One of our favorite places to vacation is in Northern Michigan. Every year we make a trip or two in the winter to ski and often we’ll add another long weekend if we can find the time. On our last trip, it was too early in the winter for skiing, so instead, we created the perfect fun family day in Petoskey. Head up there for your own wonderful experience!
Start your day off right
The first place we hit for breakfast on every trip is Johan’s Bakery. Although there are several locations, the main one in Petoskey is our favorite. Load up on fresh bagels or donuts (be sure to buy extras to take home) and if it’s cold outside, enjoy them right away in your car. Yum!
Solve a mystery in downtown Petoskey
The local escape room, Know Way Out has a really unique alternative to the traditional escape room experience. As we visited during COVID, we took advantage of it and enjoyed it so much we will be looking for these experiences now every time we travel!
We participated in an outdoor cluehunt adventure and spent the morning driving around Petoskey with a map and our cell phone finding clues and solving puzzles. Although we’ve visited Petoskey dozens of times through the years, we discovered many new things about this town we love. It was crazy cold the day we visited, but it was still a blast. If the weather is good, you could walk most of the hunt.
Insider Tip: Let’s Roam has similar scavenger hunts all over the US, so take a look to see if there is one near you for a fun family activity!
Enjoy lunch with a view
Although there are numerous wonderful restaurants in Petoskey, head a bit out of downtown to Mim’s Mediterranean Grill for affordable and delicious Greek-inspired food. Currently, Mim’s is carryout only (and they have a fantastic system), but hopefully someday soon they will reopen their indoor seating. For this fun day you will want carryout anyway, so go ahead and place your order to go.
Once you grab your yummy meal, drive back to Sunset or Bayfront Park near downtown and enjoy your lunch with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan’s Traverse Bay. If it’s cold you might see white caps like we did as we consumed our food from the car, but if it’s nice out, sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.
If the weather is clear, Sunset Park is also a fantastic place to come back to at dusk and enjoy an amazing sunset.
It’s time for a sweet treat
Most years we make sure to save time for Kilwin’s Chocolate Tour in Petoskey, but during COVID, the tours have been canceled. Luckily, you can still enjoy seeing the chocolates being made in the factory through the windows, and of course the delicious chocolate at the flagship store.
Indulge in a sweet treat and pick up some goodies for later – the chocolate is outstanding, and you can also purchase ice cream and fudge that is made fresh daily. Yum!
Coffee and shopping to end the day!
Finish out your afternoon by browsing downtown, Petoskey. It’s a darling town full of unique shops and interesting buildings and it’s super walkable. You’ll find fun novelty gift items at Grandpa Shorters, pretty much any book you desire at McLean and Eakin, and delicious jams and jellies at American Spoon (oh, and their Bloody Mary Mix is amazing). It’s also fun to stop at Rocking Horse Toy Store and pick up a new game to enjoy – play it in your room tonight!
Be sure to grab a cup of coffee, chai, or specialty hot chocolate at Roast & Toast to warm you up. With its eclectic atmosphere and delicious array of drinks, it’s the perfect ending to a wonderful day exploring Petoskey.
So what do you think? Are you ready to spend the perfect day in Petoskey? We visit every year and never get tired of it!
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This looks like a fun, albeit chilly, way to spend the day.
Yes, it WAS super cold, but also very fun!
YAY! I’m so glad you enjoyed our area! We do! Hope you drove the M-119 trail of trees just north of Petoskey in Harbor Springs.
Not on this trip, but we have in the past. We visit the area at least a few times each year!
So many cute shops and restaurants in Petoskey, Michigan…and love that shoreline on Lake Michigan! Would love to visit when the chocolate tours resume!
It’s such a fun place to visit!
Chocolate tours?! YES! All the shops look cute, this looks like a fun place to visit!
I can’t wait until the chocolate tour opens back up – so yummy!
I want a lunch with a view! That looks amazing.
Yes, it inspired me to create a fun “date night” at a nearby lake at home – I’ll be sharing that next month.
The cluehunt sounds so fun!
So fun!
That’s a really fun take on the escape room experience! I would love to do an outdoor clue hunt!! We’ll definitely be checking out the Roam from Home. Thanks!
I’m planning a few Roam from Home adventures this spring here in Indy!
Awesome post! I have never been to this part of Michigan… but it looks great!! I love the little towns with the unique little shops!
We love the area – have been going for years and we never get tired of it.
What a fun day! I’d love searching for clues. It’s a great way to learn about a town.
It was so much fun! I will be looking for these hunts whenever we have a free day on trips from now on!