Petoskey Guest Independent local guide Petoskey & Little Traverse Bay
The Bear River corridor near downtown Petoskey.

Petoskey local guide

Things to Do

Waterfront, trails, arts & attractions. Handpicked for visitors by Petoskey Guest. Sponsored placements are always clearly labeled.

Petoskey Guest picks

Good places to start

14 listings
Bayfront Park

Waterfront

Bayfront Park

Marina views, open lawns, walking paths, and one of the easiest places in town to catch a Little Traverse Bay sunset.

WaterfrontView details →
P

Beach & trails

Petoskey State Park

A mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, dune-and-woods trails, and a favorite stop for beach time and Petoskey-stone hunting.

North PetoskeyView details →
Bear River Valley Recreation Area

In-town nature

Bear River Valley Recreation Area

A wooded river gorge with trails, overlooks, and rapids tucked surprisingly close to downtown.

DowntownView details →
Crooked Tree Arts Center

Arts & culture

Crooked Tree Arts Center

Four galleries, a theater, classes, performances, and rotating exhibitions in a historic downtown building; gallery admission is free.

DowntownView details →
Little Traverse History Museum

Local history

Little Traverse History Museum

Petoskey history inside the former 1892 Pere Marquette train station at the waterfront.

WaterfrontView details →
Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen

A Petoskey original

Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen

The Bay View Road chocolate kitchen and company home base for the brand that began in Petoskey in 1947.

Bay View RoadView details →
Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Shows & performances

Great Lakes Center for the Arts

A modern performing-arts venue in Bay Harbor bringing touring music, theater, dance, comedy, and special events to the bay.

Bay HarborView details →
L

Bike the Wheelway

Latitude 45 Bicycles & Fitness

A full-service local bike shop with rentals and repairs, convenient for exploring the Little Traverse Wheelway.

PetoskeyView details →
Bay Harbor Golf Club

Bucket-list golf

Bay Harbor Golf Club

A 27-hole BOYNE golf destination on Little Traverse Bay with dramatic shoreline views and resort-level golf.

Bay HarborView details →
Crooked Tree Golf Club

Golf above the bay

Crooked Tree Golf Club

An 18-hole public BOYNE course on the bluffs above Little Traverse Bay with a full practice area.

PetoskeyView details →
The Highlands at Harbor Springs

Four-season adventure

The Highlands at Harbor Springs

Skiing, golf, biking, hiking, and seasonal resort activities about twenty minutes north of Petoskey.

Harbor SpringsView details →
T

Lake Michigan nature

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve

A 30-acre shoreline preserve near Harbor Springs with forest trails and Lake Michigan access.

Harbor SpringsView details →
B

Quick scenic stop

Bayfront Waterfall Area

A small waterfall and landscaped park area beside Bayfront Park that pairs easily with a waterfront walk.

WaterfrontView details →