Step into 1842 at the Dougherty Mission House, where weathered wooden floors creak beneath your feet and sunlight filters through wavy glass windows. This preserved Presbyterian mission home on Old Mission Peninsula tells the story of Reverend Peter Dougherty and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.…

Simply Exquisite by the Bay started as chef Maria Santos's dream to bring authentic coastal cuisine to Benzie County's shoreline. After years perfecting her craft in Chicago's top kitchens, Maria returned home to Michigan with a vision: fresh Great Lakes fish paired with premium steaks in an atmosphere that celebrates…

Step into the preserved rooms of the Con Foster Museum and feel the weight of Traverse City's lumber baron era. Original Victorian furnishings fill each space, while the scent of aged wood mingles with stories of the families who shaped this region. Photographs line the walls, capturing faces from decades past, and…

A historic former inn inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on M-22 north of Long Lake Road near Crystal Lake. It is preserved by the National Park Service and is no longer lodging.

Lake Township Park in Benzie County combines natural beauty with glimpses into Michigan's past. This family-friendly destination sits along pristine shoreline where kids can splash in shallow waters while parents explore historical markers detailing the area's logging and maritime heritage. The park maintains several…

A historic lighthouse park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula offering tours, beaches, and stunning bay views.

State park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula offering beaches, picnic areas, and the historic Old Mission Lighthouse.

This historic inn sits on Old Mission Peninsula's scenic spine, where cherry orchards stretch toward Grand Traverse Bay. The 1869 structure maintains its original character with creaking hardwood floors and vintage furnishings that tell stories of Great Lakes travelers. Each morning brings homemade breakfast…

Old Settlers Park on the Leelanau Peninsula carries the stories of Northern Michigan's earliest families who carved homesteads from dense forests in the 1800s. These hardy settlers faced brutal winters and cleared land by hand, building tight-knit communities that endured for generations. Today, families and their…