Where to Shop, Parks to visit, Restaurants to Eat at & What to See in this Beautiful Quaint City on Little Traverse Bay

Petoskey is a Beautiful Quaint City on Little Traverse Bay in northern Michigan. This water wonderland paradise is located in the northwestern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is known for its picturesque coastline along Little Traverse Bay. This small city happens to combine a small-town charm with a vibrant resort community. Furthermore, this small city offers fun activities for all ages throughout the year, especially during the summer months. Petoskey is best described as a Beautiful Quaint City on Little Traverse Bay

We visited Petoskey in the summer of 2019 for a day and we had a very cozy experience. The cozy experience is most likely the result of the small town feel and its walkable sidewalks. As we headed towards downtown, we were mesmerized by the beautiful rolling hills that slipped into the gorgeous plumage of blue colors that made up the bay. Upon parking our vehicle, we immediately felt excited about exploring the town.

We first made our way down to the Bayfront Park to see that gorgeous bay with its different shades of blue. Afterwards, we worked up an appetite and found a delicious pretzel shop. We ate our pretzels outside on their patio that overlooks the Bayfront Park. After enjoying our pretzels, we headed to explore the Gaslight District to find a Christmas Ornament. This is where we were able to explore their shops and restaurants that we will be sharing with you in this article.

Why Choose Petoskey, MI.

Petoskey is one of those cities that will instantly relax you as it brings in all the charm from Northern Michigan. The city sits on Little Traverse Bay, which is simply picturesque during the summer months. Furthermore, Petoskey has some of the most adorable shops and parks throughout the downtown and Bayfront. The city has many sidewalks and is easily walkable whether you are in the Historic Gaslight District or just wandering around enjoying the ambience of this charming city.

Petoskey has pretty much everything you would want for an enjoyable summer vacation. For instance, they have golf courses, docks to park or rent a boat, wineries, and an abundance of nature that will satisfy any explorer. It also makes for a great place for a summer vacation with the family. This resort city can be an excellent stop for a day or several days. So, be a part of the history and beauty of this iconic northern Michigan city and Enjoy the Journey.

The Petoskey Stone

Over 350 million years ago Michigan was once covered by warm shallow saltwater (1). A particular marine animal once thrived on the area of land we now call Michigan (1). The animal was called colonial coral (hexagonaria percarinata) and it thrived with other marine life in tropical reefs (1). The Hexagonaria percarinaysn consists of tightly packed six-sided corallites, which are the skeletons of the once-living coral polyps (1). The hexagon shape of each cell and thin lines radiating out from the dark “eye” in the center are distinguishing features unique to this fossil.

Several million years ago glaciers scraped the earth and spread these fossils across the northern lower peninsula, while also depositing a large amount of them in the Petoskey region (1). This prehistoric fossil which is unique to the Northwest region of the lower peninsula of Michigan also became Michigan’s state stone in 1965(1). The word Petoskey is a native word that translates to “rays of light” (2).

History

Petoskey was established in 1879 and originally named Bear River. The name was changed to Petoskey after the local Indian Chief and well-respected businessman Ignatius Petoskey (2). A statue was built in honor of Chief Petoskey in 2005 that overlooks Little Traverse Bay on Lewis Street (2).

Ernest Hemingway

One of the greatest American authors used to frequent the Petoskey area during the summer months. His name was Ernest Hemingway, and his family had a cottage on Lake Walloon. Hemingway spent the first 22 years of his life every summer in Petoskey (2). The young Ernest Hemingway created several short stories and a novel that was inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the Petoskey area.

Economy

Petoskey’s original economy when it was being settled was dependent on limestone mining and timber (2). Furthermore, the lumber in this region helped rebuild a lot of Chicago after its famous fire (7). Petoskey is located on Little Traverse Bay, which is connected to the Great Lakes. This helped make Petoskey easily accessible for commerce to other cities on the Great Lakes such as Detroit and Chicago.

Tourism

Petoskey started to become a tourist spot for many Midwesterners during the late 1800s (2). Petoskey offered cooler summers and pleasant summer evenings due to the cool breeze that would come off the Bay and lakes in the surrounding area. This region became especially popular for families to escape the busy and non-airconditioned cities of the Midwest during the summer months (4). By 1900 there were 14 hotels in Petoskey that could accommodate up to 2,000 overnight guests. Petoskey has since grown into a small city and tourism is still one of its main economic drivers. Currently, the city’s tourism has grown to well over 750,000 guests every summer from 2,000 over a century ago (4).

Beautiful Places to Visit

Bayfront Park

Bayfront Park is large 25-acre park that parallels the shores of little traverse bay. This is a great place for a family photo or to just peacefully watch the boats glide through the waters of Little Traverse Bay. The park is easily accessible on foot from the downtown district and has over 7800 feet of public shoreline on Little Traverse Bay (5). This is also a great place to hunt for that Petoskey stone you always wanted.

Gaslight District

Gaslight District is where you will find the majority of restaurants and shops in Petoskey. This is a great spot to stop for a snack and some mementos as they have an abundance of neat, and charming stores. Each store offers distinctive gifts that are local to the region and give off a northern woods appeal. In the Gaslight District you will find bookstores and art stores that reflect the nature and homage of the Petoskey area. Furthermore, the Gaslight District has large wide sidewalks that can easily accommodate a group, therefore creating a very walkable downtown.

Pennsylvania Park

Pennsylvania Park is a beautiful park in the heart of downtown Petoskey, just east of the Gaslight District. The park is filled with large beech wood maple trees that present a shaded canopy for the daytime traveler. The park also features a beautiful gazebo that is great for relaxing and enjoying your surroundings, as well as a statue of the famous author Ernest Hemingway. In addition to features, the park also has a public restroom and is home to many picnics and live music concerts in the summer months. This beautiful park is well maintained and a great reprieve from a day of shopping and dining.

The Best Quaint Shops

McLean and Eakin

307 E Lake Street

McLean and Eakin opened in 1992 by a schoolteacher and lover of books. This charming bookstore is located in the Historic Gaslight District of Downtown Petoskey. The bookstore has old world charm and a quaint feel to it that will leave you inspired to read more. The store features many local authors, such as a large collection of Ernest Hemingway books. This is a wonderful book store that we are sure you will enjoy when you are visiting Petoskey, MI.

Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts

301 E. Lake Street

Grandpa Shorter’s is a fascinating gift shop that offers all kinds of unique souvenirs that represent the area’s beautiful natural setting. This is Petoskey’s original souvenir shop which opened its doors in 1946 (6). The gift shop is full of locally sourced jams, treats, Petoskey stones, clothing and many other fun gifts. The store also has toys for children.

In addition, the shop features Minnetonka Moccasins (handcrafted footwear that is influenced by traditional native American moccasins and uses natural leather) which was the first item the shop ever ordered in its modest and humble beginnings. The shop is still owned by the same family passing from generation to generation.

This gift shop most certainly had a wide selection of souvenirs but unfortunately they were lacking in the Christmas ornament department. My wife and I are always on the search for the perfect Christmas ornament that represents the region or area we are visiting at the time of our travels. Unfortunately, we did not find one, but we did find a great souvenir shop where you will find some unique gifts for your loved ones.

The Best Restaurants

City Park Grill

432 E. Lake Street

This is an amazing restaurant and it is one you must dine in when visiting Petoskey. The restaurant is in one of the oldest buildings in Petoskey and it was originally constructed in 1875. The City Park Grill is one of the highest rated restaurants in the area and is known for some amazing dishes. Also, this used to be the famous author Ernest Hemingway’s favorite hangout in the 1920’s. If you venture to the bar, there is a small indentation on the bar top where Mr. Hemingway used to put out his cigar when he visited (3).

Now onto the food. The food in the restaurant is phenomenal. My wife and I were amazed by how each dish we tried was delicious and full of unique flavor. A few of the items we enjoyed are the following:

Chicken Noodle Soup – The soup my wife ordered was a delicious hearty version of the classic chicken noodle soup. The soup had large chunks of white chicken meat and fresh vegetables. I could not help myself and had to sample my wife’s soup several times, which she was happy to share.

Creole Gumbo Soup – I ordered the gumbo and was equally impressed with this soup as with the chicken noodle. My wife was also impressed, and we ended up sampling each other’s soups throughout the course. This delicious southern inspired soup had large shrimp, large chunks of white meat chicken, and spicy sausage that really enhanced the flavor profile. It was also loaded with fresh vegetables and rice that seemed prepared that day.

Hummus platter – This appetizer was not only delicious but immense and could easily be shared with a large group. By the time we had finished the appetizer we contemplated ordering any more food. The hummus platter had delicious grilled pita bread that was crunchy and soft in all the right places. The hummus dip itself was a delicious chickpea seasoned spread that had a unique smokey flavor to it. We most certainly finished the entire platter.

Parmesan-Herb Whitefish – After our fill of soup and the hummus platter, we decided to split the Parmesan-Herb Whitefish, and I am glad that we did as this dish was amazing. The dish was served with mashed potatoes which were excellent and really complimented the dish. They were made with white truffles and mashed to perfection. We simply could not get enough of those delicious mashed potatoes where we almost ordered them as a side to take with us.

The locally sourced whitefish was divine as well and had a parmesan and herb seasoning on top encrusting the fish, which really preserved the flavor giving it a nice crunch with every bite. As with our previous dishes, the vegetables were grilled and tasted like they were picked that day. When visiting Michigan, you need to try the Whitefish as it is a true delicacy and gives you the flavor and taste of Michigan.

Petoskey Pretzel Co.

200 Petoskey Street

This charming shop is located across the street from the famous Bayfront Park tunnel and on the corner of Bay Street in the Gaslight District. This little pretzel shop is sure to delight any traveler who is looking for a nice warm soft pretzel for their mid-day snack. Their pretzels are made fresh daily in house, using all natural ingredients including their very own patent flour blend. This is what adds to that perfect texture and flavor profile that we all love about a soft warm pretzel.

The interior of the shop is small, charming and cozy while smelling of fresh pretzels. The fresh smells will permeate your senses as you enter the shop, enticing you to leave with more than what you intended to come in for. The shop has indoor and outdoor seating offering a dine-in counter and a few tables and chairs outside the shop. Most patrons take their order to go and enjoy their pretzel in one of the beautiful parks surrounding the downtown area of Petoskey.

The Pretzel Co offers many types of handmade pretzels served daily such as the PPC Buttery Original, which is the original house made butter and salt pretzel. This is where the magic all started.

The Cinnamon & Sugar Pretzel is for the sweet tooth lover (my wife). The Pretzel is an original buttered pretzel that is dipped in cinnamon and sugar. Tasty!

In addition to their classic pretzels, the shop also serves several seasonal pretzels such as the Pumpkin Pretzel. Moreover, the store offers various beverages, hot drinks, bottles of water and other flavored beverages that you can easily transport with you.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, everything you could do in one day in Petoskey Michigan. Petoskey is a city where you could easily spend a few nights and still feel like there is more to explore and do. That is the beauty of northern Michigan in the summer, there is always somewhere to explore. The weather is beautiful, and each day can be a beach day, a shopping day, or just a day to explore the abundance of beautiful nature that Petoskey and northern Michigan have to offer. We hope you make a stop here during your travels to Michigan’s northern part and enjoy this Beautiful Quaint City on Little Traverse Bay

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References

1. Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau. (2021). Petoskey Stone. Petoskeyarea.com/media/Petoskey-stone/
2. Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce. (2022). The History of Petoskey and Emmet County. http://www.petoskeychamber.com/the-history-of-petoskey-and-emmet-county
3. Amy and Gonzo. (2018). Michigan’s Best Day in Petoskey, Mlive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3Kaj8qKRU
4. Moroney, Kyle. (2013). Smithsonian Magazine names Petoskey among best small American towns. Advance Local Media LLC
5. City of Petoskey. (2022). Bayfront Park, Petoskey, MI. https://www.petoskey.us/departments/parks_and_recreation/bayfront_park.php
6. Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts. (2022). Our Story, Petoskey Provisions, Gifts, & Wisdom. https://grandpashorters.com/virtual-tours/grandpa-shorters-gifts/
7. Schons, Mary. (2022). The Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Great Rebuilding. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/chicago-fire-1871-and-great-rebuilding

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