A trip to Northport, MI
My family and I got away for a long weekend trip to Michigan with my sisters and their families. I’d never been to Michigan to explore. Actually, the last time I was there we went to Flint for a women’s conference when I was a teenager, so I’d really only seen the city part of Michigan. I’ve heard people talk about the beauty up there and wanted to see it myself.
We started planning a Thursday-Sunday trip. There were 18 of us going, and without knowing Michigan at all we didn’t have a specific area we really wanted to stay in, so our search was more centered around finding a house that would fit us all for a reasonable price. Views were a bonus! haha
We found a home in Northport that sat at the top of a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan. The views did not disappoint!
Our Airbnb was surrounded by apple and cherry orchards making it feel even more private and secluded. The small little town of Northport had lots of little shops, a small grocery store, a coffee shop, and 1 small gas station, so it really had everything you may need. If you’re visiting in the summer, there’s a little farmer’s market on Friday mornings. We were able to make it to the last one of the season. They had all kinds of produce to choose from, as well as some other homemade items.
We visited the Kehl Lake Natural Area trail on Friday, which was an easy, 1.9-mile nature trail loop through the woods that ran next to the pond for part of it. The kiddos loved exploring the woods and throwing sticks in the pond.
*I always use my Alltrails app to find great trails in the area. It will tell you all about the trails in the area including the difficulty level of the trail, how many miles, show pictures and even track your hike. It’s a great tool.
Saturday morning we visited the Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Leelanau State Park. The kids were able to play in the water at the beach area and then spent some time on the playground in the park. Parking was $11 to enter the State park and the pass was good for the day.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
On Saturday afternoon we did the Clay Cliffs trail. The trail was about 1.5 miles and an easy trail as well. There was a little bit of uphill, which was a little challenging for our toddlers, but we just carried them on our shoulders for that part. The path was smooth on this trail, and the view of the water at the overlook was so pretty!
We visited the New Bohemian coffee shop in Northport on both Friday and Saturday. Their Autumn Spice Latte was a delightful mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice and had all the flavors of a unique Fall drink.
We stopped in at Dune Bird Winery to grab a bottle of wine to enjoy after dinner and it is absolutely beautiful! The inside has a very clean and simple aesthetic, with a little fireplace in the center of a cozy seating area. The grounds were gorgeous with so much outdoor seating, a little pond, patio lighting, and cornhole. Such a cute, family-friendly ambiance. Their Reisling wine was smooth and sweet! A delicious treat after dinner that evening.
All in all, it was a beautiful time of year to visit Michigan. The leaves on the trees have already started to change, the mix of warm sunshine and cool air off of the lake was the perfect combination and was so pleasant to be outside in.
Happy traveling!