Day Trips
Boyne Mountain Is a Great Place to Sleep. Northern Michigan Is a Great Place to Explore.
The region surrounding Boyne Mountain is loaded with day-trip worthy destinations — from charming harbor towns and legendary islands to national lakeshores and one of the most scenic drives in the country. Pack a bag, fill the tank, and go see what all the fuss is about.
Charlevoix
Nicknamed "Charlevoix the Beautiful" and named one of the best lake towns in America by Travel + Leisure, Charlevoix sits where Lake Charlevoix meets Lake Michigan and earns every bit of the praise.
Stroll downtown Bridge Street for boutique shopping and waterfront dining, watch boats pass through the historic drawbridge, and don't leave without hunting for Petoskey and Charlevoix stones on the beach. Fisherman's Island State Park just outside of town adds five miles of unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline to the day.
The whimsical Mushroom Houses — designed by eccentric local architect Earl Young from boulders and cedar shakes — are unlike anything else in Michigan and worth seeking out. Castle Farms, a restored 1918 French Normandy dairy complex with gardens, a model train collection, and a winery on-site, makes for a full afternoon on its own.
Harbor Springs
Harbor Springs is the kind of small town that looks like a movie set — a quaint waterfront Main Street, boutique shops, great restaurants, and bluff views over Little Traverse Bay.
Spend an hour or two wandering before heading north on M-119, where one of the best drives in the country begins. The Tunnel of Trees is a 20-mile stretch of road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village, winding beneath a canopy of hardwoods and cedars along a bluff above Lake Michigan.
Glimpses of the water appear at every curve, and the whole experience feels like stepping out of regular life entirely. Stop at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve for a short walk to a quiet Lake Michigan beach, browse the Good Hart General Store for local provisions, and end the drive at the legendary Legs Inn in Cross Village.
Mackinac Island
One of Michigan's most iconic destinations and an easy day trip from Boyne Mountain. Drive north to Mackinaw City and catch the ferry for a ride across the Straits of Mackinac.
No cars on the island, ever. Just bikes, horse-drawn carriages, and foot traffic on 8.2 miles of shoreline road. Fort Mackinac, Arch Rock, and the Victorian Grand Hotel are the landmark stops, but the real pleasure of Mackinac is just wandering. Explore fudge shops, harbor views, and the historic streets.
Book early morning ferry tickets to make the most of a full day. Shepler's and Star Line both operate ferries from Mackinaw City throughout the season.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America viewers, Sleeping Bear Dunes is 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, bluffs that tower 450 feet above the water, ancient dune formations, and some of the most dramatic freshwater scenery in the country.
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is the anchor of any first visit — a 7-mile loop with 12 stops and sweeping overlooks of Lake Michigan, Glen Lake, and the surrounding dunes. The Dune Climb is the signature experience, a steep sandy ascent that rewards with views across the lake.
Bring a park pass, start early, and leave time for a swim at Glen Haven Beach or a float down the Platte River before heading back. Plan for a full day — this one earns it.
Traverse City
The largest city in Northern Michigan and one of the most compelling day trip destinations in the region. Downtown Traverse City is a great, walkable area filled with shops, restaurants, craft breweries, and distilleries, all within a few blocks of Grand Traverse Bay.
The Old Mission Peninsula juts 20 miles into the bay and is home to a string of acclaimed wineries producing some of the best cool-climate wines in the country — a natural extension of the wine country you're already exploring around Boyne Mountain.
If you're going in early July, time it with the National Cherry Festival for a week of parades, events, and cherry everything. Sleeping Bear Dunes is just 45 minutes from downtown TC, making it easy to combine both into one ambitious day.
