I’m such a big northern Michigan fan. There’s just so much beauty up there. Everything is spread out, and so much woods and spaces that are just untouched. Apart from our loved Gaylord, some of our favorite places are Boyne City and Charlevoix. Boyne City is at the base of Lake Charlevoix, about 40 min north east of Gaylord. Charlevoix is at the “top” of Lake Charlevoix, about an hour from Gaylord on the coast of Lake Michigan. Here we are going to highlight some of our favorite things to do and places to explore near these areas!
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1. Boyne Mountain
You can’t talk about Boyne City without talking about Boyne Mountain. Boyne is fun all year round. Skiing in the winter, golf in the summer, plus an indoor water park and spa! HELLO! The indoor water park is actually pretty fun, with a surf wave and decent sized water slides. Their spa is really nice too and I had one of the best body wraps and scrub ever. Oh! They also have mountain biking trails for all different levels. Take the chair lift to the top, and ride down. That’s my kind of mountain biking.
Related: 7 Reasons to Visit Gaylord Michigan
2. Lavender Hill Farm
Near Boyne, The Lavender Hill Farm is a little hidden gem! They have beautiful pastures with all different types of lavender. As soon as you step out of the car, you are greeted by all the fresh lavender smells. We visited in late August and unfortunately the lavender was not in bloom. I definitely want to go back next summer to see it all in full force.
The farm also has the sweetest barn with chandeliers and fairy lights where they host concerts and I’m guessing weddings.
There is also a perfect lavender boutique, selling everything lavender you can think of. From essential oils, bath soaps, to lavender vinegar and lavender honey! I bought a lavender candle and the best darn lavender shortbread cookies ever.
3. Shopping on Main Street
“Downtown” Boyne City is actually pretty cool, with really fun “up northy” stores and boutiques. It’s pretty small so it won’t take you long to cruise up and down the streets.
4. Where to Eat in Boyne City: Café Santo
Right by the water’s edge is Café Santo. They have a distinct European vibe. I loved my pesto Panini, and the French fries I stole from my dad were really good too.
5. Where to Dessert in Boyne City: Alpine Chocolate Haus Ice Cream
Just a few shops down from Café Santo, you will find the best dessert and icecream in northern Michigan. They have all sorts of flavoured caramel corn, and in my opinion it’s the best caramel corn I have EVER had. Try the chocolate covered potato chips – so good. When I was there last, I had yummiest boysenberry and pomegranate sherbet!
Related: Northern Michigan Beer & Wine Color Tour
6. Swimming in Charlevoix and Lake Michigan
Arguably some of the best swimming spots in the state. Lake Charlevoix is crystal blue and so deep. Minus the palm trees and water temperature, it can feel like the Caribbean.
Lake Michigan is definitely colder but just as clear. As I mentioned, the town of Charlevoix is right on the coast of Lake Michigan. You can walk out on the pier, then take a stroll along the powdery white sand beaches.
We like to take the boat down the coast a bit to the sand dunes!
7. Charlevoix
Another favorite northern Michigan town of mine. Located on prestigious Round Lake (connecting Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan), is a beautiful harbor and main street. Lots of good shopping here in Charlevoix too but my favorite store is definitely Momentum! They offer all sorts of Michigan things like t-shirts, stickers, clocks, even pillows and coolers, for such great prices! Everything that I have gotten from there has been great quality and has withstood the test of time.
8. Wine & Cider Tours
Petoskey, Boyne, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs area all have wineries or breweries! Most of them are small, family owned places. Some larger and more popular than others. This is a fun activity summer or fall! I detailed our Northern Michigan Beer and Wine Color Tour here if you want to read more!
I hope you can explore and love Northern Michigan as much as we do. There are so many great things to do in these areas, and so many hidden gems to discover. These are just a few of my favorite! Northern Michigan is not just a summer destination but an all year round destination. Make sure you check out the links I added throughout to get more details and ideas for you trip north.
Explore On,
*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*