Outdoor fun in and around Petoskey

One look at your Discovery Map for Petoskey and Greater Petoskey (front and back) shows that there’s lots of outdoor fun to be had here. The vast stretches of water are dead giveaways for that. Plus, you’ll notice lots of parks and green spaces.

Indeed, Little Traverse Bay, Lake Charlevoix, Walloon Lake and Bear River provide superior conduits to recreating out of doors whether you’re on the water, on the shore or admiring it from a distance. Let’s start with the underwater cross, Petoskey’s most unusual outdoor attraction that can be appreciated both during the fair weather and in winter. People come from all over the world to marvel at this 11-foot-long marble wonder. Totally submerged in water, it can be viewed on rare occasions under just the right circumstances. Read all about it here.

Those looking to take it up a few notches can jet ski, kayak, paddl board, sail, motor around and enjoy all kinds of other activities on the lakes. Your Discovery Map provides you with many resources for lining up watersport rentals, purchases and tours in and around Petoskey. You can also take an excursion to Beaver Island, the largest island on Lake Michigan, with Beaver Island Boat Company. It’s quite beautiful and a tour here – especially in late spring/early summer – will help you to understand why Beaver Island is referred to as America’s Emerald Isle.

For an elegant tour of the harbor, book a cruise on The Pointer, a lovely boat that runs out of Stafford’s Pier Restaurant in Harbor Springs.

Spending time at the beach is another favorite thing to do in Petoskey, especially at Petoskey State Park. In addition to the beach, here you can also find lots of great places to hike, including on The Old Baldy Trail, a half-mile loop to the top of Old Baldy Dune, a beloved site that offers stunning panoramic views. Note that although the beach at Petoskey State Park is sandy, you can sometimes find some Petoskey stones here. Some people even bring spray bottles full of water to spray down certain spots in order to see if the wondrous brilliance of these stones emerges.

You might be able to find more Petoskey stones at the beach in Magnus Park, since it’s more rocky. In any case, always be respectful of any signage posted throughout Petoskey regarding the cultivation of its renowned stones. Since there is likely a finite supply, you might just want to leave them in nature! Camping at Magnus Park is also very popular, so be sure to reserve far in advance.

If you’re a biking or walking enthusiast, you’ll find lots of trails in Petoskey that amuse young and old. You can’t beat The Little Traverse

Wheelway, a 26-mile path that connects Charlevoix, Bay Harbor, Petoskey, Bay View and Harbor Springs. Talk about a sweet ride – with many sweet views. Plus, there are lots of places to visit along the way, including Bay Front Marina and Park, Petoskey Pier Light, Sunset Park and more. Did you know that Petoskey has been dubbed the land of the million dollar sunsets? Be sure to bring money with you, since there are all kinds of shops and eateries along the way. Most of all though, hydrate tons, wear sunscreen and bring layers because you never know what kind of weather will blow in from the lake.

If you come in winter, you’ll likely find glistening frozen expanses punctuated with ice skating, ice fishing and other fun outdoor doings. Outside of town, there’s also nordic skiing in various locales as well as alpine at Nob’s Nob. At about four hours from Detroit, Petoskey is understandably a Michigan favorite.

And yes, you can even find wineries, lavender farms, nature preserves, zip lines and all kinds of other places to enjoy. Take a gander at PetoskeyArea.com