The Michigan coastline has tons of gorgeous beaches and tucked-away camping spots. It’s a paradise for those looking for quiet shoreside retreats, enchanting small towns, and expansive sandy dunes with limitless swimming, beachcombing, hiking, and biking options.
One of those secret little spots is the 303-acre Petoskey State Park, located on the Lower Peninsula’s northwestern shore on the banks of Little Traverse Bay. Wedged between picturesque, charming towns like Harbor Springs and Petoskey, it’s the place to go for family-friendly beachside camping, with lots of trails, birding and wildlife viewing, lake swimming, and beach lounging potential.
The sandy spot is a hub for many of the area’s popular activities. It’s an official site on the Sunset Coast Birding Trail, a noted location for seeing shorebirds and ducks along the water, ospreys and eagles overhead, and various songbirds during migration. And while the park has lots to keep you busy, from ice cream treats to kayak and paddleboard rentals, it’s also conveniently located for shopping and dining in the nearby towns.
Beachcombing, hiking, and camping at Petoskey State Park
The park sits on a mile of prime lakefront real estate, with sand dunes and much to explore. It’s also a popular place to look for the eponymous Petoskey stones. These small pebbles have a distinctive pattern; in fact, they aren’t even stones but fossilized corals, a reminder that this area was at the bottom of the ocean some 400 million years ago. But don’t just look down at the rocks, or you’ll miss beautiful views and sunsets out over the lake…