Things to Do in Harbor Springs With Kids

Every good family trip has a morning ritual, and this is the one — artisan coffee for the grown-ups, fresh pastries the kids will actually eat, and a low-key crowd of regulars. A calm start before the day gets going.

Tip: Go early on summer weekends — the line forms before 9am. Grab-and-go works great on a ski morning.

A canopy of hardwoods over the shoreline road, starting minutes from the house and running 20 miles north to Cross Village. Stunning at peak color in mid-October. With kids, the trick is to break it up so it doesn’t turn into a long car ride.

Tip: Drive north to Cross Village, stop at Legs Inn for lunch, loop back. Easy half-day that keeps little ones from getting restless.

If you have younger kids, this is the single best stop in the area. Feed the animals, ride the wagon, hunt for gnomes, grab wood-fired pizza. Pumpkins and hayrides in fall; farm dinners and live music in summer. Parents get a vineyard and brewery on site.

Tip: Check their events calendar before you go — seasonal dinners and festivals book up fast.

Elevated boardwalk trails through dunes and hardwoods that end at a quiet stretch of Lake Michigan beach. Free, short, and easy enough for little legs — a great “first morning” outing that doesn’t overcommit the day.

Tip: Wear shoes you don’t mind getting sandy. Bring a snack for the beach at the end of the trail.

Seven minutes away, and it’s the hill locals actually ski. Patient instructors, shorter lift lines, and terrain that works for first-timers and strong skiers alike — so mixed-ability families don’t leave anyone behind or bored. The easiest place around to turn a kid into a skier.

Tip: Book lessons and rentals the night before so you’re on the slopes early — and quit before anyone hits the meltdown wall.

Eight minutes away (formerly Boyne Highlands). Winter brings skiing, snowboarding, and tubing; summer and fall add zip lines, mountain-bike trails, and scenic chairlift rides. More amenities than Nub’s — terrain parks, on-mountain dining, robust lessons — and a good call when the group has non-skiers who still want an activity.

Tip: The summer zip line is genuinely great for older kids who need more than another beach day.

The most central beach in Harbor Springs — walkable from the marina and downtown shops. Sandy, calm, and shallow enough for young kids. Sailboats drift across the bay while you sit on the sand. About as good as a family summer afternoon gets.

Tip: Arrive before 11am on summer weekends. Walk downtown for ice cream after.

Compact, walkable, and easy with kids — boutique shops, galleries, waterfront dining, and a marina with boats coming and going all summer. Do the whole loop in an hour or stretch it into an afternoon. Strollers are welcome everywhere.

Tip: The harbor walk at golden hour is hard to beat. Plan dinner downtown after.

A paved, separated path along the bay from Harbor Springs to Petoskey — and on toward Charlevoix if you have the legs. Flat, scenic, and safe; families do the 8-mile Harbor Springs–Petoskey stretch and back. Great for tweens and teens with energy to burn, and a bike trailer covers the little ones.

Tip: Bike rentals are available in downtown Harbor Springs. Pack water and snacks for the full loop.

About 7 minutes from the house: sandy beach, dunes, easy trails, and the best spot in the region to hunt Petoskey stones — Michigan’s state stone, with a honeycomb fossil pattern. Kids will dig for them for hours. A free activity that feels like treasure.

Tip: A Michigan DNR day pass is required. Stones are easiest to spot wet, right at the waterline — bring a small bag.

Small, well-curated, and a solid rainy-day hour — maritime history, the harbor’s role in Great Lakes commerce, and the Indigenous heritage that shaped this part of Northern Michigan. Best for older kids who can engage with the exhibits.

Tip: Check seasonal hours before going.

A landmark honoring Andrew J. Blackbird — 19th-century Odawa leader, scholar, and author. It preserves the history of the Odawa people in Northern Michigan and Blackbird’s life as a bridge between cultures. One of the most significant — and most overlooked — sites in the area, and a meaningful stop for school-age kids.

Tip: Hours are seasonal and limited — check ahead.

Built by Ephraim Shay, inventor of the Shay locomotive that revolutionized logging railroads. The house is a six-sided architectural oddity — more of a quick drive-by curiosity than a full stop, but a fun one for kids who like trains and “why is it shaped like that?”

Tip: Pair it with the History Museum for the backstory on Shay and his locomotive.

A historic lighthouse marking the harbor entrance, best seen from the water. If you’re renting a boat or kayaking, paddle out for the full view — photogenic at sunrise and dusk. A nice add-on if you’ve got older kids comfortable on a kayak.

Tip: Best from a boat or kayak. Kayak rentals are available in downtown Harbor Springs.

On summer evenings, live musicians play around downtown — jazz trios, folk guitarists, local bands. Free, relaxed, and completely kid-friendly. It turns an after-dinner walk into a happy two-hour wander, and it’s the kind of moment families remember most.

Tip: Grab ice cream, find a bench, and let the kids roam. No agenda needed.