Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan: Scenic Road Trip Itinerary

Climb the Sand Dunes – hike the many easy and challenging sand dunes, some of which are more than 200 feet high. You can even sandboard down some!

Try Hang-Gliding – watch or try your hand at hang-gliding (with a permit, of course).

Hit the Hiking Trails – enjoy the park’s six miles of hiking trails.

Enjoy the Beaches – enjoy relaxing, swimming, and hiking on the sugar sand beaches.

Paddle on the Lake – bring your own or rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board (SUP) on the lake.

Windmill Island Gardens – see America’s only authentic working Dutch windmill. It produces grain for baked goods around town and for purchase in the Gardens’ shop. They have 36 acres of flower beds as well as a Dutch organ and carousel.

Holland State Park – this 142-acre beachfront park has a beautiful historic “Big Red” lighthouse, wide beaches, public boat launch, paddle rentals, playground, and camping.

Festivals – Holland hosts its annual Tulip Festival in May as well as dozens of other events and festivals throughout the year.

Community Beach Bonfire – on the fourth Thursday in June, July, and August, join this free community event with live music and, of course, a big bonfire!

Waterfront Park and Sculpture Park – visit this downtown park with a marina, band shell, and sculpture garden with original bronze sculptures celebrating the town’s history.

S.S. Badger – take a ride across the lake to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on the nation’s last coal-fired ferry which takes cars, trucks, RVs, and passengers.

Ludington State Park – enjoy 28 miles of shoreline on 5,800 acres with sugar sand beaches, sand dunes, hiking trails, forests, wetlands, three campgrounds, a lighthouse, and a fishing pier.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – situated 450 feet above the blue water of Lake Michigan, this wonderful park has plenty of hiking trails, sand dunes, kayaking, and two rustic islands only reached by boat.

Downtown Traverse City – this vibrant downtown is wonderfully walkable and has dozens of eclectic shops, bars, and restaurants. Stop by the famed Cherry Republic Store to sample all things cherry – wine, jams, salsa, cookies, sweets, etc. Bring an appetite!

Wine Tastings – known as the Traverse Wine Coast, there are dozens and dozens of wineries in and around Traverse City, with the most concentrated group on the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula. The wines are growing in quality, with its vineyards located on the 45th Parallel – the same as some of the top wine regions in Italy and France. For beer lovers, Traverse City has several craft breweries to enjoy as well.

Outdoor Activities – Traverse City is an outdoor enthusiast's dream! The area is teeming with bikers, boaters, hikers, runners, beachgoers, paddlers – pretty much anything you can imagine is available here to enjoy!

Petoskey – this small town boasts plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities – biking, boating, fishing, hiking, paddling, beachgoing and golf. Like many other small towns in this area, the population swells in the summer but there are plenty of restaurants, shops, museums, farmers’ markets, and festivals to keep you busy.

Charlevoix – consider stopping here on your drive to Petoskey for a quick stroll to sample its locally famous Murdick’s Fudge and admire the charming and grand century-old cottages around town. Consider also one of its many scenic drives around Lake Charlevoix, Torch Lake, or the Tunnel of Trees.

Mackinac Island – this often-filmed romantic island can only be reached by a short passenger ferry from nearby Mackinac City. No cars (or RVs!) are allowed on the island – but there are charming horse drawn carriages, bikes, and walking paths to explore the island. With grand Victorian homes from yesteryear, historic Fort Mackinac over a dozen history museums, and plenty of charming shops, ice cream parlors and restaurants, you will not regret spending a day here. Be sure to stop by the famed Grand Hotel – built in 1887 and a National Historic Landmark –for a bite to eat, drink or to enjoy a rocking chair on its super long front porch.