One of my favorite things about Northern Michigan is all the little towns you can discover along the lake. Whenever I’m up north I like to spend some time exploring new to me towns and visiting old favorites and this trip was no different. We spent the day driving all along the Leelanau Peninsula and had the greatest time. Here are a few of the spots we’ve stopped over our last few trips:

Sutton’s Bay: This is the closest town to Traverse City which makes it one of the easiest spots to visit if you don’t have time to explore the entire peninsula.

Martha’s Table - A delicious place for lunch.
Brain Storm Toy Store - A small toy store with an amazing selection, especially for science focused activities and toys.
Bay Books - Because who can resist a local indie bookshop.
At Home – This tiny home goods store is full of must-have gifts. The baby section is teeny tiny but extremely well-curated and I always leave with some Jelly Cat products and cute gifts for my littlest friends.
Suttons Park Playground - I love stopped by this little playground whenever we’re in town. It’s right on the water so it’s perfect for some playtime, especially if you’re breaking up your drive up the peninsula.
Hop Lot – This is the perfect hangout spot. Bring your kids, parents, neighbors, friends, basically anyone to this beer garden. The patio is stunning and huge and perfect for all seasons. Although I have yet to experience this (but it’s top of my list for my next winter visit!) you can reserve an outdoor igloo for up to eight people.
Art Galleries - Although art galleries aren’t necessarily at the top of my list, my parents always love making a stop at them when we pass through.

Leland and Fishtown - I love this little town! It’s only a few blocks along but it’s full of cute shops and most importantly, home to Fishtown, the absolutely adorable seasonal shops located in historic fish shanties.

Village Shanty - Home to the best sandwiches in northern Michigan (in my humble opinion). But get ready, the line can be long. Since they are in one of the seasonal shanties make sure to confirm they’re open.
Leelanau Books - Such a good selection, awesome employees and a cozy space.

Glen Arbor: A super cute little town located right by Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Cherry Republic – Visit the original cherry republic location. Experience all the deliciousness spread out across multiple buildings connected by plant-lined pathways. Taste the wine, sample all the chocolate-covered cherries, visit the restaurants and then hang out in the adorable play area with your kids. Last time we were there the governor of Michigan was even giving a talk on environmental issues with was pretty cool.

Glen Arbor Playground – This playground totally blew my mind! It’s beautifully designed, has multiple unique play areas to explore and equipment I had never seen before (like a swing for you and your kid to use simultaneously). I seriously can’t say enough about this park. Do yourself a favor and go here when you’re in the area.
Sleeping Bear Dunes – One of the key landmarks of Northern Michigan, this national park which covers over 35 miles of lakeshore, is most well-known for it’s dune climb. With a little kid in tow, we skipped the dune climb and focused on the many more kid-friendly spots. We first went to the Blacksmith Shop to see a demonstration and then parked down the street and walked out to the dunes. Once we were done exploring we did the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. This 7.4 mile loop is the perfect way to experience all the different landscapes of the park without having to do extensive walking. Plus there are several scenic outlooks to hop out and take pictures.

Northport - I had never been to Northport before and it was by far the highlight of this trip. I would love to rent a house up here next time I visit because it has a great small town, non-touristy vibe to it.

Nora Northport - A teeny little home goods/gift store with a great selection.
Porcupine - I fell in love with this store! They have an amazing selection of cool loosely camp-themed gifts and home goods. If I could have I would have purchased everything here.
Marina Park - A nice playground right on the water. Play on the play structures or swim/rent a boat.
Peterson Park - This is an amazing park outside of downtown. There’s a small play structure, tons of room for picnics, a beautiful overlook of the lake and 116 steps leading down to Lake Michigan.