Frankfort, MI – What to See and Do

Frankfort, MI – What to See and Do

A Charming Summer Beach Town on Lake Michigan

A group of people sitting on a bench on a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl

The Cutest Little Lake Town You’ve Ever Seen

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PHOTO: Nina Gradwohl
Frankfort, Mi iconic town sign

A charming summer beach town on Lake Michigan is what best describes Frankfort, MI. Upon arrival in Frankfort, you will find yourself driving under the iconic sign. This is the moment that indicates that you have arrived somewhere special and will create memories for years to come. Upon entry you are immediately met with the beauty and sparkle of Lake Michigan on the distant horizon. As you slowly descend the famous hill underneath the iconic sign you will see the lovely town of Frankfort unfold like a dream. We all have our paradise and Frankfort is mine.

Frankfort is the depiction of the perfect charming summer beach town. Small, quaint, and on a large body of water. The beauty never ends in this Northern Michigan paradise. Summers in Northern Michigan are spectacular and for those who have visited, you know what I mean. For those who have not, it’s never too late to experience peace and relaxation surrounded by the beauties of nature.

Where to Explore

The town has a single main street where most of the town’s shops, stores and restaurants are located. Arriving in Frankfort, Michigan you are going to be immediately transported to a slower paced way of life surrounded with beauty and nature. Frankfort gives the mindful traveler a sense of calm and peace of mind. The way of life in this town is slowed down to a walk. Tranquility, and a sense of calm will be the defining points that will saturate your senses in this beautiful lake town.

Frankfort Pier and Lighthouse

A lighthouse on a pier

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Frankfort Lighthouse and Pier

The Frankfort lighthouse and pier was originally created to offer a break wall to reduce choppy water as the boats headed into the Frankfort marina. The break wall has become a favorite site to visit among locals and tourists, offering a great photo opportunity and the experience of the magnificence of Lake Michigan. A favorite activity for tourists and locals is to walk along the entire top of the break wall to the lighthouse. This is extremely fun but does require you to exercise caution as this wall was not built for foot traffic.

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Along this break wall you will find some of the best photo opportunities to take pictures of the beach, sand dunes, and the beautiful coastline. The lighthouse is neat as it makes up one arm of the entrance to the Frankfort harbor. Here you can watch boats cruise by, but be careful sometimes they produce some rather large waves that often breach the structure. This is a great place to enjoy the soothing nature of Lake Michigan in this charming summer beach town on Lake Michigan.

A group of people on a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Frankfort pier leading to the lighthouse is a popular tourist destination to walk.

Frankfort Public Beach

A sandy beach with grass and water

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Frankfort Beach

Although, not incredibly large, Frankfort offers its guests and locals a beautiful beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. The beach is not incredibly long, but it does have a nice depth to it. This is where most people utilize the beach that come and visit. There is a small parking lot overlooking the beach and lake along with several swings and volleyball nets for the younger crowds. The beach backs up to a charming tree covered neighborhood. This is a great place to relax, tan, and take a dip in the clear blue refreshing waters of Lake Michigan in this Charming Summer Beach Town.

A sunset over a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Another Magnificent Sunset at the Frankfort Beach

The Historic Forest Avenue Neighborhood

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Historic Leelanau Avenue

Directly behind the main street is a gorgeous neighborhood with tree lined streets and sidewalks on both sides. This neighborhood is filled with old Victorian aged homes that have been renovated to be summer homes or year-round residences. Some of these homes have even been converted into bed and breakfasts. The work done on these homes and the landscaping only exudes the utmost attention to detail and the pride that the owners have towards their homes.

Since the town is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the main street and some of the streets in this neighborhood go all the way to the beach, giving you a real beach town feel. This is the definition of a perfect neighborhood. The giant oak trees that line the streets engulf the sidewalk and lawns with shade. I would recommend taking a mindful stroll through this small and quaint neighborhood as it is a neighborhood to marvel in this charming summer beach town on Lake Michigan.

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
The gorgeous tree lined streets of the Historic Forest Avenue adds additional shade and protection from a sun-soaked day.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

3701 Point Betsie Road

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl

Point Betsie light house is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Frankfort, Michigan. This beautiful lighthouse was constructed in 1858 and has been in service ever since (3). The lighthouse was built 52 feet above the lake level (3). Point Betsie offers a quaint beach that is a bit rocky but usually not too busy. This is a great place to find a beautiful rock for your kids or your collection.

During the day Pointe Betsie Lighthouse is open for tours and also offers a gift shop. The hours may vary during months outside of the summer season. There is a lot of history and natural beauty that surrounds this historical lighthouse. This would be a great opportunity to see some of the history of Lake Michigan and the lighthouse. Point Betsie is also one of the most aesthetically pleasing lighthouses in Michigan.

A long shot of a lake

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Lake Michigan on a windy day by Point Betsey Lighthouse

Lake Michigan

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
The picture above was taken about 400 feet offshore on the Frankfort Pier.

Lake Michigan is Michigan’s third largest lake with a water surface area of 22,300 square miles (2). The shoreline of Lake Michigan boast several stunning dune regions, the most famous being Sleeping Bear Dunes (2). Some of the dunes in the Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore Park reach as high as 450 feet above the water surface. There are 59 light houses on the shores of Lake Michigan (2).

The state of Michigan benefits from a great summer climate that is optimal for growing blueberries, cherries, asparagus, and grapes for juice and wine (2). When you visit Lake Michigan visitors are offered a chance to enjoy pure blue crystal-clear water only northern Michigan can provide. Although, a little brisk, the water is exceptionally clear and offers a sandy bottom making swimming enjoyable for all ages. A trip to Northern Michigan will not be complete unless you dip your toes in the water as it will surely refresh your body, mind, and soul.

A group of people on a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Sunset over Lake Michigan seen on the Frankfort Public Beach. I can never get over the beautiful sunsets that Lake Michigan provides in the summer towns of northern Michigan.

Crystal Lake

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
M-22 highway coast along the western shores of Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is one of Michigan’s prettiest and clearest lakes. It is known for its Caribbean blue colors. On a sunny day a lake such as this one is what makes Michigan summers the greatest. The lake has a beautiful sandy bottom making it one of the most desirable lakes to swim in. Crystal lake is approximately 8 miles long and measures 2.5 miles wide and has a maximum depth of 165 feet (1). Though it may not be as large as the Great Lakes, Crystal lake is the 9th largest lake of Michigan’s inland lakes (1).

Perfect for boating, tubing, or just relaxing you will not want to miss this wonder when you are in Frankfort. Most of the land that borders Crystal Lake are privately owned beaches. To gain access you will need to go to the small town of Beulah, which is located on the eastern shores of Crystal Lake. The town of Beulah has a public beach on Crystal Lake. The beach has a playground, parking lot, a boat launch, and several restaurants nearby for the day traveler.

A group of people on a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Frankfort Beach just after sunset

Frankfort, Michigan is a genuine charming summer beach town and vacation spot for the mindful traveler. Where the summer days never end and the sunsets paint the horizon with brilliant pastels of different shades of orange, yellow and red, creating a magnificent canvas for all to enjoy. A summer trip to Michigan should include this enchanting town. Frankfort Michigan is truly a beautiful and relaxing experience that only this charming summer beach town on Lake Michigan can offer.

A sunset over a beach

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PHOTO: Christopher Gradwohl
Frankfort Beach just after sunset

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REFERENCES

  1. Cosaro, Rick (2021) The Crystal Lake & Watershed Association (CLWA), https://crystallakewatershed.org/watershed-facts/, retrieved on Aug. 6th, 2021.
  2. Michigan Economic Development Corporation (2021) Lake Michigan, retrieved from https://www.michigan.org/great-lakes/lake-michigan, on Aug. 6th, 2021.
  3. The Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, (2021) Point Betsie Light House, https://pointbetsie.org/education retrieved on Aug 7th, 2021.

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