Luxe geodesic domes. Roomy lakeside yurts. Safari tents on a remote island. These Northern Michigan glamping retreats offer more than a place to rest your head: they’re destinations unto themselves.
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A Secret Spot for Animal Lovers: Camp Dubonett
Dawn breaks over Camp Dubonett with the promise of another delicious day at the horse-farm-turned-hip camp deep in the forest surrounding Lake Dubonnet (yep, different spelling). Out in the pasture, the horses are nose to nose over their breakfast piles of hay, only their contented snorts breaking the morning stillness. Shirley Manson, the murderous barn cat, alternates between patrolling for mice and throwing herself at the feet of anyone passing by, hoping for chin scratches. Resident goats Tilly and Tootie bleat hello to a mother deer and twin fawns slipping by the pasture into the woods.
This enchanted setting is home to a glamping experience that’s farm-forward with a touch of well-designed, woodsy charm. Camp Dubonett is the dream of proprietors Tim Rehard and Curt Titus, who, after several farm stints downstate, have styled their Traverse City area log home and horse farm to be a welcoming hip-camp spot offering four cool re-imagined options. (In fact, the farm was voted 2022’s Michigan Hip Camp of the Year.)
Curt is an interior designer and has done next-level makeovers on each campsite, ranging from a renovated 1974 Airstream Argosy to a teardrop shaped platform tent complete with clear plastic panels that lets the starlight in. Every campsite gets a welcome basket packed with coffee, treats, housemade goat milk lotion and wine from French Valley Vineyard.
Around the camp, guests are treated to cozy fire pits and gathering spots, as well as two bathrooms with showers in the neat-as-a-pin log barn. There’s a sweet lodge lounge with games, snacks and a fireplace where campers in flannel shirts hang out over hot coffee. A neighbor, known fondly as Sharon of the Woods, often walks over with still-warm chocolate chip cookies—a summer Saturday morning ritual.
Photo by Grant Piering
BY DAY: Camp Dubonett is home to an onsite 16-acre trail system for short woodland walks, and the Shore to Shore hiking/equestrian trail runs right through the property; after a 20-minute stroll you will get to the shores of Lake Dubonnet, a 1000-acre no-wake lake. Most guests head out each day to explore area beaches, wineries and hikes. The camp is 20 minutes from Traverse City and an easy drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
BY NIGHT: For an evening swim or picnic, head to Long Lake’s public beach access just 8 minutes down the road, followed by an ice cream cone at nearby Moomers. Guests love the communal fire pit area near the barn, where you can watch the bats come out at dusk, then curl up in a blanket as the stars poke through the night sky.
ASK FOR: The Stargazer, a teardrop-shaped Lotus Bell canvas platform tent in the woods just beyond the horse barn. Clear plastic panels at the top of the drop let the light in, and the circular platform is surprisingly spacious with room for a queen bed and two cots, perfect if you’re camping with the fam.
YOU’LL LOVE: The bold, design-y feel in each of the tents/campers; hanging with the farm critters; relative solitude (only four camp sites make for a quiet stay); a fun-for-kids scavenger hunt for gnomes hidden all over the camp.
GET THERE: Camp Dubonett is located 20 minutes southwest of Traverse City, near the west side of Long Lake; book at campdubonett.com.
Photo by Grant Piering
A Sustainable Island Retreat for Dark Sky Admirers: Beaver Island Retreat
At Beaver Island Retreat, guests are surrounded by acres of lush ferns and the crisp fragrance of pine and cedar trees. Thirteen safari-style canvas tents are tucked into private pockets of the wild landscape, thoughtfully blending a remote stay in the woods with the amenities of home: queen-size memory foam mattress, solar lights, USB charging ports, hot showers.
Every site has its own picnic table, hammock, a fire pit with unlimited firewood and cooking goodies like a charcoal barrel grill, propane burner, cutlery, wine bottle opener and more. There’s also a shared gourmet kitchen (with 30+ spices, balsamic vinegar, heck there’s even an air fryer), a BBQ pavilion, laundry facilities and four private bath houses with rainfall shower heads, lux towels and all-natural soaps.
Owners Brian Vaeth and Maria Dal Pra were inspired by their own visits to Beaver Island and a dream to share its magic with others. “Guests are constantly amazed at the lack of commercialism, and the fact that they can spend an entire day on a perfectly pristine, sandy beach and not see another person around,” Maria says.
Photo by Captured Glimpses
BY DAY: Lake Michigan’s largest (54 square miles) and most remote inhabited isle is laced with un-paved roads and surrounded by crystal-clear waters. There are lazy beach walks and rosy sunrises to savor, birding trails to scout, shipwrecks to discover and chocolate chip cookies to devour afterward at Wild Strawberry Café. A favorite view: Climb the 46 winding wrought iron steps up the tower of Beaver Head Lighthouse for a stunning Lake Michigan vista. Look down and notice the beautiful beach below, then go ahead and follow those steps down to the sandy shore. Pro tip: We recommend snagging the map—complete with roads, trails, nature preserves, lake depths and more—ahead of time from the Chamber of Commerce.
BY NIGHT: More than 9,000 acres within the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area was recently certified as Michigan’s first international dark sky sanctuary—just one of 20 in the world. Here at the retreat, and most places south of the town of St. James, the Sky Quality Meter readings match those found within the sanctuary, Maria shares. “All of our lighting and light management practices were very specifically designed to allow for the best possible astro tourism experience, without sacrificing safety or accessibility for guests,” she says. “Although night viewing is absolutely stunning throughout summer, the first weeks to sell out for us are the two weeks surrounding the Perseids when guests can sit right outside their tent, gaze at the Milky Way and watch meteors fly across the sky every few minutes.”
ASK FOR: The Retreat is ADA compliant. Tent #25 has parking and a ramp. Inside, guests have access to assist rails and a direct connection to electricity. In addition, one of the bath houses, the laundry facility and the community kitchen are completely accessible.
YOU’LL LOVE: Brian and Maria care deeply for their land and its health, prioritizing sustainability in their business model by sourcing local building materials whenever possible; using only natural laundry, dish and hand soaps (all complimentary for guests); offering composting and recycling; and using solar power at the tents for interior lights and charging devices.
GET THERE: On a beautiful day, the two-hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan feels like a Caribbean cruise. Prefer to fly? The plane ride is a 15-minute hop with epic views that, on a clear day, stretch all the way to the Upper Peninsula. Both depart from Charlevoix. Rent a car on island or ferry over with yours, which also makes it a breeze to bring your dog (welcome at the retreat) along with bikes and paddleboards. 34195 Kings Hwy.; book at beaverislandretreat.com.
Photo by Maria Dal Pra
A Luxury Dome Escape Minutes from Downtown: Silver Birch Resort
If the outdoor soaking tubs don’t immediately seal the deal, perhaps the hand-crafted, king-size barnwood beds will catch your eye. Or the endless forest views full of deer, porcupines, foxes, coyotes—a mama bear and her two cubs were even spotted. Newly opened last summer, Silver Birch Resort is currently home to 12 luxe geodesic domes, with more planned in the future, that sleep between two to six guests. “Each one has a little bit of a different personality,” says owner Rob Evina. “Organic meets rustic meets modern.” Evina, also the owner of Woodland Creek Furniture, is a master of modern rustic design, and his wife, Regina, creates beautiful interior spaces, mixing sculptural wood pieces with the contemporary vibe of the domes.
The 75-acre property has been in the Evina family for about 15 years, and holds some of the couple’s most special memories: their three children running down to the pond, nicknamed bare butt beach. “That was our refuge,” Rob says. “We’ve had many loved ones camp here over the years, and wanted to come up with something to allow the property to stay in the family.”
The resulting vision has drawn visitors from across the country and as far as France and Australia along with staycationers who live just a few miles down the road, too.
Photo by Silver Birch Resort
BY DAY: With rolling vineyards and orchards, roadside farm and flower stands, and surrounding big blue bays, the 18-mile cruise up Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula is a worthy day trip. Visit the old-timey Old Mission General Store for penny candy and picnic provisions on your way up to Mission Point Lighthouse. Then cruise the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail, where you’ll find 10 award-winning wineries that are giving the West Coast a run for its money.
BY NIGHT: Chase the sunset at Maple Bay Natural Area. This sugar-sand, west-facing beach is a part of a 425-acre property protected by Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Note, you’ll need to walk a short way (about 0.3 mile) to reach the beach. Want to hang downtown? The rooftop bar at Hotel Indigo has one of the best views in town. Take the elevator and soak up those Grand Traverse Bay blues (also lovely at sunset). Open to hotel guests and the public, May through October.
ASK FOR: Dome #6 is Rob’s favorite. It faces the south property line and a beautiful grove of hardwood maples where he would take the kids foraging for morels when they were little.
YOU’LL LOVE: The resort is surrounded on three sides by thousands of acres of state land with trails that can take you all the way up to the Mackinac Straits. It’s also just three miles from the Traverse City Horse Shows, 5 miles from East Bay and about 12 miles from downtown Traverse City. “You’re close to everything but yet you’re still in the woods,” Rob says. “There is nothing like waking up, having a cup of coffee and seeing a deer right outside your dome.”
GET THERE: Silver Birch Resort is 20 minutes from Cherry Capital Airport, south of Williamsburg; book at silverbirchmichigan.com.
Photo by Silver Birch Resort
A Serene Woodland Hideaway with Creature Comforts: Tiki RV Park
Driving up to this cozy-quaint campsite, just a few minutes north of downtown St. Ignace, is like entering another realm–one filled with whimsical wildflower patches, wooded canopies and canvas bell tents nestled between floating twinkle lights. It’s quiet here–the only sound you’ll hear at night is muffled laughter around a crackling bonfire–and that silence is golden, especially when you’re just a mile away from bustling ferry ports and local watering holes.
This enchanted enclave—Tiki RV Park—has been family owned and operated for more than 50 years. Three generations of women run the park today; matriarch Lenore Webb and her daughter Sandra Webb own the property, and Sandra’s daughter, Sydney Webb, manages it. Together, the Webb women have created a world where RVs, tent campers and yurt dwellers can coexist in peace.
Upon entering the park (along Lilac Lane), you’ll find RV sites and an office with showers, restrooms and fresh water; the path then forks—Cedar Drive takes you to primitive tent sites, and Apple Way wends through a cluster of yurts. But despite your nearby neighbors, each yurt site feels secluded—like your own little slice of the Northwoods, with towering white pines and swaths of baby blue forget-me-nots.
Each bell tent comes equipped with a queen bed and linens, pour-over coffee service, a power strip for charging any electronics (as well as running the space heater and/or fan) and an onsite fire pit complete with one complimentary bundle of wood per day, two Adirondack chairs and a picnic table. The perfect setup for morning coffee or an evening nightcap.
Photo by Scott Quesnell
BY DAY: Speaking of coffee, Java Joe’s Café is right across the street; drop by for the all-day breakfast, specifically the omelettes, crepes and French toast. From there, the possibilities are quite literally endless: hop a ferry to Mackinac Island, take a road trip west along Highway 2, do a day trip to Tahquamenon Falls, or head east to the Les Cheneaux Islands.
BY NIGHT: Grab your bundle of wood, bevvie of choice and sit back around a glowing bonfire. Twinkle lights overhead, you’ll feel like you’re in a woodland fairytale.
ASK FOR: All nine yurts offer a tranquil experience; you can’t go wrong. But we recommend checking out the site map ahead of time to see where you’d prefer to be—some yurts are near an area with grills, others get you closer to fresh water and showers.
YOU’LL LOVE: Having St. Ignace as your home base. This lovely little port town is the gateway to the U.P.; it’s centrally located and ideal for just about any trip you can dream up. Plus, you’ll have a chance to truly unplug here (but for any last-minute planning needs, you can head to the front office for reliable Wi-Fi.)
GET THERE: Tiki RV Park is located at 200 South Airport Rd., just a mile north of downtown St. Ignace. Book at tikirvpark.com.
Photo by Allison Jarrell Acosta
A Coastal Dream Along Secluded Lake Superior Shoreline: Paddler’s Village
If waking up on a white sand beach just feet from sparkling Lake Superior sounds like your idea of glamping paradise, Paddler’s Village should top your summer bucket list. Nestled on the scenic northern shore of the U.P., just west of Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, this snug village of yurts and safari tents is ideal for paddlers, hikers and outdoorsy folks seeking an idyllic beach retreat.
Upon arrival, follow the string of twinkle lights to your campsite, outfitted with everything you’ll need for a weekend on the water: Each yurt has electricity and lighting, a mini fridge, Wi-Fi access, a charcoal grill, picnic table and your own fire pit, surrounded by colorful Adirondacks just begging to be lounged in. The 16-foot yurts sleep five with a bunkbed and pullout futon, while the 20-foot yurts can sleep eight comfortably with an extra bunkbed (just remember to bring your own bedding!). And if you forget bug spray or sun- screen—or just need a snack—not to worry; the friendly staff at the office can help you out.
While Paddler’s location is fantastic for nearby adventuring (day trips to Munising, Marquette and Pictured Rocks are a breeze), this campground really shines with its onsite activities: Take a dip, walk the shoreline and do some rock hunting—the beach is dotted with vibrant chunks of blue, green and purple slag, leftovers from nearby Bay Furnace where pig iron was made between 1870 and 1877. (For an extra adventure, follow the beach west to the furnace ruins!)
We also recommend dropping by The Duck Pond Eatery & Beer Garden, which offers both indoor and outdoor seating within walking distance of the campground. The Michigan beer selection is impressive, and their comfort food game is strong—think poutine, cheese curds and whitefish any way you want it.
Photo by Uncle Ducky Outdoors
BY DAY: Operated by Paddling Michigan, this campground comes with extra opportunities for fun on the water. Add to your experience with a guided hike or paddle at Pictured Rocks, or book a Grand Island boat cruise. Reservations are available à la carte or via vacation packages that bundle canoeing, several meals, a kayak tour, boat cruise and two or three-night stays.
BY NIGHT: Whether you’ve returned from a Grand Island sunset cruise, or just ate way too many cheese curds at Duck Pond, you’ll wanna grab some wood and get your fire going. With any luck, you may have a musically inclined neighbor putting on a free acoustic sing-a-long.
ASK FOR: The “Powers of the Wind” yurt. This 20-foot abode is one of a few yurts that are situated closest to the water, right on the beach. It offers a bit of space from the other tents so you feel more secluded, but still have an easy walk to amenities. And who doesn’t want a beach bonfire with Lake Superior as your backdrop?
YOU’LL LOVE: Cushy glamping on the beach—it doesn’t get much better than that. Plus, the community of campers is pretty great. Paddler’s tends to draw in friendly nature lovers of all stripes, as well as plenty of repeat campers who are happy to share their experience and recs with you.
GET THERE: Paddler’s Village is located along Scrooge’s Alley (yup) in the town of Christmas (Google says Munising, but trust us … it’s Christmas). The campsite is about five miles west of downtown Munising, along the bay. Paddling Michigan also offers other lodging options in the area, including an Au Train Beach Campground. Book at paddlingmichigan.com.