There are many beautiful sights on the way from Traverse City to Mackinaw City including roadside parks, scenic drives, quaint towns, delicious restaurants, and a state park. To start, head north on US-31 from Traverse City.
Lake Michigan Shores Roadside Park
Approximately 4 miles north of Charlevoix, there is a nice park on your left called Lake Michigan Shores Roadside Park. From here you get views of Big Rock Point and Little Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. The beach and water are steps from your parking space. There is also a bike path that runs through the park which connects to the Charlevoix-to-Petoskey bike path.
You may also be lucky enough to find fossils like Petoskey stones (fossilized coral). As we had the place to ourselves, we spent a long time quietly enjoying the waves. I also took entirely too many photos of gulls.
After the city of Petoskey, US-31 goes north inland. You can continue on US-31, or for a more scenic route, turn onto M-119 to continue following the shoreline.
Tunnel of Trees
North of Harbor Springs on M-119, make sure to cruise the Tunnel of Trees – 20 miles of highway enveloped by hardwoods and evergreens. These trees curve over the road, creating a ceiling or canopy above motorists and cyclists. This narrow byway follows a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. It would be especially beautiful in autumn as the leaves change color. Take care as there are sharp twists and turns along the way.
Leggs Inn
A highly recommended restaurant along M-119 is the Leggs Inn. They serve authentic Polish cuisine. More than one person’s eyes have lit up describing their favorite dish. The restaurant also offers American dishes such as locally caught Great Lakes whitefish.
Wilderness State Park
My favorite spot of the day was unquestionably Wilderness State Park! There are 26 miles of shoreline. We stopped at Sturgeon Bay Dunes. With sand dunes to the right of the highway and the beach to the left, what’s not to love?
While there were a few other cars parked along the road, no one else was in sight on the beach. Simply gorgeous! The sun was shining just right to highlight all the blues and teals in the water. I could have spent hours relaxing here.
If you have more time, Wilderness State Park’s over 10,000 acres also include forests, wetlands, miles of hiking and biking trails, cabins, and campsites. In 2012, it was designated a Michigan dark sky preserve, making it perfect for stargazing.
Mackinaw City
Mackinac Bridge
Once in Mackinaw City there is tons to do. We only had a little time that night to enjoy the sights, but we did head down to Colonial Michilimackinac. First, we walked to the beach to stretch our legs and see the Mackinac Bridge. You can walk under the bridge for a different view.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
We then walked over to the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse to look around. It is a nice-looking building; however, visitors are charged to enter the grounds and can only go into the lighthouse during scheduled tours. Beware mosquitoes come out in force at night since it is near the water.
Hook Lakeside Grill Restaurant
Dinner was at Hook just down the street from our hotel and along Lake Huron. There are lovely views from the deck dining area which faces the Straits of Mackinac. As we enjoyed our perch and walleye, we watched the boats come ashore.
I make it a point to have destinations on travel days. Take some time to stop along the way, stretch your legs, feel the sun, enjoy the views, and wade in one of the Great Lakes.