Make the most of your Northern Michigan vacation in the charming Charlevoix region. From glamping on Beaver Island to antiquing in Elk Rapids, here are 10 of our favorite things to do.
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Photo by Gail Snable
10 Things to Do in the Charlevoix Area
1. Stop for the bucolic farmstead views, stay for the best breakfast burritos. At Providence Organic Farm in Central Lake, you’ll find homegrown produce, a rotating to-go menu and gorgeous U-Pick blooms.
2. Elk Rapids is an antiquing treasure trove—grab a bite downtown, then hunt for treasures at Blue Owl Antiques, Harbor Antique Mall, Elk Rapids Antiques and The Granary at Seven Gables.
3. Drive up to the Ironton Ferry for the world’s shortest, sweetest ferry ride: a five-minute float across Lake Charlevoix.
4. Cue the road tunes and cruise The Breezeway—a bucolic stretch of C-48 that winds and rolls through Antrim County.
5. Fly or cruise to far-flung Beaver Island. You’ll want to spend a long weekend here—glamp at Beaver Island Retreat, paddle to remote beaches and stargaze from your campsite.
Read Next: The Insider’s List: 10 Things to Do in the Traverse City Area
Photo by Dave Weidner
6. Soak up the vibes of seven miles of trails through lush ferns and wetlands at Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire.
7. Check out fruit-farm row: a juicy mix of pie stands, cherry farms and berry U-Picks dot US-31 near Atwood the Adorable.
8. Get on the water with Sail Charlevoix; new sailors can dive into classes, or for experienced skippers, enjoy 3-hour boat rentals from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on weekdays.
9. Grab the essentials at J. Bird Provisions in downtown Charlevoix—smoked onion dip, pimento cheese spread, a curry chicken salad wrap—and have a picnic at East Park while you soak in the lake views. (J.Bird made it onto our Delish List, along with more must-try local bites and sips.)
10. Paddle the scenic Chain of Lakes, a 100-mile inland waterway trail with 84 access sites. One such site—Grass River Natural Area—connects Lake Bellaire and Clam Lake and is also home to seven miles of lush wetland trails.