This is a fun walking/biking path near downtown Petoskey that makes you feel as if you have left…read morethe city for the woods also instantly. There is a creek/river running through the middle of the trail so you can walk in either side and get plenty of nature experience. The trail is quite lengthy so choosing how long to go is the only tough choice as each bend in the trail provides a new vista. I loved how the rushing water masked any city noises, and it did feel as if you were out in deep woods. It was nicely shaded and yet the sunlight streamed through for a gorgeous view. We have been here several times and highly recommend a visit for a short or long walk!

Husband loved fishing here. He waded into the shallower part of the stream but loved fishing off…read morethe rocks near the deeper faster rapids! I sat with a book and enjoyed the atmosphere. Feels like you're in a forest, the river and trees drown out any traffic noise! We'll definitely come again on our next visit up here.

Happened upon this little city park while waiting for the sunset. Such a cute town .. the park had…read morea shelter for picnics and we walked along the river a bit .. there was rushing water that had a relaxing sound. few bridges that i thought were worth taking photos of.

This is a great state park northern lower peninsula ( roughly 8 miles from Mackinaw city) with…read moremany camping areas, swimming areas, beaches, and trails. They also rent cabins at the park. The park has great fishing off of Wakashanks point and the home to a bird preserve for nesting Piping Plovers and many other wildlife.

I enjoyed my stay in the Lakeshore section. It was a short walk from my campsite to the beach…read more During a nice bike ride, I saw the boat launch and picnic area. I was solo, but most were family campers. It felt safe and secure with staff doing regular roundabouts. Bathrooms were fine. The only downside were millions of dead fish flies in the water and shore line, but obviously that was out of our control. It was also a short drive to Mackinac City. Highly recommended!

I'm not much of a nature walking person, but it's been a very long time since I've been up to this…read morepart of Michigan. We discovered this place while on our way to the tunnel of trees, and I said "hey, let's stop here and check it out!" So we did. Pulling in, the parking and area isn't all that huge, but it's cute none the less. It's kind of an off shoot of the Tunnel of Trees, and we also wanted to catch a glimpse of the water if possible. There was a nice gentleman who greeted us and told us about the paths. He said to stay on the trails, check out the water and it's about a mile and a quarter of a walk. So, off we went. There's a nature center at the front with bathrooms and some educational stuff, but we skipped it and went right to the trails. They have a little map area at the front, but basically this place is one big circle and a designated path so you can't really get lost here. While it is cool to look at, it's also a lot of dead and down trees. They have signage throughout about what you're looking at, and tells you a little bit about it. Things like flowers, trees, bugs and birds. It was pretty busy even for a cooler September day, which was impressive. The coolest part of the walk was getting to see Lake Michigan. It was really super cool and you walk right onto the beach. It's not a huge area at all, literally enough to have one person at a time. There's some great photo opportunities along with a view of the lake and boats, which was fabulous to see. Overall, the place is a good stop to get some exercise at if you've been cooped up in the car and start getting antsy like me. LOL. There is a bathroom along the trail, but it's not a flushing toilet one of those holes in the ground with very little privacy. No doors just walls. Kind of weird because I was afraid someone was going to walk in. Anyway, go check it out, you can do this in less then an hours time!

Our family never tires of visiting Thorne Swift. The pathways are easy to walk, some are wood and…read moresome mulch. There are steps down to the beach area and an overlook of the dunes. The pond is lovely. If you are fortunate, you may catch a glimpse of some wildlife, today there were a number of cedar waxwings at the pond. All the paths are mostly shaded. Caretakers are on hand to answer questions and give information. The nature house features some interesting animal facts and specimens. Monarch butterfly releases are scheduled and an aquarium with the caterpillars is just inside the door. A variety of classes and talks are offered. Informative signs are scattered along the trails, some with photos. Many of the trees and plants are labeled with signage. There is a donation box in front of the nature house, and ample parking.

"Come sleep on the beach Keep within my reach…read moreI just want to die with you near I'm feeling so high with you here" (The Who) American Legion Park has a lot going on - a beach, a lawn with benches, picnic space with grills, a covered pavilion, a gazebo for music, and a playground for the kiddies. The park connects the Lake Huron Boardwalk with downtown St. Ignace and borders a quarter-mile long stretch of a pretty pebbled beach. You get really good views of Mackinac Island and the Chief Wawatam Lighthouse. You'll also be close to a veteran's memorial and shipwreck monument. If you're an active sort of a guy or gal you can snorkel, swim, or launch a kayak or canoe here St. Ignace's "Music By The Bay Summer Series" is held right here, so every night from July 1st through September 1st you can check out the local musicians. Tonight (July 27), we were entertained by Curtis Grooters.

A great little spot, to immerse oneself in the natural beauty of the area…read more When we stopped by (mid-Oct.), this location was very sparsely populated, and quite quiet and peaceful. This Park is yet another wonderful community asset, for the area's inhabitants and visitors.

When you first enter, they check if you have a recreational passport. If you do, it is free. When…read moreyou drive in there's a turn for the canpground. We went straight to the beach. They had a volleyball tournament. It was still a little cold so we had jackets and pants on the kids. It was their first time at a beach playing in the sand. The water was freezing and my kids wanted to put their feet in. The beach was nice and empty. We have been coming here for years. We love rock picking here.

Not much more to say except that this is a very well kept park. I could've sworn I was in the…read moreCaribbean with the beautiful, clean, white sand and pretty clear lake that just goes on forever, the water sparkling in the sunshine. I can't wait until it's open again because this is the best park I've seen in this area. I plan to camp, swim, and have all kinds of fun here.

We went camping here last year for a family reunion (and where my fiance proposed to me). It was a…read moreblast!!!!! Came here for a couple hours last night to visit a couple relatives who were camping here. I really love this place!!!!!!

A wonderful state park that I was fortunate enough to camp at earlier this summer! Great campground…read morewith great bathrooms/showers, which is always appreciated! The campground was extensive and we were fortunate enough to have a campground with a view of Burt Lake itself in the distance! One of the days we were here, we basically spent the entire day on the lake and it was so nice! This state park has a really nice (and MASSIVE) beach area, which extends into an even more massive boat-free area in the water for people to swim and play in without worrying about the boats getting in the way! It was incredible! Burt Lake State Park is truly a 5-star kind of park for all it has to offer to day visitors and campers alike! Additionally, and probably most wonderfully, you can't beat the location of this state park! It's centrally located at the tip of the lower peninsula of Michigan and only 30 minutes away from both Mackinaw city/Mackinac Island to the north and Petoskey to the west! We visited both during our trip here and absolutely loved it! Couldn't recommend this state park more!

I came here for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and will be returning in September. This is…read morean absolutely beautiful dark sky park with spectacular views. The park offers various educational programs and experiences throughout the months, has a unique gift shop (the staff was great as well), and has several walking trails to enjoy. I love that you can learn on your walk by reading the various signs posted. It would be fun if they did an educational scavenger hunt on their educational trail, as that would be a fun way to learn. I look forward to visiting again in another month!

It's just a short drive from Mackinaw City and this place has been on our bucket list for a few…read moreyears. The place is nice but it is not exactly what we were expecting. The path is well marked with red lights (no white lights allowed). They do have bathrooms there too. It just felt a little underwhelming and over populated (and we went on a cold fall night). Some people were packing in wagons and had flashlights which was annoying since the white light ruins your eyes when they are adjusted to the dark.

This is a beautiful and well maintained park. There's a nice playground for the kiddos and plenty…read moreof scenery to take in. There's free parking right up front. You can walk right up to the water. A great park to stop at if you're in the area. Or even if you aren't in the area.

Nice park area near the marina. Has a breakwater that you can walk out on to to a small lighthouse…read more It was getting ready to rain when we were there so the walk out to the lighthouse was very chilly. Nice place to search for stones and watch boats come in.

I love this place. And hesitate making it more known. But this place, even with the summer crowds…read moreis extremely peaceful and soul feeding place. It's beautiful and relaxing. I've had my kids get their senior photos taken here. It's out of the way, but it's so beautiful, it's a place you have to go to. Historical information, the falls are one of the key locations that the lamprey were discovered to be in the Great Lakes and a great deal of research still takes place within a few miles of this location.

Fun place to explore and very beautiful. You don't have to walk that far to get to the falls.read more