Hit the sand and water at Petoskey State Park, then head into this downtown and treat yourself to the galleries, boutiques and hip eateries of the Gaslight District. Don’t miss: taking a seat at the bar in the City Park Grill à la Ernest Hemingway when he lived here as a young man; an out-of-this-North meal at trendy old-brick-walled Chandler’s; en plein air concerts in Pennsylvania Park; a cupful of creamy, fresh-flavored gelato from American Spoon Café.
Whatever you do, wear comfy strolling shoes because this town was made for walking. Once you’ve done the uphill-downhill downtown circuit with its Little Traverse Bay views, cut over to play “which one is your favorite” as you mosey through the Victorian gingerbread-lined neighborhoods of the Bay View Association.