Petoskey

Around Petoskey

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Town and around · Michigan · 33k people

Petoskey

Locals say Tip of the Mitt

Where the Great Lakes meet the pines.

Lake BlueForest GreenPetoskey Stone Brown

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Welcome to the Tip of the Mitt, where the air smells like pine and the water sparkles. Whether you're here for the beaches, the lighthouses, or just a pasty, you'll find a friendly wave and a story. Enjoy the slower pace and the big lake views.

Clubs for Petoskey

No clubs for Petoskey yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Petoskey. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Petoskey. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Mackinac Bridge Suspension bridge connecting the peninsulas.
  • Petoskey State Park Beach and dunes on Little Traverse Bay.
  • Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Iconic red lighthouse at the harbor.
  • Boyne Mountain Resort Major ski and golf resort.
  • Gaslight District Victorian shopping streets in Petoskey.
  • Castle Farms French-style chateau with gardens.
  • Outdoors Hiking at Petoskey State Park
  • Outdoors Kayaking on Little Traverse Bay
  • With kids Beach days at Petoskey State Park
  • With kids Lighthouse tours
  • Evenings Craft brewery taprooms
  • Evenings Live music in the Gaslight District
  • Locals love Lighthouses
  • Locals love Marinas

Through the year

  • Festival on the Bay July Summer celebration with music, food, and fireworks.
  • Venetian Festival July Boat parade and street fair in Charlevoix.
  • Mackinac Bridge Walk September Annual walk across the bridge from St. Ignace.
  • St. Ignace Car Show June Classic and custom car display along the waterfront.
  • Boyne City Winterfest January Winter carnival with ice sculptures and activities.

Cold, snowy winters; mild summers. Best time is June to September. Best: June to September

Talk like a local

“Up North”
Going to the northern part of Michigan.
“Tip of the Mitt”
The region itself, referring to the mitten shape.
“The Bridge”
Mackinac Bridge.
“Downstate”
Lower Michigan.

Getaways

Local flavour

Rooting for Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans

Eat and drink

  • Whitefish Smoked or fried, fresh from the Great Lakes.
  • Pasties Cornish meat pies, a regional comfort food.
  • Cherry pie Northern Michigan is known for tart cherries.
  • Fudge Sweet treat popular in nearby Mackinac Island and local shops.
  • Craft beer Local breweries offer regional flavors.

Where people go

  • Lighthouses Historic beacons along the coastline.
  • Marinas Hubs for boating and fishing on the Great Lakes.
  • Beaches Sandy shores along Lake Michigan and inland lakes.
  • Ski resorts Winter destinations like Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands.
  • Golf courses Scenic courses set among the hills and trees.
  • State parks Natural areas for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
  • Victorian architecture Historic homes and buildings in Petoskey and Charlevoix.
  • Fudge shops Sweet stops in tourist towns, a nod to nearby Mackinac Island.
  • Cottages Classic 'up north' cabins and summer homes.

Heritage and traditions

Petoskey and the Tip of the Mitt are proud of their deep Odawa heritage, Victorian-era resort charm, and the unspoiled beauty of Lake Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac.

This time of year in Petoskey

  • Fall color tours Fall Scenic drives to see the brilliant autumn foliage.
  • Apple picking Fall Orchards open for u-pick, and apple cider is everywhere.
  • Boyne City Apple Festival October A fall celebration with apple pies, cider, and family activities.

Say it like a local: “The Bridge” — The Mackinac Bridge, a local landmark

Festivals

  • Odawa Homecoming August A celebration of Odawa heritage with drumming, dancing, and traditional crafts.
  • Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair July A juried art fair featuring works from regional artists along the harbor.
  • Cheboygan County Fair August A traditional agricultural fair with livestock, rides, and local exhibits.
  • Petoskey Coho Derby May A competitive fishing tournament for coho salmon on Little Traverse Bay.
  • Boyne City Apple Festival October A fall celebration with apple pies, cider, and family activities.

Landmarks with a story

  • Cross in the Woods A Catholic shrine in Indian River featuring one of the largest crucifixes in the world.
  • Little Traverse History Museum Housed in a former railroad depot, it tells the region's story from Odawa times to the resort era.
  • Charlevoix Mushroom Houses Unique homes with mushroom-shaped roofs, built in the 1920s by Earl Young.
  • Cheboygan Opera House A restored 19th-century theater that still hosts performances.
  • Museum of Ojibwa Culture In St. Ignace, on the site of an Odawa village, showcasing the area's Native American heritage.
  • Bay View Association A Chautauqua community near Petoskey with a summer program of music, lectures, and arts.

Food traditions

  • Smoked whitefish A tradition from the commercial fishing era; local smokehouses cure lake whitefish and trout.
  • Pasties Brought by Cornish miners, these hearty meat pies are a regional staple.
  • Cherry pie The area's cherry orchards make this a classic dessert, especially in summer.
  • Fudge A tourist favorite, especially in Petoskey and on Mackinac Island, with shops lining the Gaslight District.
  • Maple syrup Springtime brings maple sugaring, with local producers boiling sap into syrup.

Music and arts

  • Crooked Tree Arts Center A hub for visual and performing arts in Petoskey, offering classes, exhibits, and concerts.
  • Bay View Association A summer Chautauqua with classical music, lectures, and a strong sense of community.
  • Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra A professional orchestra based in Petoskey, performing throughout the region.
  • Native American crafts Birch bark baskets, quillwork, and beadwork are traditional Odawa arts still practiced today.

A little history

  • Pre-1600s The Odawa and Ojibwe tribes inhabited the region for centuries before European contact.
  • 1600s-1700s French explorers and missionaries, including Father Marquette, arrived and established missions.
  • 1870s The railroad reached Petoskey, transforming the area into a popular resort destination.
  • 1887 Petoskey was incorporated as a city, named after Odawa chief Ignatius Petoskey.
  • 1957 The Mackinac Bridge opened, connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas and boosting tourism.

Rivalries

  • Petoskey vs. Charlevoix High school football rivalry.
  • Michigan vs. Michigan State College football and basketball.
  • Boyne City vs. East Jordan Basketball rivalry.
  • Game day Ice fishing derbies
  • Game day Sailing regattas
  • Outdoors Hunting for Petoskey stones
  • Outdoors Snowshoeing
  • With kids Visiting Cross in the Woods
  • With kids Going to the Odawa pow wow

People speak a friendly Upper Midwestern English, with a touch of 'up north' vocabulary. They might say 'pop' for soda, 'the Bridge' for Mackinac Bridge, and 'pasties' pronounced PASS-tees.

Only here

  • Petoskey stones, a fossilized coral unique to this part of Lake Michigan, are found on local beaches.
  • The Cross in the Woods in Indian River boasts one of the largest crucifixes in the world.
  • Charlevoix's Mushroom Houses are an architectural curiosity you won't see anywhere else.
  • The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
New here? A few tips
  • Dress in layers—weather changes quickly, and winters are cold and snowy.
  • Learn to pronounce place names: Petoskey (Puh-TOSS-kee), Charlevoix (SHAR-luh-voy), Cheboygan (shuh-BOY-gan), and St. Ignace (IG-niss).
  • Many businesses are seasonal; some close or have limited hours in winter, so plan ahead.
  • Try a pasty and smoked whitefish—they're local staples.
  • Walk the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day—it's a one-of-a-kind experience.

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Nearby

Every area
GaylordMichiganWhere the pines meet the lakes, and everyone knows your name.Tip of the MittMichiganWhere the lakes meet the pinesTraverse CityMichiganWhere the cherries meet the lakeEastern U.P.MichiganWhere the forests meet the Great Lakes.GraylingMichiganWhere the pines meet the waterCadillacMichiganLakes, pines, and small-town charm.AlpenaMichiganGreat Lakes charm on the Sunrise Side.Sault Ste. MarieMichiganWhere the big lake meets the locks.

Petoskey, MI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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