Finally sharing all about our week in Northern Michigan! I have shared posts here and here from previous years and the truth is, not much has changed. We always visit the same little towns on M-22 and for the last two years we have rented a house in Leland, in Good Harbor Bay on Lake Michigan.
Dave’s dad lives up north on Crystal Lake and Dave has spent basically his entire life visiting Northern Michigan. His family actually owned a farm in Leland up until we met and was the first to introduce me to this special area. What I love so much about Northern Michigan, and specifically this M-22 area (although we’ve also been to Charlevoix, Walloon Lake, Petoskey, Harbour Springs and I also highly recommend!), is that you drive 10 minutes and you happen upon another charming little town sitting on a lake. M-22 has so many corners to explore right outside of Traverse City and there is not one day that isn’t filled with some sort of fun adventure!
We’ve rented a house in Traverse City, Sutton’s Bay, Glen Arbor and for the last 2 years in Leland so I feel like I have been able to really feel out all the towns. I love them all for different reasons and they all hold their own little charm! We spend a week every summer with Dave’s brother and his family (they have two boys our boys ages!) and with the boys getting older we’ve found a special spot that sort of checks all the boxes. I am not going to link the exact house because they don’t rent out that often and the owner asked me not to, but it is on Good Harbor Bay, which sits on Lake Michigan, just outside of Leland. The only downside is that it is on M-22, a very busy road. It is a little jarring and requires extra eyes but our boys are old enough (minus George) that they understand the rules. It is also Lake Michigan which means you’re not getting a quiet lake setting – there aren’t boats and the water is a little colder. But you have a beach and it’s so beautiful!
I received so many questions about renting homes up there and my biggest suggestion is to look at availability on the map to ensure you’re either 1. on an actual lake (Glen Lake, Traverse Bay, Lake Leelanau are all beautiful!) or 2. you’re close to the town! Whether you have water front or not, there is so much to do if you’re close to town and public access to water. We stayed in this house in Glen Arbor when I was pregnant with George and it was dreamy! A close walk into the town of Glen Arbor (one of our favorites!) and 3 houses down from the beach.
I have to touch on my favorite towns (if I had to choose!) along M-22 because we’ve seen them all. Leland and Glen Arbor are my favorites. Leland for the charm – like Fishtown (must get a sandwich from the Cheese Shanty!), the adorable downtown with the cutest shops like Leland Gal, Harbor House and more. It’s just the sweetest little community and feels very Americana! Glen Arbor feels more relaxed, lake town but with so much to do. Crystal River Outfitters is where we did our kayak excursion right in downtown Glen Arbor – they drop you off with your canoes and you finish 2.5 hours later (they also have a shorter 45 min option) back downtown. We love getting lunch at Arts Tavern (expect a wait) and shopping at the Totem Shop. It’s also filled with fun shops, art studios, Cherry Republic, bookstores and more. Glen Arbor is also right near the Sleeping Bear Dunes which we make sure to do every year. Glen Arbor is a 20 minutes drive from where we rented in Leland so if you’re looking to explore, I’d recommend renting a car.
Let me know if you have any specific questions in the comments! It’s honestly the most casual, wonderful family trip. You don’t need specifics because every town has something to offer. Don’t go into it wanting the best meal of your life or all the plans, instead plan to enjoy a week of relaxed lake life with options to explore this special part of the US.
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