Peshawbestown
Traverse City
Omena
Northport
We'd like to welcome you to Kezia's home away from home... Northwestern Michigan boasts of its many small towns, beautiful scenery and lake shore, local foods, and local wines and brews. The region is known as the cherry capital as Michigan produces more tart cherries than anywhere else in the US.
Below we've shared some brief information on some of the towns and points of interest if you'd like to do some exploring while you're here:
-
Towns:
-
Peshawbestown
​
-
Points of Interest:
​
Also check out LeelanauVisitorsGuide.com
​
Glen Arbor
Things to Do / About the Area
​
Learn more: http://mynorth.com/area/glen-arbor-michigan/
Leland is a picturesque little village on the west side of the county located on a sliver of land between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. From Leland Harbor, boats take passengers out into Lake Michigan on day trips and overnight stays to South Manitou and North Manitou Islands, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Sunset viewing from the harbor is so popular, that a special paved platform was built for the many camera tripods that are mounted every evening.
Fishtown in Leland Harbor is a preserved village of fishing shanties that now house shops of various sorts, many of them open only in the warmer months. http://www.lelandmi.com/fishtown/
​
You can get fresh fish at Carlson's in Fishtown. And, you can arrange for a charter fishing trip out into Lake Michigan from the boardwalk behind that store.
Van's beach is a popular Lake Michigan swimming beach to the east of downtown. And, there is also a public beach on Lake Leelanau near the golf course.
​
Learn more: http://www.lelandmi.com/
Leland
Northport is a small village near the northern tip of Leelanau County. The official population of the village is between 500 and 600 people. Northport and the surrounding area is a popular summer vacation destination. The total population triples (or more) in the summer.
There is a marina, park and public beach on the bay. The town has a grocery store and smaller shops and several restaurants. Just outside of town is a public golf course. Kayaks and SUP boards can be rented in town. There is a Farmer's market on Friday mornings.
If you want to visit a natural beach on the Lake Michigan side of the Leelanau peninsula, Christmas Cove Beach is just a few miles northwest of town. Be sure to get good directions before you head out to this popular spot for hunting Petoskey Stones, a fossil stone that is unique to northwest Michigan. Peterson Park, also west of town, is a popular spot for viewing the sunset over Lake Michigan.
​
There is a historic lighthouse at the northern tip of the peninsula beyond Northport. The Light House Keeper's home is fully furnished as it would have been when it was in active use generations ago. The public can view the house and grounds and can climb up to the top of the lighthouse to look out at the water at the point where Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan merge.
​
Learn more: http://www.destinationnorthport.com/
Omena is a tiny historic community at a bend in the road, halfway between Suttons Bay and Northport on M22. You will notice many older white clapboard buildings including a post office and a tiny grocery store. Up the hill to the left is Sunset Lodge. North from the bend on M22 is Cherry Basket Farm where Kezia and Jeff's wedding will be held. The oldest buildings in town, including the Cherry Basket Farm, are candidates for National Historic Landmark designation.
​
A popular wine tasting venue, Leelanau Wine Cellars, and a popular restaurant, Knot Just a Bar are located in a newer building on the bay side of the road. Tamarack Gallery, a local art gallery is also in "downtown" Omena on the west side of the road.
​
Omena is convenient to both Northport and Suttons Bay.
Local Brews & Booze
-
Grand Traverse distillery: http://grandtraversedistillery.com/
-
Hop-Lot: http://hoplotbrewing.com/
-
Northern Latitudes: http://www.northernlatitudesdistillery.com/
-
Tandem ciders: http://www.tandemciders.com/
​
-
Many microbrews in Traverse City: https://www.traversecity.com/wineries/microbreweries/
Suttons Bay
Suttons Bay is a village 17 miles (30 minutes) north of Traverse City on highway M22. The commercial area of Suttons Bay is larger than that of Northport. A movie theater is in the heart of downtown along with numerous shops and restaurants. Hansens Plaza, just south of town has an excellent grocery store, drug store, bank and a fitness center where you can rent a bike to ride on the nearby paved Leelanau trail that follows a former rail line through the countryside. Suttons Bay also has two public beaches.
​
Learn more: http://www.suttonsbayarea.com/
Traverse City is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. It has a large number of hotels and motels to accommodate tourists who travel to the region to vacation. Some of the hotels have private beaches. In addition, there are four public beaches, West End Beach, Clinch Park, East Bay Park and Traverse City State Park Beach. Front Street, in the popular main commercial area of downtown, has numerous shops and restaurants and a movie theater. The paved TART trail runs through Traverse City and out into the country side to both the east and west of town. You can rent a bike at McClain Cycle and fitness on E. 8th and hop onto the trail behind their store.
Learn more: https://www.traversecity.com/summer/
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore was proclaimed by Good Morning America in 2011 as "The most beautiful place in America".
If you have never seen Lake Michigan, or if your visits to Lake Michigan have been confined to the southern parts of the Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes in the southwest corner of Leelanau County will amaze you. The views from a 400 foot sand dune out over the Lake are awe inspiring.
The National Park web site https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm will give you all the information you need to plan your trip. The Sleeping Bear Dunes are an easy drive from anywhere in Leelanau County. If you are staying in Traverse City, a drive west on M72 will take you directly there.
-
Leelanau wine trail: https://www.lpwines.com/
-
Old mission wine trail: http://www.wineriesofomp.com/
Wine Tours
Lighthouses
-
Grand Traverse Lighthouse (map)
-
Point Betsie Lighthouse (map)
-
Mission Point Lighthouse (map)
-
South Fox Island Lighthouse (map)
-
South Manitou Island Lighthouse (map)
Learn more: http://www.northwestmichiganlighthouses.com/
Peshawbestown (pronounced SHAW-bee-town) is an Indian reservation community located north of Suttons Bay and south of Omena along M22 and is the home of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. It is named for an historic Tribal leader named Peshawba. http://www.gtbindians.org/history.asp
Kezia and Jeff's Friday dinner will be held in the Tribe's casino building located on M22 in Peshawbestown.