thenextmile

Vibrant colors, crisp air, and plenty
of eye catching scenery – it’s fall in Northern Michigan. Fall
colors generally peak around the tip of the lower peninsula the first
week of October, but the colors can be vibrant anytime between
mid-September and late October. To get the most of of the season,
enjoy a day trip along the picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline from
the quaint town of Charlevoix on up to Mackinac Island.

Charlevoix is an excellent spot to
start your adventure. The town is full of shops and art galleries
and swells in population in the summer months. The town sits between
Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. If you’re in the mood for more
lengthy color tour, try taking the ferry over to Beaver Island. The
island is known as America’s Emerald Isle and is about a 2 hour ferry
ride from Charlevoix.

When leaving Charlevoix, travel up the
coastline along US -31 to Petoskey. Along the way, you’ll notice a
bike path that runs along the shoreline. This path, known as the
Little Traverse Wheelway, extends 26 miles from Harbor Springs to
Charlevoix and is always bustling with bikers, walkers and runners.
It’s a great way to enjoy the colors and get in some exercise. There
are a couple roadside parks along this route that are excellent spots
for a picnic lunch.

Once in Petoskey, be sure to stop and
enjoy the downtown gaslight district with all it’s shops, art
galleries and fine restaurants. For those literature buffs, enjoy a
meal at the historic City Park Grill in downtown Petoskey. The
restaurant was once a favorite spot of author Ernest Hemingway.

Continuing north on US-31, just north
of Petoskey is the community of Bay View. Bay View was founded in
1875 by a group of Methodists who used the community as a summer
retreat. Century old homes and cottages dot the tree lined streets
and overlook Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay.

From here, take M-119 north to the town
of Harbor Springs, which lies on the north side of Little Traverse
Bay. Here’s you’ll find a resort town that resembles what you’d
expect to find on the east coast. If you continue north on M-119,
you’ll find yourself in Michigan’s famed “Tunnel of Trees.” This
stretch of M-119 that runs from Harbor Springs to Cross Village is
known for stunning lake views, wooded scenery, and plenty of photo
opportunities.

Once in Cross Village, you’ll find
yourself at Legs Inn. This authentic, Polish restaurant sits atop a
bluff along the shore of Lake Michigan. It’s a great place to enjoy
the region’s million dollar sunset while having a great meal.

From Cross Village, you can head up to
Wilderness State Park which is just north to enjoy the scenery of
Sturgeon Bay Beach, or head over towards Levering and up to Mackinaw
City. In Mackinaw, enjoy some famous fudge and stroll the historic
Fort along waterfront, or catch a ferry over to Mackinac Island. The
island is known for it’s ban on motorized vehicles – so once you’re
there, you’ll have to get around by foot, bicycle, or horse.

With so much to do in Northern Michigan
this fall, you might just have to make a weekend of it!

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