The Perfect Girls' Getaway to Petoskey, Harbor Springs & Mackinac Island
Northern Michigan is filled with charming waterfront towns, beautiful beaches, local coffee shops, and one of the Midwest's most iconic destinations—Mackinac Island. If you're looking for an easy girls' getaway with plenty of memorable stops along the way, this itinerary is for you.
I'd never been to Mackinac Island, so when my friend suggested taking our daughters on a little girls' getaway to northern Michigan, I was excited to finally experience it for myself. We based ourselves near Harbor Springs, giving us easy access to Petoskey State Park, downtown Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Mackinaw City for the ferry to the island. It turned out to be the perfect home base for two fun-filled days exploring one of Michigan's most beautiful regions.
Day 1: Coffee, the Beach & Harbor Springs
Start your trip with a stop for coffee before hitting the road. Since we were driving from Indiana, we grabbed lattes at The Grind in Garrett. I ordered my usual iced Americano with cold foam, and it was the perfect way to kick off our girls' getaway.
Plan to stop for lunch along the drive. We chose Max & Emily's in Mt. Pleasant, and it ended up being a great choice. This relaxed café serves breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches, and plenty of baked goods, so there's something for everyone.
The menu is huge! My daughter ordered the B.L.T., and my friend and I shared the Southern Man—a grilled tomato basil tortilla stuffed with chicken, bacon, cheddar, smoked Gouda, Parmesan, and BBQ sauce. Both sandwiches were delicious, and it was the perfect place to stretch our legs before finishing the drive north.
Since check-in isn't until later in the afternoon, head straight to Petoskey State Park and enjoy a few hours at the beach. Parking is $12 for the day, and there's a large parking lot, restrooms, and a concession stand nearby.
I'll admit, I had pictured a shoreline covered in various rocks and dotted with petoskeys like we'd found in Port Huron. When I walked onto the beach and saw mostly soft sand instead of rocks, my rock-loving heart was a little disappointed. Even so, the beach is beautiful, with crystal-clear water, soft sand, and plenty of space to spread out with a blanket and relax. Pack a few snacks, enjoy the sunshine, and soak in the views of Lake Michigan.
We happened to visit during a heat wave, so it was much hotter and more humid than I expected for northern Michigan. I eventually found a small rocky area and, after a lot of determined digging, came away with two rather ugly Petoskey stones and two heart-shaped rocks. Not my best rock-hounding day, but still a fun memory!
After a relaxing afternoon at the beach, head to your lodging to cool off, rinse off the sand, and settle in before dinner. We stayed in an adorable A-frame in Harbor Springs that made the perfect home base for exploring the area.
That evening, spend some time wandering downtown Harbor Springs. I instantly fell in love with this charming waterfront town. Beautiful homes, colorful flowers, tree-lined streets, and a walkable downtown make it a wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the evening.
For dinner, I highly recommend Turkey's. We were seated outside right away and loved the fun, retro atmosphere. Start with Ike's Crazy Bread. We ordered the 8-inch size for our group of four, and it was plenty to share. Loaded with melted cheese, garlic butter, and served with thick marinara sauce, it disappeared quickly.
For our meal, we ordered three of their mini pizzas, the Margherita, Meat Lovers, and Bar-B-Q. Don't let the word "mini" fool you; they're generously sized, and two lighter eaters could easily share one. Every pizza was delicious, making this one of our favorite meals of the trip.
Before calling it a night, take a stroll through downtown Harbor Springs. While many of the boutiques closed earlier than we expected, it was still fun to window shop and admire the beautiful storefronts. Finish the evening with a scoop from Yummies and, if you have time, walk down to the harbor to watch the boats before heading back for the night.
Day 2: Mackinac Island Adventure
Start your morning with breakfast at Straight to the Roots in Petoskey. If you love smoothie bowls, don't skip this stop! I ordered the Plot Twist, made with strawberry, banana, peanut butter, raspberry, almond milk, vanilla, and protein powder, then topped with granola, fresh fruit, and a peanut butter drizzle. It was delicious—and huge! Next time, I'd split one with my daughter.
To drink, I ordered an iced Americano with honey cold foam, which was just as good as the smoothie bowl.
After breakfast, drive to Shepler's Ferry in Mackinaw City. Since we were only visiting for the day, we parked in one of their designated lots and took the complimentary shuttle to the ferry terminal. You can purchase tickets when you arrive or buy them online ahead of time if you'd like to skip the ticket line.
We arrived around 9:00 a.m., and while it was already busy, the lines moved quickly.
The ferry ride to Mackinac Island takes about 16 minutes. We ended up sitting inside both directions, so we missed the views from the upper deck, but it was still an enjoyable ride.
As soon as you step off the ferry, rent bikes and begin riding around the island. This was, without a doubt, my favorite part of the entire Mackinac experience.
There's something so peaceful about pedaling past beautiful cottages, colorful gardens, towering trees, and miles of Lake Huron shoreline. It gives you the chance to experience parts of the island that many visitors never see.
The ride around the island took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes, including stops at Arch Rock, British Landing, and Devil's Kitchen. I have to admit, I'm not much of a bike rider, so my legs—and especially my seat—were definitely ready for a break by the end! We were also visiting during a heat advisory, so the humidity made the ride much more challenging than I expected. I imagine it would be even more enjoyable during cooler weather.
Along the route, there are plenty of places to stop, rest, and enjoy the lake views. Restrooms are available at both Arch Rock and British Landing, and there's a concession stand at British Landing if you need a cold drink or snack.
One thing to know before visiting Arch Rock: you'll need to climb around 200 steps to reach the overlook, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
After your bike ride, you'll probably be ready for lunch. We chose The Pink Pony Bar & Grill, where I ordered the fish tacos with sweet potato fries. They were delicious and exactly what I needed after nearly two hours on a bike.
After lunch, spend some time exploring downtown Mackinac Island. This is where you'll find dozens of fudge shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, and boutiques.
I'll be honest—this part of the island wasn't quite what I expected. I had imagined quieter streets with charming storefronts and a slower pace, but visiting during the busy summer season meant the downtown area was packed with people. It reminded me a little of the main strip in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with lots of shops, crowds, and activity.
That said, if it's your first visit, sampling fresh fudge and browsing the shops is all part of the Mackinac experience!
One thing that surprised me was that I never actually saw the Grand Hotel! Even after biking around the island and walking through downtown, we somehow missed it.
Several people have since told me that Mackinac Island feels completely different in the fall or during the off-season, when the crowds disappear and the island becomes much quieter. I'd love to go back someday and experience it that way.
After a full day of biking and exploring, we were completely worn out and ended up enjoying leftovers back at our rental for dinner. If you still have energy, though, head into downtown Petoskey for dinner. The Back Lot, a collection of permanent food trucks, is a fun, casual option, while City Park Grill, once frequented by Ernest Hemingway, offers a more traditional sit-down meal.
Before heading back for the evening, spend a little time walking around downtown Petoskey. It's filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, and galleries, and has a creative, artsy atmosphere that's a wonderful way to end your northern Michigan getaway.