Petoskey
Petoskey is a gorgeous tourist town on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Northwestern Michigan, USA. Renowned for its spectacular lakeshore views year-round, abundant shopping, nearness to ski slopes, world-class golf and an undeniable small-town charm. Petoskey is annually rated as one of the best small towns in America.
Get in
By car
Petoskey lies at the crossroads of US 131 and US 31. Petoskey is located approximately 4 hours north of Detroit and 40 minutes south of the Mackinaw Bridge and is easily drivable from Detroit, Chicago, and the surrounding states.
By bike
Petoskey is connected to Alanson, Pellston, and Mackinaw City via the Petoskey to Mackinaw trail.
By plane
You can reach Petoskey via Pellston Regional Airport (30 min), Cherry Capital Airport (90 min), or a variety of other regional airports. All are serviced by Delta Air Lines.
Get around
By car
You'll most likely want to have a car to get around Petoskey. Taxi service in the Petoskey area is limited. A few of the hotels have shuttles but unless you're already driving you'll want to have a rental car. Traffic is generally pretty light but can be significantly busier in the summer. Having transportation will give you the ability to visit other places near by like Harbor Springs and Charlevoix, which are within about 20 miles of Petoskey.
On foot
When downtown, you can walk to just about everywhere.
By bike
- Little Traverse Wheelway. A bike path that follows the shore. You can ride Petoskey to Charlevoix or Petoskey to Harbor Springs.
See
- Petoskey stones. These stones are common on area beaches and are high in marine fossils.
- 🌍 Little Traverse Historical Museum (Chesapeake and Ohio Depot).
- 🌍 St. Francis Solanus Mission. The oldest building standing in Petoskey.
- 🌍 Harris Gardens (North Central Michigan College). Sculpture garden in the main quad of North Central Michigan College.
- 🌍 Hemmingway Statue. A statue of author Ernest Hemmingway, who often visited this area in his youth.
- The Gaslight District. Downtown Petoskey is what makes it such a cool place. There are some great shops, fantastic restaurants, and beautiful parks just to have a little stroll.
- Bayfront Park. Petoskey's waterfront is relatively unrivalled in the Midwest. There are some great parks and sights, waterfall, ponds, etc., along the shore of Little Traverse Bay. The waterfront can be easily walked to from downtown and ample parking is available.
- Bay View. Built as a Methodist retreat, it is filled with gingerbread-style Victorian cottages and two quaint inns.
- Bay Harbor. Visit this unbelievable development on the shores of Little Traverse Bay. Home to some amazing homes, a nice shopping district and great golf.
Do
- 🌍 Petoskey State Park. A very popular beach during the summertime, this is the place to enjoy Lake Michigan on a hot summer day.
- 🌍 Emmet County Fair.
- 🌍 Winter Sports Park.
- 🌍 Great Lakes Center for the Arts.
- 🌍 East Park. Waterfront park.
Buy
- 🌍 Old Emmet Farmer's Market.
Eat
- Roast & Toast, 309 E Lake St. Soups, sandwiches, and coffee. Large selection of homemade sodas such as the Lucky Duck. Tin ceiling and cafe atmosphere with a patio in back.
- 🌍 Palette Bistro.
- Side Door Saloon (north of town on US 31 near Bay View).
Drink
- 🌍 City Park Grill. Popular on weekends.
- 🌍 The Noggin Room, 100 Lewis St (in the lower level of Stafford's Perry Hotel.), ☏ +1-1-800-737-1899. Go for Sean Ryan.
- The Mitchell Street Pub. Pub food, burgers, and great beer. Don't be afraid to throw your peanut shells on the floor.
- Leo's Lounge.
- The Side Door Saloon.
- Schmohz Brewery, 109 W Mitchell St.
Sleep
- The Surf Cottage, ☏ +1 231-632-0833. 4-bedroom home on Lake Michigan in "Tunnel of Trees". 150-ft private, sandy Lake Michigan Frontage. Open year round.
- 🌍 Apple Tree Inn.
- Bed and Breakfasts.
- 🌍 Inn at Bay Harbor (Little Traverse Bay).
- 🌍 Perry Hotel, 100 Lewis St, ☏ +1 231 347-4000, toll-free: +1 800 737-1899, perryhotel@staffords.com. Built in 1899 as one of some twenty original luxury resort hotels, Stafford’s Perry Hotel is the only one still in operation.
- 🌍 Stafford’s Bay View Inn, 2011 Woodland Ave, ☏ +1 231 347-2771, toll-free: +1 800 737-1899, bayviewinn@staffords.com. Established in 1886 with historic rooms and scenic views.
Connect
- 🌍 Petosky District Library (Petosky Public Library), 500 E Mitchell, ☏ +1-231-758-3100. M-Th 10AM-7PM, F Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM.
- 🌍 Petoskey Post Office.
Go next
- Legs Inn (they're up in Cross Village (20 minutes) but the drive along M119 is terrific).
| Routes through Petoskey |
| END ← Mackinaw City ← | N S | → Bay Harbor → Traverse City |
| END ← | N S | → Kalkaska → Grand Rapids |
| Cross Village ← Harbor Springs ← | N S | → END |