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Charlevoix, Michigan, is a picturesque destination that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and family-friendly activities. Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, this charming town is an ideal spot for a weekend getaway, whether you’re looking to relax, explore, or make lasting memories with loved ones. This itinerary will guide you through a fantastic three-day adventure, highlighting the best places to stay, must-see attractions, and exciting activities that showcase the area’s unique charm. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of Charlevoix and create unforgettable experiences!
Where to Stay:
You can’t go wrong with either The Edgewater Inn or The Earl. The Earl is stunning and modern, but the breathtaking water views from every room at The Edgewater are hard to beat- especially if you have kiddos that would love an up-close look at the ferry coming and going every day.
Know Before You Go:
1. A recreation passport is required for both Fisherman’s Island State Park and the Jordan Valley Outfitters raft ride.
- Michigan residents: $14/year
- A resident recreation pass cannot be purchased online.
- Non-resident: $41/year or $11/day
- To purchase a non-resident recreation pass, click here- Recreation Pass.
2. Tickets for Jordan Valley Outfitters should be purchased ahead of time. Purchase here- Raft Tickets.
3. Tickets for the Mushroom House Tours should also be purchased ahead of time. Purchase here- Mushroom House Tours.
4. Tickets for Castle Farms can be purchased on arrival. Hours do vary based on scheduled events, so please double-check daily hours before your visit. Check hours here- Castle Farms.
3 Day Itinerary
Day 1
STOP 1: Jordan Valley Outfitters
Start your day with a raft ride along the beautiful Jordan River. These raft rides are perfect for all ages and offer an incredible experience in every season. During our fall raft trip, we met our guide, Dan, at the main building, then followed the shuttle bus in our own vehicle to the end point. From there, we took the shuttle to where we would start on the river.
Once the rafts were launched into the water, we hopped in and began a lovely morning on the river. Dan and Melanie, who own Jordan Valley Outfitters, were both fantastic and ensured the entire experience ran smoothly. Dan is exceptionally knowledgeable about the area; he engaged our kids in paddling, entertained us with classic “Dad jokes,” and shared fascinating information as we navigated through the stunning landscape of the Jordan Valley.
At the halfway point, we stopped to stretch our legs and enjoyed delicious donuts and cider from Friske’s Farm Market. As if that wasn’t thrilling enough, we also had an up-close encounter with a water snake sunbathing on the riverbank. The entire experience lasted just under two hours, and we are already looking forward to returning in January for one of their winter raft trips!
STOP 2: Friske’s Farm Market
After the raft trip, make your way to Friske’s Farm Market, a fantastic destination for the entire family. Inside, you’ll discover seasonal foods and gifts, a massive indoor playground, and a great selection of pizza and sandwiches for lunch. Be sure to try one of the delicious baked goods—and it’s Michigan, so cherries are a must— so go with the Cherry Pickin’ Crunch Pie or my personal favorite, the cherry cheesecake cookie.
Once you’ve explored the delectable food options, head outside to enjoy activities like bouncing on the mega pillow, soaring down the Flyer Zipline, or playing cornhole on a comically oversized set that uses throw pillows instead of bean bags. Depending on the season, you can also take part in their U-Pick Fruit, including strawberries, cherries, and apples, right at the farm.
STOP 3: Fisherman’s Island State
After visiting Friske’s Farm Market, head over to Fisherman’s Island State Park. There, you can enjoy the pristine waters of Lake Michigan while searching for Petoskey stones. Our middle child is convinced he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up, so hunting for fossilized coral was right up his alley. We were fortunate enough to find quite a few!
To enter the park, take Bells Bay Road until it dead-ends at a small parking area with a lovely overlook. From there, follow the small trail to your left that leads down to the beach. For a bit more solitude, I recommend turning left onto Lake Shore Drive, continuing past the ranger station, and parking in one of the larger day-use lots. For the best views of Fisherman’s Island, park in the last lot along Lake Shore Drive and head down to the beautiful beach from there!
A Michigan Recreation Passport is required at the park. Non-residents may purchase a passport online; however, processing time is 2-3 weeks. Residents must purchase the passport in person.
Day 2
STOP 1: Jordan Valley Scenic Drive
The Charlevoix area offers numerous scenic drives, including the Tunnel of Trees, Torch Lake Tour, Circle Lake Charlevoix, and The Breezeway, all of which we have enjoyed many times over the years. However, our absolute favorite—especially in the fall—is the Jordan Valley Scenic Drive. During this season, you are surrounded by an explosion of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows the entire way.
To start your adventure, make your way south on M-66 from Charlevoix. When you come to C-48, take a right turn and be sure to pause at some of the breathtaking viewpoints at Deer Lake. As you continue your drive, once you reach Boyne Falls, make another right onto US-131. You’ll want to take a short detour at Deadman’s Hill for a phenomenal overlook that’s simply unmissable! If you have a little extra time, the trail to the left leads to more stunning scenery that you won’t want to miss.
After soaking in the views at Deadman’s Hill, return to US-131 and follow it until you arrive at Alba Road. Take a right, and don’t forget to visit the Landslide Scenic Overlook. It’s a narrow, unpaved drive to the trailhead, but trust me—the spectacular views will make it all worthwhile! A brief and easy walk through the forest will lead you to another incredible overlook.
Once you’ve enjoyed the Landslide Scenic Overlook, head back to Alba Road and continue west until you link up with M-66. Then, take a right and head north until you reach your next destination: the enchanting Castle Farms.
STOP 2: Castle Farms
Castle Farms is another fantastic family-friendly experience in Charlevoix. There are endless places to explore here. Inside, you’ll find vast halls and towers filled with collections of antique toys, vintage cake toppers, royal memorabilia, concert memorabilia, and even a WWII museum. If you visit on a weekend, you might even catch the beautiful setups in their grand ballrooms, which host weddings and events. Four weddings were happening on the day of our last visit, and the setup was incredible! It felt like we were wandering through a fairy tale!
Outside, the attractions are equally impressive, featuring extensive gardens, serene ponds (be sure to watch for the frogs lining the shoreline), giant chess boards, and an outdoor model railroad with over 2,000 feet of track and more than 70 working trains—a favorite among our group! There’s even a scavenger hunt through the enchanted forest, which we had so much fun with. You could easily spend hours exploring this incredible place.
Make sure to check their website before your visit. With events and weddings, their hours often change, and you’ll want ample time to explore on the day you visit.
STOP 3: Michigan Beach Park
Next, head to Michigan Beach Park. The beautiful sandy beach, clear waters, and bright red lighthouse in the distance make this picturesque location the perfect spot to end your day. Besides being a great place to swim, it’s also an ideal place to comb through the shore’s colorful rocks in search of a Petoskey stone. Petosky stones are actually fossilized prehistoric coral that predates even the dinosaurs—how cool is that?
When you’re done hunting rocks, be sure to check out the playground- our kids had a blast flying down the classic tall metal slide! And watching the Beaver Island Ferry come in was the icing on the cake for an incredible day. Be sure to check out the ferry boat’s bottom level for cars- we even managed to spot a boat inside the boat! And while the waters were calm on this day, in the past, we’ve actually witnessed surfing at this beach when the lake winds make an appearance!
Day 3
STOP 1: The Happy Troll Deli & Pub
Start your day with lunch at one of the cutest restaurants in town: The Happy Troll Deli & Pub. While both breakfast and lunch options are fantastic, we highly recommend stopping by for lunch. The Olive Burger, a Michigan menu staple, and the delicious BLT are hard to resist! And if you manage to snag a seat by the window, you’ll even be treated to the incredible water views of Round Lake. Don’t forget to check out their selection of tasty baked goods for a sweet treat after your meal!
STOP 2: Mushroom House Tour
You can’t visit Charlevoix without taking a guided tour of Earl Young’s famous Mushroom Houses!
After savoring a meal at Happy Troll, you’ll discover that your next adventure is just a quick one-minute stroll away. Turn right when you leave the Happy Troll, take another quick right onto Park Avenue, and you’ll find the Gem Carts parked right outside the Treasure Chest. A friendly guide will be ready to whisk you away to see these one-of-a-kind homes while sharing fascinating insights about Earl Young and his impressive architectural style.
On our last visit, the chilly, windy, and rainy weather had me questioning how enjoyable the experience would be, but it turned out to be the ideal rainy-day activity! The gem cart is fully enclosed, complete with windows all around—and even above—offering spectacular views of the Mushroom Houses. Our guide had the heater cranked up and provided cozy blankets, making it a snug experience as we admired both the incredible homes and massive lake waves from the warmth of our cart.
I can’t praise our guide highly enough! Her extensive knowledge, contagious enthusiasm, and captivating storytelling kept all of us engaged and entertained throughout the entire hour.
As a bonus, at the conclusion of the tour, we were given a link to access a virtual tour of the houses, further igniting our curiosity to learn more about these incredible Mushroom Houses. I wholeheartedly recommend this unique experience to anyone visiting Charlevoix!
STOP 3: Charlevoix Public Library
After the Mushroom House Tour, make your way to Charlevoix’s Public Library. If you’re up for a walk, take a left on State St and then a right on Clinton St. It’s just 0.3 miles from the Treasure Chest.
This library is absolutely fantastic! We were so impressed by its size and the variety of activities available. The children’s section alone is incredible, featuring countless books and engaging activities. There is a large play area, tables for art projects, tall trees where kids can cozy up with a good book, scavenger hunts, and a computer area with educational games, just to name a few of the highlights.
Additionally, there’s an amazing teen room that our oldest loved, as well as spacious tables for puzzle-making, chess games, study spaces, and stunning works of art both inside and outside the building. We will definitely be stopping here on every visit to Charlevoix from now on!
Don’t miss the opportunity to walk around the outside of the library. There are many beautiful works of art along the way!
I hope you have an incredible adventure!
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