Charlevoix
Old Town · Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix is a small resort town in northern Lower Michigan on the narrow strip between Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix, joined by a short channel through the middle of town. Its landmarks include the bascule drawbridge over the channel, which opens for boats on a schedule (confirm), the South Pier Lighthouse and beach, and the 'mushroom houses', stone cottages with curved roofs designed by Earl Young. Those houses are mostly private and are viewed from the street only. The town suits couples, families and boaters, and works as a base for the Beaver Island ferry, Fisherman's Island State Park, Castle Farms, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. The honest limits are summer crowds, busy bridge traffic and a quiet, closed-up winter. Allow half a day for the walk and harbour, or a weekend with beach time and day trips from town. Book a room early for July and August, since the town has limited beds for its summer crowds.
Bridge Street, Charlevoix, Michigan, 49720, United States
The town itself is open all year, and the streets, harbour, pier and beach are free to reach at any hour in daylight. Shops, restaurants, boat tours and the ferry run on seasonal schedules, with the fullest service from about Memorial Day to Labor Day, and many places shorten hours or close in winter. The drawbridge opens on a schedule for boats, mostly in the boating season, so confirm the times and expect road delays. The Venetian Festival is held in late July (confirm dates). Ferry timetables and the festival calendar change by year, so check before you plan around them.