Petoskey
A historic Victorian bluff city overlooking Little Traverse Bay, famous for fossilized Petoskey stones and grand resort heritage.
Petoskey's Gaslight District retains its 1890s charm with authentic gas lamps that stay lit day and night all winter.
Ski country nearbyFind your first run
Compare The Highlands, Nub’s Nob and Boyne Mountain on the ski map.
Winter Sports ParkSled or skate
A local hill and rink outing, when conditions and facilities allow.
Crooked Tree Arts CenterLook at art
Give the galleries a place in your afternoon.
North Perk & a town wanderWarm up downtown
Coffee, shops, then a proper dinner when you are ready.
Bring the warm-up home.
An enamel camp mug for the porch, the parking lot and the ride home.
View this piece →Collection preview · Proposed price $24 · Ordering to comeSki nearby
The Highlands & Nub’s Nob: Harbor Springs area. Boyne Mountain: Boyne Falls.
Explore the ski map ↗Good to know
The Highlands and Nub’s Nob are Harbor Springs-area options; Boyne Mountain is in Boyne Falls. These are separate places, not downtown Petoskey slopes. Compare ticket dates and travel conditions before choosing a base.
Sled, skate, repeat
Petoskey Winter Sports Park: sledding, skating & hockey.
Park details ↗ · Local sledding hills ↗Good to know
Petoskey Winter Sports Park offers sledding, outdoor skating and a separate hockey rink. The regional tourism bureau lists local free sledding options, including the park; equipment and concessions are separate questions.
A downtown afternoon
Browse shops, have lunch, and stay for dinner.
Downtown guide ↗Good to know
Downtown’s independent shops and places to eat make it a destination for the non-skiers, too. Choose a dinner stop before leaving the hill; winter opening hours vary.
Walk somewhere quiet
Offield Family Viewlands: trails & bay views near Harbor Springs.
Viewlands guide & trail map ↗Good to know
Offield Family Viewlands near Harbor Springs has former golf-cart paths and bay views. Some elevations are steep. Winter footing, trail access and parking need checking; this is not a flat accessible-walk promise.
Coffee / North Perk
Bring the conversation downtown. This Howard Street coffee stop makes a natural pause between shops and the next outdoor stretch.
Art / Crooked Tree Arts Center
Leave time for the galleries. Performances and workshops add another version of the day when the dated program fits your visit.
Dinner / City Park Grill
Make a proper dinner stop on East Lake Street. Check the current music calendar if you want your meal to become an evening.
You don’t have to earn a good afternoon.
Gaslight District & Subterranean Pubs
Grab morning coffee at Roast & Toast, browse the historic Gaslight District shops, search for Petoskey stones along the frozen bay, and finish with dinner in the brick vaults of The Noggin Room.
Bear River Trail & Waterfront Bistro
Snowshoe the wooded Bear River Valley trail system, enjoy gourmet small plates overlooking Little Traverse Bay at Palette Bistro, and sample craft beer at Beards Brewery.
Morning coffee at Roast & Toast, shopping in the Gaslight District, stone hunting at Petoskey State Park, and dinner at Palette Bistro.
Stay at Stafford's Perry Hotel, spend Saturday exploring downtown Petoskey and skiing nearby Nub's Nob, and enjoy Sunday brunch overlooking the bay.
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Stafford's Perry Hotel (The Noggin Room & Park Dining Room)
A magnificent 1899 Victorian hotel overlooking Little Traverse Bay. The Noggin Room pub downstairs is a legendary subterranean sanctuary with stone walls and great pub grub.
100 Lewis St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 347-4000 · Website ↗
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Palette Bistro
Stunning bay views through expansive windows, small plates, tapas, wood-fired pizzas, and exceptional wine pairings right in the Gaslight District.
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Chandlers Restaurant
Tucked underground in the historic Perry Hotel block. Exceptional farm-to-table cuisine, an award-winning wine cellar, and intimate candlelit booths.
215 Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 347-2981 · Website ↗
Pan-Seared Whitefish Piccata & Local Artisanal Bread
Sear fresh whitefish fillets in olive oil, finish with a bright sauce of white wine, lemon juice, capers, and butter, served with crusty sourdough.
Three things most people walk past.
- Authentic Victorian gas street lamps glowing softly against brick storefronts covered in snow.
- The turreted roofline of Stafford's Perry Hotel towering over frozen Little Traverse Bay.
- Ice shelves stacking up along the breakwalls of the Petoskey waterfront.
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The Noggin Room Pub
An iconic basement taproom beneath the Perry Hotel with brick arches, stained glass, draft beer, and live acoustic music.
100 Lewis St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 347-4000 · Website ↗
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Beards Brewery
Lively downtown brewpub overlooking Little Traverse Bay, pouring creative house-brewed ales and farm-to-table pub food.
215 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 727-8211 · Website ↗
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Roast & Toast
Downtown roastery and cafe serving single-origin coffees, fresh bagels, and warm breakfast bowls.
309 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 347-3680 · Website ↗
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Julienne Tomatoes Bakery Counter
Warm morning pastries and rich espresso in the Gaslight District.
421 Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 348-6838 · Website ↗
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Fossil Hunting Petoskey Stones at Petoskey State Park
Winter gales wash fossilized coral stones onto the shoreline gravel; best hunting is along the frozen water's edge.
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Cross-Country Skiing the Bear River Valley
Scenic wooded trails following the rushing Bear River gorge right through the city.
Trailheads off W Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · Website ↗
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Latitude 45 Bicycle & Ski Shop
Cross-country skis, snowshoes, and winter fat bikes
Local customOrdering a pint of stout in the subterranean brick vaults of The Noggin Room.
- Scanning the wet gravel at Petoskey State Park for hexagonal coral fossils during winter thaws.
- Searching for Petoskey stones along the frozen bay shore is a year-round meditative ritual for locals.
- The Noggin Room Pub is the historic living room of northern Michigan writers, skiers, and sailors.
Early December weekends
Petoskey Holiday Parade & Winter Festival
Festive gas-lamp illumination, holiday window displays, carolers, and horse-drawn carriages.
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Stafford's Perry Hotel
The crown jewel of Petoskey's Gaslight District, offering timeless Victorian elegance, bay views, and on-site dining.
100 Lewis St, Petoskey, MI 49770 · (231) 347-4000 · Website ↗
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Inn at Bay Harbor
Spectacular lakeside resort on Little Traverse Bay featuring full spa, fine dining, and classic grand hotel hospitality.
3600 Village Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor, MI 49770 · (231) 439-4000 · Website ↗
Bring a little Petoskey homeThe statement sweatshirtFor winning arguments about who had it worse.Have a look ↗
A little northern habit.
A favorite knit, an everyday mug, and objects for the days you wish lasted longer.
Find your northern favorite →Collection preview / Designs in development
Older Friends
The Girls Are Going Skating
Margaret and Alice are seventy-eight and have called themselves 'the girls' for seven decades. A spontaneous afternoon at a Petoskey skating rink proves that friendship, stubbornness, and a good sense of humor never need to retire.
Read their story →