Fall in love with Manistee

Often dubbed Michigan’s Victorian Port City, Manistee is perfect for your next fall road trip. Take the scenic four-hour drive north of Chicago (or hop a 90-minute, daily direct flight from O’Hare (flymanistee.com), and you will fall in love with all Manistee and the surrounding county have to offer. Manistee National Forest that blankets the area immediately sets the tone when you arrive, and the warm fall colors and sounds of nature are at your beck and call.

Spend your days exploring the area’s topnotch trails. Grab your hiking boots and check out Orchard Beach State Park, Old Baldy Trail at Arcadia Dunes or Arcadia Overlook on the iconic M-22 scenic highway for a stunning view of Lake Michigan. And you can find endless options within Manistee National Forest as well, including the Big M Trail that also is a mountain biking mecca.

Manistee is a town rich in history and the arts, so keep your eyes peeled for the art deco Vogue Theatre for first-run movies, historic Ramsdell Theatre for live performances and art exhibits, as well as the world’s oldest continually manned fire station as you stroll the town. These are among more than a hundred historic sites you can discover throughout Manistee County on one of eight self-guided Manistee Historic Sites Tours that also make beautiful fall color drives.

Grab a bite to eat at a local eatery on your way to buy fall produce at a farm stand or roam one of ten Lake Michigan beaches nearby. At the Blue Fish Kitchen + Bar, enjoy fine dining featuring fresh local ingredients. Or take it easy at North Channel Brewing for craft beer and a signature burger.

Choose from Victorian-era lodging in town like the Ramsdell Inn or Dempsey Manor, or head out to the lakeside town of Onekama for a stay at Portage Point Resort or Canfield House B&B.

No trip to Manistee is complete without checking out local events in the area. In mid-September, check out Hops and Props on the River featuring classic wooden boats paired with a variety of craft beer tastings. Visit in October and find yourself navigating the Manistee Ghost Ship, a frightening experience set inside the five decks of the historic S.S. City of Milwaukee car ferry.

We hope you liked our “Let’s Go Tour’’ of Manistee. Check out Visit Manistee County for more information on the tour, lodging or dining options and follow us at “Let’s Go with Catie Keogh.”