which consisted of (Capicola, Prosciutto, Salami, Mozzarella Cheese, Onions, Peppers, and Italian Dressing on an Italian Herb Roll) Staff was busy with great attention to detail. Everyone had a seat on the bus and were doing what they were suppose to be doing. Very organized. Clean both inside and out. The team even let me take a pic of the action going on behind the counter.

Beautiful 50 degree day filed the black arrow rout back to the trailhead 2.7 miles. Intermediate triks up and down on the black arrow. Beginner flat trails on the rest.

Nearly perfect for trail running -- just the right amount of up and down; cushy, springy, pine needle paths; pretty forest with a beach payoff halfway through any loop. Good stuff.

Awesome trail that starts in a parking lot that’s easy to miss, and an amazing sandy beach at the “end”, with forest-like trails to get you there! All the tourists go to sleeping bear dunes that is north of this spot, so it’s not crowded here at all, and I was here on a Saturday evening in early October. The beach was amazing and I hung out there for over an hour and didn’t see a single person. Bring all your anti mosquito supplies!

Beautiful hiking trail that leads to a remote beach. There are a couple of miles of trails, with a few minor hills, which make it a fairly novice hike overall. Mosquitos can be quite bad in the area due to some of the swampy sections, so bug repellant is strongly advised. There's a lot to see here - it is definitely worth the trek!

If you are looking simply for an overlook, I would take a different trail. I just went to the overlook and back. It is a nice forest, starting out mostly with evergreens and then becoming mixed with deciduous trees. You have to go up part of a dune for the overlook and there is still a bit of dune area at that point between you and the lake. It looked like there was also a trail thru the dunes, and you could potentially get closer to the water with some effort, but I didn't have enough time to check it out. As far as overlooks go, it was just ok. It's a little over a mile to get to the lookout point.

One of my favorite trails. Beautiful, rolling and allows dogs on the trail. Can walk to the Lake Michigan beach but no dogs on the beach here.

After initial quarter mile, the trail gives three options for extending hike length before it merges again when it comes out to the beach area. Dog friendly all the way until the beach.

Wow. Beautiful trail through the forest, leading up to an amazing view high over Lake Michigan. Tons of parking along the road. Part of the National Lakeshore. The trail ends at the lakeshore, but we did see some people taking an additional trail that leads along the bluffs, but we did not go that way. Just an out and back.

Long but fairly easy hike thru' Forest, then after the Farm hard packed sand to the Lookout that offers great views. Saw some Indian Pipe along the way. Also hiked Empire Bluff after this for the 3rd time because it's worth it !

This is a great hike, and the increased traffic shows that people are noticing! Empire Bluffs Trail is nearly adjacent, but the trail and the views are completely different. Treat Farm Trail reminds me of hiking North Manitou Island.

Relatively easy hike to the farmstead. But if you are looking at for a good view of the big lake you can hike past the farm to a wonderful overlook on the bluff. The hike past the farm does include a few hills.

This is a lovely little trail that leads to an old farm and eventually an overlook, but we only went as far as the farm because we were short on time. The hike there wasn't too bad - a long hill at one point led me to use my inhaler, but I wouldn't say it was a difficult hike in general. The old farm has several buildings still in good condition, and you can walk freely around them. The only one open to enter was an old shed with a few implements in it, where you could also the woodworking of the building itself - the frame had old hand-hewn posts and stakes, but the walls had a mixture of old and newer wood, and some support beams had clearly been added more recently. I always love wandering around old farms, and this one was really incredible to see.

A great 2.6 mile out and back trail. You’ll pass by an old farmhouse and then you can head on to a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. I like this trail because it is less visited than others in the area. You also get a mix of forest, farmland, and dunes. A great place for snowshoeing in the winter!

Treat Farm, Sleeping Bear Dunes, has a beautiful hiking trail through old forest and old farm fields. Park pass required. Scenic lookouts over the bright blue waters of Lake Michigan are stunning. Historic farmstead is well maintained and offers a glimpse of past life in northern Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Surf’s Jr. Waterman camp is NOT to be missed! Our land locked son has loved his experience, 2 Summers ago in a row, and talks about it all year, counting down to camp again! We love Sleeping Bear Surf! Thanks for everything you all do to make it such a wonderful experience.

Jr Waterman Camp was the most wonderful camp for our 12 year old. He came home with nothing but smiles and new skills. Thank you Sleeping Bear Surf Team!

I came up here with my sup and no pump and they not only let me pump it up but let me use the pump for several days for nothing. Thank you for being so kind!

We had the best lesson with Ella yesterday. Safety was her top priority as we waited for a couple of lines of storms to pass so my 8 year old could become the surfer of her dreams. She hasn’t stopped talking about everything she learned and can’t wait to get in the water again. Thank you Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak and Ella for a great lesson and for nurturing her love of the waves.

We had the best time from start to finish. Annabelle and Mike were passionate surfers, and excellent instructors. Their positive energy was contagious and our whole group had an absolute BLAST thanks to them. We would definitely recommend this fun activity to everyone we know!!!

We came across this place a few years ago during our first camping trip to the UP. As a lifelong camper, skier, paddler - what an awesome little local paddle shop. We've come back every year since and this is always a must stop. Finding such a cool little shop that is so uniquely and passionately stocked and operated in the small town of Empire makes it all the more charming and genuine. We've lived in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Colorado and now back to Chicago and this is probably my favorite small business I've ever come across. A cool story about the reach of SBS- my girlfriend and I were out to lunch (Lonesome Rose here in Chicago) and I was wearing an SBS tee. An employee noticed my shirt and mentioned that he was from Empire and used to work there! If you are any combination of a paddler, environmentalist or supporter of small businesses - definitely stop by!

I ordered a new surfboard leash through SBSK last week to prepare for the fall season and somehow forgot to add which color I wanted. Ella gave me a call on my given phone number and asked me personally which color I wanted. She was very excited to help me out and was stoked that I chose pink. It was really nice to be contacted by someone who was ready and excitedly willing to help out. They also threw in a free sticker with a note on it! Only complaint is that I didn't receive a tracking number for some reason on my order. Maybe I missed something. They sell excellent coffee as well.

Amazing beach. The water is super clear, no motor boats or personal watercrafts that can run you over if you like to swim far away from the shore. Love this beach.

Adorable little lighthouse, nice playground, and beautiful sand and view!! Let's gooooo!!!

Quirky! Loved everything about this little ice cream shop. Ice cream was hard dip and tasted fine! Loved that it was cash only, owner and his son were making fresh waffle cones, the place smelled amazing, when waiting in line I saw Theo the thermometer and knew we were in a place where the vibes were top tier. Thanks for having us!

Very nice place to visit. We went on our way of road trip. It has sandwiches, Shawarma, Philly, Salads, Nice Ice Cream varieties. Coffee and cakes, Muffins. The staff is very good. It's has a outdoor dining as well. The location is very cool you will feel very good about the ambience. Near by you as a very nice antique shop.

They specialize in ice cream and have a great spot in a charming little town. The food isn’t particularly impressive, but the place has a cool, laid-back vibe.

Pretty nice place to get ice cream or quick food. You can watch them make the waffle cones, which are quite tasty. I didn't have the food at that side of the room, so no review about that. They take cash only!

Lovely casual lunch spot with fresh made sandwiches at the right price. Outdoor seating and Cornhole available. Great customer service: happily accommodated a vegetarian in our party. Ice cream and shakes also available.

Delicious sandwiches and ice cream. Super cute and fun inside. Very fast service !

Kitchen was closed but they were serving ice cream. It was Hudsonville. Tasty!

Cute store. Lots of quality merchandise at various price points. Variety of artwork by local artists. Helpful staff. I appreciated the store opening at 10:00 instead of 11:00 when the other stores opened. I was able to buy a couple of things and move on. Thank you!!

A long time fave store & must stop if in the area(to go to the beach or the dunes!). It’s a true treasure trove of local art, jewelry & gifts, that you could loose yourself in for hours!

This is a great little gift shop. Lots of variety from scarves to mugs to art. Everything is high quality and a lot of it is local too. The owners are wonderful! Definitely worth stopping in if you're in town.

Adorable shop with a wide variety of local art and gifts, many Michigan- or lake-themed. Reasonably priced, friendly staff -- definitely stop in and look around!

Very rude owner!! Very poor customer service!!! While they may have some cute things. I would rather spent my money where someone is understanding and considerate and a compassionate person!!! Buyer beware.

They have a great selection of items across all price ranges and art styles, which I appreciate. Some fine pieces, some fun pieces. Definitely a little gem.

We always love visiting this shop every year!

This is a great little beach park! There are picnic tables if you want to come here to eat, and there's plenty of green space to run around. The parking lot is relatively large, so I don't think parking is an issue very often. This is hands down the nicest, cleanest vault toilet I've ever seen. No smell inside or out, and it was clean enough that I was comfortable enough to change clothes in there. We came here to swim, but there wasn't much of a beach to walk out on. The water was a little muddy, and there are a lot of water plants in the shallow area. We saw some other families playing on the water there, but it wasn't my favorite, so we mostly stuck to shore. This would be a great place for a picnic lunch before or after doing the dune climb!

Great place to stop and stretch your legs, sit down, and take in the scenery. There is even a bathroom.

Used as a place to put in for paddle boarding. There was no one there the day I went but it would be a nice place for a picnic. It has a restrooms. It is part of the national park.

Beautiful all the way around.

Randomly stopped here years ago and turned out to be right by the dunes. Beautiful quiet spot with a bathroom (non prota-potty but def. septic) and ample parking. Just sit and take it in.

Little cool still, but great picnic area. There were Sand Hill Cranes in the area today, so nice opportunity to watch and take some photos.

The water was deliciously warm and we loved playing in the shallows. Unfortunately we all contracted swimmers' itch. A warning sign would have been helpful. We still would have gone swimming but we could have taken measures to prevent the swimmers' itch.

Wow! What a great museum. We were truly shocked at the quality of the exhibits and the amount of artifacts in the 4 buildings! Be sure to check it out, not just great Empire history but Michigan and US history.

Great break from the beach or on a rainy day! It was fun and interesting for the whole family, from the 12 year old to the 82 year old!

A wonderful museum packed with interesting artifacts from the area.

You’d be surprised how this small, quaint town has such an amazing museum that has an abundance of Empire relics, all beautifully presented. The museum has four small buildings: the transportation barn, the hose house, the school house, and the main building, which has two floors. It’s devoted to the history of Empire, but even if Empire’s history isn’t really your thing, the antiquities and the presentation will surely get you interested. You can easily spend a couple hours there, although we’ve been there several times, and always manage to find something new to discover.

Check out the history in this place!!!! More than you could soak up in one visit or 10! We came by for heritage days and we all learned so much about the history of this beautiful area. Lots of volunteers and friendly folks. Ever want to see the 1st snowmobile sold in Empire? It's here in all it's refurbished glory. Want to see a steam whistle that survived not just 1 lumber mill fire, but two? Look no further. Keep up the good work preserving local history.

A great museum on the local history of Empire, Michigan. A wide collection of artifacts representing the lifestyle of past times. They have packed a large collection in well presented displays.

A great variety of historical items for a small museum. Four separate buildings including a schoolhouse. Well worth a visit.

Great shop & staff. Bought some lures & fudge…… for the fish. Fish love fudge!😜

it’s a cute spot, however we went there for tennis balls and they were all completely flat. tennis balls normally aren’t squishy, and when we opened the package one was already busted. we asked if they were meant for water use or if they can be played with on a court, which they responded that they could be, when we went to the court to use them, they didn’t even bounce. save your money

Nice shop! They have camping supplies, fishing supplies, sleeping bear/empire beach merch, towels, etc. Very friendly staff!

This is a must go to shop in Empire MI. Right on the way to Glen Arbor and Lealand. They rent bikes and are right at the begining of the Heritage Trail. Perfect place for beach gear...Empire Public Beach is 100 yards away...and cool shirts.

You can’t get any more local than Soni You can’t get more authentic than Soni You can’t get more honest than Soni Go to to Empire Outdoors He’ll be there to greet you if he’s not being a father or fishing. Go see him at Empire Outdoors of you want to experience Leelanau at it’s best. You won’t regret it.

You will be amazed at the quality of the merchandise. Also, Soni is great with advise on fishing spots and things to do.

I Love this store and highly recommend you visit. Great merchandise and brands. The owner grew up in Empire.

We visited the gallery three years ago and found many items to purchase . We also connected with one of the artists who was having an Art in the Orchard event.

Our experience was fabulous. The art was beautiful. We love our purchase. Heather was so kind and knowledgeable.

Beautiful, one of a kind art. We felt very welcomed. We really enjoyed our visit. I look forward to sharing this special place with friends and family, when they come to visit.

Actually a nice little place. Staff was friendly. Good art but be ready to pay for it lol. They do have a pretty good 'reasonable' section though, we found some nice gifts there.

Very unique pieces. Quaint shop. Definitely worth checking out

Love the art the is on display here! My wife and I have watched local artists paint here at times. Simply wonderful!

Excellent and interesting high quality art. Modest prices. Looking forward to coming back.