Guidebook for Harbor Springs

Josh
Guidebook for Harbor Springs

Food Scene

Great craft beer and burgers- try the signature burger which has Plath's bacon on it- Plath's bacon is the best bacon you can get up in Northern MI.
49 locals recommend
Petoskey Brewing
1844 Harbor-Petoskey Rd
49 locals recommend
Great craft beer and burgers- try the signature burger which has Plath's bacon on it- Plath's bacon is the best bacon you can get up in Northern MI.
This place, which appears to just be a liquor store, is most famous for their sandwiches. It's a cash-only deli with some of the best sandwiches ever. Their Trainwreck sandwich is what I get every time.
16 locals recommend
Gurney's Harbor Bottle Shop
215 E Main St
16 locals recommend
This place, which appears to just be a liquor store, is most famous for their sandwiches. It's a cash-only deli with some of the best sandwiches ever. Their Trainwreck sandwich is what I get every time.
Best delivery/take-out pizza in the area. Great wings. Our favorite is the Spencer's specialty pizza.
11 locals recommend
Piper's Mighty Good Pizza
974 W Conway Rd
11 locals recommend
Best delivery/take-out pizza in the area. Great wings. Our favorite is the Spencer's specialty pizza.
Nicer, upscale restaurant on the water in downtown Harbor Springs. They are famous for their Hummer dessert cocktails, which are a Michigan staple.
31 locals recommend
Stafford's Pier Restaurant
102 E Bay St
31 locals recommend
Nicer, upscale restaurant on the water in downtown Harbor Springs. They are famous for their Hummer dessert cocktails, which are a Michigan staple.
Small, slightly up-scale sit-down restaurant in downtown Harbor Springs. Great food. Try the Lobster Mac and Cheese.
25 locals recommend
The Paper Station Bistro
145 E Main St
25 locals recommend
Small, slightly up-scale sit-down restaurant in downtown Harbor Springs. Great food. Try the Lobster Mac and Cheese.
Fun, lively sit-down restaurant with good food. Good for families.
32 locals recommend
Pierson's Grille & Spirits
130 State St
32 locals recommend
Fun, lively sit-down restaurant with good food. Good for families.
Looks like a dive bar from the outside, but is actually nice inside, though not upscale. Basic menu but includes a great Olive Burger. Good variety of drinks with better prices than the more upscale places around.
11 locals recommend
Bar Harbor
100 State St
11 locals recommend
Looks like a dive bar from the outside, but is actually nice inside, though not upscale. Basic menu but includes a great Olive Burger. Good variety of drinks with better prices than the more upscale places around.
Fancy, expensive restaurant across from the water.
7 locals recommend
Willow
129 E Bay St
7 locals recommend
Fancy, expensive restaurant across from the water.
This place is a restaurant as well as a place to get a great variety of Michigan craft beers on tap. Fantastic beers to choose from. Our favorite menu item is the "Totchos", which are nachos with a base of tater tots instead of chips.
17 locals recommend
TAP30
422 E Mitchell St
17 locals recommend
This place is a restaurant as well as a place to get a great variety of Michigan craft beers on tap. Fantastic beers to choose from. Our favorite menu item is the "Totchos", which are nachos with a base of tater tots instead of chips.
Good, cozy cafe type restaurant in downtown Petoskey. Good soups, salads and sandwiches.
30 locals recommend
Roast & Toast
309 E Lake St
30 locals recommend
Good, cozy cafe type restaurant in downtown Petoskey. Good soups, salads and sandwiches.
Our favorite Asian food in the area. In downtown Petoskey. Serves good Thai food as well.
15 locals recommend
Thai Orchid Cuisine
433 E Mitchell St
15 locals recommend
Our favorite Asian food in the area. In downtown Petoskey. Serves good Thai food as well.
Another good little sandwich place, this time in downtown Petoskey.
Parkside Deli
313 Howard St
Another good little sandwich place, this time in downtown Petoskey.
Another fantastic sandwich place, with good soups at this one too. The sandwiches are our 2nd favorite anywhere, behind Gurney's Liquor Store in Harbor Springs. Not in downtown. People drive out of their way for this place.
10 locals recommend
Cormack's Deli
2569 Charlevoix Ave
10 locals recommend
Another fantastic sandwich place, with good soups at this one too. The sandwiches are our 2nd favorite anywhere, behind Gurney's Liquor Store in Harbor Springs. Not in downtown. People drive out of their way for this place.
Great place for burgers. Famous for their Olive Burgers, which while very good, we actually rate them 2nd in the area behind Bar Harbor's.
13 locals recommend
The Side Door Saloon
1200 US-31
13 locals recommend
Great place for burgers. Famous for their Olive Burgers, which while very good, we actually rate them 2nd in the area behind Bar Harbor's.
Famous "destination" restaurant in Cross Village, after driving the Tunnel of Trees. Amazing Polish food. Somewhat upscale. Fantastic views on a bluff down to Lake Michigan and several offshore islands. Worth the excursion at least once per trip. Only open warmer months though.
71 locals recommend
Legs Inn
6425 N Lake Shore Dr
71 locals recommend
Famous "destination" restaurant in Cross Village, after driving the Tunnel of Trees. Amazing Polish food. Somewhat upscale. Fantastic views on a bluff down to Lake Michigan and several offshore islands. Worth the excursion at least once per trip. Only open warmer months though.
This is a bar and restaurant out in the wilderness in northern Michigan near Larks Lake and at an intersection of popular snowmobiling trails in winter. It’s a fun, sometimes boisterous atmosphere with good food, nice bar area, and pool table.
27 locals recommend
Moose Jaw Junction
966 W Van Rd
27 locals recommend
This is a bar and restaurant out in the wilderness in northern Michigan near Larks Lake and at an intersection of popular snowmobiling trails in winter. It’s a fun, sometimes boisterous atmosphere with good food, nice bar area, and pool table.
This is a restaurant known for family-style meals with unlimited helpings. It is “home style” food focusing on fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, etc. It’s comfort/ home cooked recipes type food, but is a bit on the pricey side because of the unlimited helpings. They bring out hot hand towels for each person after guests are done with their fried chicken.
16 locals recommend
Dam Site Inn
6705 Woodland Rd
16 locals recommend
This is a restaurant known for family-style meals with unlimited helpings. It is “home style” food focusing on fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, etc. It’s comfort/ home cooked recipes type food, but is a bit on the pricey side because of the unlimited helpings. They bring out hot hand towels for each person after guests are done with their fried chicken.
Best cookies anywhere.
19 locals recommend
Tom's Mom's Cookies
267 S Spring St
19 locals recommend
Best cookies anywhere.
Best local dessert place. Not open in winter.
7 locals recommend
Yummies
220 E Main St
7 locals recommend
Best local dessert place. Not open in winter.

Drinks & Nightlife

Fun little bar. Also serves food.
10 locals recommend
Noggin Room Pub
118 Lewis St
10 locals recommend
Fun little bar. Also serves food.

Sightseeing

Famous scenic drive. Combine this with dinner at Legs Inn.
Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route
Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route
Famous scenic drive. Combine this with dinner at Legs Inn.
Great spot for sunset views over Little Traverse Bay.
13 locals recommend
Sunset Park
101 E Lake St
13 locals recommend
Great spot for sunset views over Little Traverse Bay.

Parks & Nature

Great park and beach in downtown Harbor Springs.
9 locals recommend
Zorn Park Beach
9 locals recommend
Great park and beach in downtown Harbor Springs.
Great state park with a big beach.
82 locals recommend
Petoskey State Park
2475 M-119
82 locals recommend
Great state park with a big beach.
Great hiking and mountain biking trails in this nature preserve.
Offield Family Nature Preserve
515 Quick Rd
Great hiking and mountain biking trails in this nature preserve.
This is a paved 26 mile bike path around Little Traverse Bay, from Harbor Springs to Petoskey and to Charlevoix. It is within a 2 minute bike ride from the house.
12 locals recommend
Little Traverse Wheelway
Little Traverse Wheelway
12 locals recommend
This is a paved 26 mile bike path around Little Traverse Bay, from Harbor Springs to Petoskey and to Charlevoix. It is within a 2 minute bike ride from the house.
The North Country National Scenic Trail passes right by here, with a great section (Kipp Road Section) only 10 minutes away with great hiking and mountain biking.
6 locals recommend
North Country National Scenic Trail
North Country Trail
6 locals recommend
The North Country National Scenic Trail passes right by here, with a great section (Kipp Road Section) only 10 minutes away with great hiking and mountain biking.
Fantastic mountain biking trails.
Boyne School Forest Trail
1498-1998 Erickson Rd
Fantastic mountain biking trails.

Entertainment & Activities

One of the two great local ski areas. This is the one we prefer, and where more locals go.
73 locals recommend
Nubs Nob Ski Resort
500 Nubs Nob Rd
73 locals recommend
One of the two great local ski areas. This is the one we prefer, and where more locals go.
This is one of the two great local ski areas. This one is more popular with people from out of town. There are also lots of activities in summer at this one.
63 locals recommend
Boyne Highlands Resort
600 Highland Rd
63 locals recommend
This is one of the two great local ski areas. This one is more popular with people from out of town. There are also lots of activities in summer at this one.
Amazing local movie theater. Our favorite theater anywhere. It has three screens, which all have unique murals on the walls. The main screen has a unique, starry night sky with occasional shooting stars
19 locals recommend
Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre
275 E Main St
19 locals recommend
Amazing local movie theater. Our favorite theater anywhere. It has three screens, which all have unique murals on the walls. The main screen has a unique, starry night sky with occasional shooting stars

Essentials

Closest full grocery store. On the pricier side.
19 locals recommend
D&W Fresh Market
1163 U.S. 31 N
19 locals recommend
Closest full grocery store. On the pricier side.
Closer but smaller and more expensive grocery store.
20 locals recommend
Harbor IGA Super Market
300 W Lake St
20 locals recommend
Closer but smaller and more expensive grocery store.
Closest pharmacy.
Kelbel's Pharmacy
205 E Main St
Closest pharmacy.
Closest hospital and emergency room.
McLaren Northern Michigan
416 Connable Ave
Closest hospital and emergency room.
Where we do most of our grocery shopping. Better costs than the ones closer to the house.
39 locals recommend
Meijer
250 Meijer Dr
39 locals recommend
Where we do most of our grocery shopping. Better costs than the ones closer to the house.
It's Walmart.
8 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
1850 Anderson Rd
8 locals recommend
It's Walmart.
Best local place for haircuts.
Harbor Barber
643 E Lake St
Best local place for haircuts.

Shopping

Great local bookstore in downtown Harbor Springs.
Between the Covers
106 E Main St
Great local bookstore in downtown Harbor Springs.
Toys.
7 locals recommend
Rocking Horse Toy Co
154 E Main St
7 locals recommend
Toys.
Harbor Wear
161 State St
Northern Michigan chain with locally sourced, specialty jams, preserves, salsas, etc.
7 locals recommend
American Spoon Foods
411 E Lake St
7 locals recommend
Northern Michigan chain with locally sourced, specialty jams, preserves, salsas, etc.
Northern Michigan store featuring many local cherry products.
6 locals recommend
Cherry Republic | Charlevoix
221 Bridge St
6 locals recommend
Northern Michigan store featuring many local cherry products.