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Petoskey is a fantastic place to visit for a relaxing getaway that won’t leave you in the poor house (although you could end up in the “pour house” 😛 …see below). There are many great options for things to do in Petoskey, from exploring shops in its adorable little downtown to sipping a pinot at a nearby winery.
Stay in a historic inn
The main thing to figure out when planning a trip to Petoskey is where to stay. It’s a small town, so there aren’t quite as many options as you would get in a big city. However, what they do have is charming inns with lovely views.
My recommendation would be to stay at the Bay View Inn. It is steps away from Lake Michigan, and a great value! The inn features loads of historic charm, free cookies, and a scrumptious breakfast each morning. Be sure to try the cherry French toast!
The Bay View Inn really values it’s historical integrity, and keeps its décor true to the period, even going so far as to not have TV’s in each room (they do still have wifi though). The Inn even features a rickety old elevator that is worth taking at least once for the experience.
Stroll through downtown
One of the best things to do in Petoskey is to enjoy its quaint little downtown area. It is quite small, and very walkable with a variety a shops and restaurants to explore. Here are my favorites:
- American Spoon: This adorable little shop features shelves and shelves of all different sorts of jams. You can sample pretty much all of them, and will likely walk out with a jar of it.
- Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts: I loved this store so much! It’s just so quaint and charming inside. We found a lot of cute decorative items here during our visit, including a beautiful stone coaster, a wooden picture frame, and comfy socks with boats on them. All things reminiscent of our stay up north!
- Tap 30 Pourhouse: Other than the fantastic restaurant at our inn, Tap 30 Pourhouse was my favorite eating and drinking establishment in downtown Petoskey. Good craft brews, solid bar food, and just overall relaxed vibe. We came here multiple times over our 3 day stay.
- Beard’s Brewery: Great local brewery that started off as just a hole in the wall with a taco stand. They have since relocated to a bigger space and offer a full menu. I’d definitely check it out to get a taste for the local craft beer scene.
Spend an afternoon by the lake
This is one of those non-negotiable things to do in Petoskey. If you’ve ever heard a “Pure Michigan” commercial narrated by Tim Allen’s soothing voice, you know about the pristine waters of Lake Michigan. It’s pretty much a given that if you are visiting northern Michigan, at least some of your time must be spent at the lake. Even if you don’t want to go in it, you should at least stroll or picnic by it for the true “Up North” experience. The waters truly are as clear and beautiful as they say.
Get Active at Petoskey State Park
Petoskey State Park offers even more things to do in Petoskey with it’s beach, campground, trails etc. My husband and I actually had the pleasure of running the Little Traverse Half Marathon and 10k through it’s scenic path on our visit.
I am very sad to say that I discovered that race is on an indefinite “water break” for now. However, I do see that there is a newer race following a similar path called Stafford’s Top of Michigan Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k. Doing the race, albeit laborious, was a fun way to get outdoorsy in Michigan.
Visit wineries
On one of my first visits to Michigan, I was actually very surprised to learn just how big wineries are there. Petoskey is no exception, and features some great choices in its vicinity. Here are two excellent places worth a visit:
- Petoskey Farms Vineyard and Winery: Enjoy a glass of pinot noir on their deck with incredible views of rolling hills.
- Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery: They pride themselves on being “America’s first and only maple winery”. Certainly worth a visit to taste unique wines that cannot be found anywhere else.
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Now you know all the very best things to do in Petoskey to have a relaxing, slow-paced trip in the beautiful state of Michigan. Which of these suggestions will you be trying on your next trip?
