Petoskey + Northern Michigan Travel Guide
What fun we had on our whirlwind weekend to Petoskey and the Upper Peninsula! We knew we wanted to get a little bit of cold weather fun in before the end of the winter and fun we had! The area overall was absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to go back and explore in the Summer as well.
Where We Stayed
The Inn at Bay Harbor exceeded all our expectations. The hotel is amazing, grounds impeccable and the views of the lake are beyond breathtaking. We were pleasantly surprised by the Peloton bikes in the gym and the amount of great common space in and outside of the hotel. I imagine in the Summer, that the view from the room is like being on a beach. The lake is endless!
We stayed in a Master Suite, which had a bedroom with 1 king bed, then a pull out queen murphy bed and a fold out couch in the living room. It also had a kitchenette, which is my absolute favorite feature when traveling with a family! The fireplace and balcony with views of the lake were a cherry on top.
Both mornings of our stay, we ate breakfast in the Sagamore room. The breakfast buffet was delicious and was included for 2 people with your room. We didn’t even end up eating lunch because we filled up so much at breakfast!
Outdoor Fun
Our first winter activity was ice skating. The Inn at Bay Harbor offers free ice skating! All you have to do is pick up skates at the front desk and head out to their rink. There is a heated changing room and seating for people who want to just observe, take a break, or sip a hot beverage from the bar.
After we got tired, we took the 45 or so minute drive up Mackinaw City. We really wanted to see the Mackinac Bridge and it was as impressive as we expected! We stopped at the base of the bridge first and walked out on the frozen lake. It was like we were at the end of the earth! Cold, wind and snow as far as you could see! 
The traffic was stopped because of high winds, so once they subsided, we were allowed to cross the bridge to the Upper Peninsula.
Just over the bridge is the cutest little town that was mostly closed for the season. You could tell that it’s quite the bustling place in warmer weather, with the ferry to Mackinac Island and plenty of boat docks.
We stopped in for some Mackinac Island fudge at Murdick’s. Apparently the island is known for it!
Back on the south side of the bridge, we ate dinner at The White Buffalo. There are plenty of places that serve bison up there, so I had to try it! It was really great!
Back at the hotel, we took advantage of the hot tub. They leave robes and slippers at the door, so it’s not a painful walk back inside. The kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. I suggest wearing a hat! Hehe.
The next morning, it was time to live out The Hubs dream and go snowmobiling. We all had an absolute blast! We took turns since they only hold 2 people and we didn’t want to leave 1 kid alone. The crew that wasn’t riding at the time ventured out into the woods for snowshoeing, which is quite the workout!
After a full day of that, it was time to head home! We stopped in Cadillac on the way back to Grand Rapids for dinner at Clam Lake Brewery. What an adorable little town that is!
The trip ranked high on our post travel family ratings. We all loved the activities and of course, the gorgeous hotel. We can’t wait to go back north in the Summer, enjoy swimming in the lake and taking the ferry to Mackinac Island!
