My Little Traverse Bay Bucket List (For A Dream Michigan Road Trip)
There’s a big Michigan road trip in the works and one of our stops will be in the Little Traverse Bay Region. There are so many things to do and places to see, I’ve started a Little Traverse Bay bucket list. Given the itinerary of the road trip this summer, I get about 24 hours in the bay area. So this is a big wish list that will have to be checked off over additional trips. Here’s my Little Traverse Bucket List, featuring things to do in Petoskey, Charlevoix and other nearby cities.
UPDATED: This post was published in 2018 before I took my big road trip to Michigan. It’s been updated since then, most recently in August 2026.
Find a Petoskey stone
I’ll fess up, these stones were the reason I looked into visiting Little Traverse in the first place. They’re so intriguing! The stones are actually fossilized coral that have a pretty distinct pattern on them. We can head to the beach of Petoskey State Park to hunt for them.
(And in case you were wondering if there was an update, yes, we found some! I shared a picture in a collage in this Petoskey itinerary.)
Taste local brews
I can’t resist a good microbrewery, and in Petoskey, there’s Petoskey Brewing Co. You know what sounds good on the menu (besides beer)? The appetizer called “Salty, Doughy Goodness.”
The building has an interesting history, too. The building that’s home to Petoskey Brewing Co. was opened in 1898 and was once known as the Old Brewery, serving Petoskey Sparkle beer until 1915.
Do as Hemingway did
Petoskey has some legit Ernest Hemingway haunts. The historic City Park Grill dates back to the 1800s. Sit at the bar (second seat from the front) and you can have a drink where Papa Bear once sat. You can order the Hemingway Martini to complete the experience. Here’s a full tour of Hemingway’s Michigan.
Visit Pond Hill Farm
Pond Hill Farm sounds like a place that caters to everyone in my family: There’s a farm to feed animals, a hayrack ride to a trout pond, and a winery and brewery. It’s located in Harbor Springs.
Shop the Gaslight District
Petoskey’s six-block Historic Gaslight District looks like a charming area to spend an afternoon shopping. American Spoon is located in the Gaslight District, where they sell artisan jams. A visit to Mclean and Eakin will be great too. It’s one of the top independently-owned bookstores in the U.S.
Look for the Mushroom Homes
In Charlevoix, there are 26 homes that look like they’re straight out of a fairytale. Designed by Earl Young, these Mushroom Homes are privately-owned, but you can get a self-guided driving tour brochure from the chamber of commerce.
See a show
If my road trip started a little later in the summer, I could catch a performance at Great Lakes Center for the Arts. Since it’s a bucket list, I can wish for the impossible (my rules), so I’d have tickets to the already “Come From Away,” a musical I’ve been wishing to see for ages.
Drive the Tunnel of Trees
M-119 got the nickname, Tunnel of Trees, for obvious reasons, this well-known 20-mile route ends at a state park said to have beautifully-colored stones to discover. I’d have it on my road trip itinerary in a heartbeat if I had the extra time.
Stargaze at an International Dark Sky Park
Skies don’t get all-too-dark in a city, so rare is the chance to find something like stargazing like I could at Headlands International Dark Sky Park (the ninth designated park in the world!). Located in nearby Mackinaw City, it’s free to visit, day or night.
Maple syrup tour
The Little Traverse Conservancy offers a variety of events year-round, including a chance to visit Parsons Farm and taste the Hardwood Gold Maple Syrup. The Parson family opens the taps during the event, and just maybe, those on the tour get to taste the maple. A sugar fiend could dream.
