Things to do
Around Indian River
Everything within about twenty-five minutes
Indian River sits where the Inland Waterway threads between Burt and Mullet Lakes, about twenty-five minutes south of the Mackinac Bridge. It is the part of Northern Michigan people drive through on the way to somewhere more famous, which is exactly why it stays quiet.
Petoskey and Harbor Springs are the same twenty-five minutes in the other direction. Everything below is within easy reach of the house.
On the water
The Inland Waterway connects Burt and Mullet Lakes and runs most of the way toward Lake Michigan.
Big Bear Adventure
Kayak and raft trips down the Sturgeon, plus guided trail rides and putt putt for a rained-out afternoon.
Burt Lake State Park
Swimming beach and long shallow water — the default move on a hot day.
Boat rental on Burt and Mullet
Both lakes rent by the day and connect through the waterway.
Fly fishing
The Pigeon runs through the property; the Sturgeon and Black are close by.
Devoe Beach
Where locals go for the sunset rather than the swimming.
On land
Trails start at the house and keep going for most of the county.
North Central State Trail
Crushed limestone rail-trail running north to Mackinaw City and south toward Gaylord.
Nature's Megaphone
Short walk, genuinely worth it, and the kind of thing children remember.
Elk viewing
Autumn, at dusk, in the Pigeon River Country State Forest just east of here.
Tunnel of Trees
M-119 north from Harbor Springs. Best in the first half of October.
Agnes S. Andreae Conservatory
Quiet preserve with maintained walking trails.
All of it within about twenty-five minutes of the front door.
Eat and drink
Indian River is small. This is most of it, and it is enough.
Northland Brewery
The local brewery, and the default first stop.
Station @ 310
Sit-down dinner in town.
Michael's Tavern and Maggie's Silo Bar
Tavern food and a bar in a silo, which is exactly as good as it sounds.
Vivo's Pizza
The answer on the night nobody wants to cook.
Wildwood Coffee and Christopher’s Cafe
Morning coffee, before the coffee bar at the house runs out.
H&L Dairy Mart
Ice cream. Non-negotiable with children in the car.
Ken's Village Market
Full grocery in town for the first-night shop.
Winter
Snow is the whole point up here, and the house was engineered for the amount of it that arrives.
Snowmobile trails run through the area, Boyne Highlands is under an hour for skiing, and the river keeps moving when everything around it has stopped.
Boyne Highlands
Skiing and the Enchanted Winter Trail, about fifty minutes away.
Snowmobiling
Groomed trails connect through the region.
Winter river rafting
Yes, really. Big Bear runs trips through the cold months.
Skating, sledding and snowshoeing
All within a few minutes of the house.
