Five villages, a hundred miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and one scenic highway to link them. A field guide to Michigan’s most beautiful peninsula.
Leelanau County is the “pinky” of Michigan’s mitten, surrounded on three sides by water. Scenic M-22 runs along the Lake Michigan coast for about 116 miles, passing through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and a string of small harbor towns.
Each village has its own rhythm: art and cherries in Glen Arbor, the dunes’ front door in Empire, charters and smoked fish in Leland, a bay beach in Suttons Bay, and a lighthouse at the tip in Northport. Pick two or three and let the road do the rest.
Glen Arbor sits between Sleeping Bear Dunes and the water: Lake Michigan, Big and Little Glen Lakes, and the Crystal River. Browse the Glen Arbor Arts Center, stock up at Cherry Republic, and book a table at Blu.
Glen Arbor Arts Center: exhibits, classes, and events
Cherry Republic: cherry treats, wines, and the Cherry Public House
The Cottage Book Shop: independent bookstore with local authors
Blu: fine dining and a strong wine list
Hours change with the season. Confirm before you go.
Start at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center for maps and park passes. Then drive the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a one-way loop with 12 stops and overlooks of Lake Michigan and the Glen Lakes. Afterward, Joe’s Friendly Tavern is a local standby.
Hart Visitor Center: open year-round except major holidays
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: open seasonally, roughly May to late October; park pass required
Joe’s Friendly Tavern: classic American fare
Leland’s historic Fishtown was a working commercial fishing village a century ago and still smells faintly of the lake. Book a fishing charter, shop the old fish shanties, and pick up smoked fish from Carlson’s Fishery, a fifth-generation family business.
Charters: Reelin’ Leland, Whitecap Charters, and Maevelous Leland Charters all run from Fishtown
Carlson’s Fishery: smoked and fresh fish
Manitou Islands: ferry service from Fishtown is paused during National Park Service dock construction, and the NPS lists the islands closed through 2026. Check nps.gov/slbe for updates.
Suttons Bay is a walkable village on Grand Traverse Bay with shops, galleries, and a public beach beside the marina. Rent a bike for the Leelanau Trail, catch a film at the nonprofit Bay Theatre, or play 18 holes at The Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms.
Suttons Bay Bikes: mountain, gravel, road, and e-bike rentals
Bay Theatre: historic community movie house
Leelanau Club at Bahle Farms: public 18-hole course, formerly Bahle Farms Golf
Leelanau Trail: paved, with a trailhead on 4th Street
Northport is the northernmost village on the peninsula and one of its earliest settlements. Leelanau State Park leads to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, and quiet Christmas Cove Beach is perfect for stone hunting. Around the Corner Food hosts movie nights and farm-to-table meals.
Leelanau State Park: trails, campground, and the Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Christmas Cove Beach: off-the-beaten-path, stony shoreline
Around the Corner Food: community events and local menu
A five-bedroom log cabin in Northport with about 150 feet of private Lake Michigan shoreline, a short drive from Leelanau State Park and the Grand Traverse Lighthouse.
Leelanau County is the peninsula on the northwest side of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, between Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Its main villages include Glen Arbor, Empire, Leland, Suttons Bay, and Northport.
It depends on the trip. Glen Arbor and Empire are the closest bases for Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leland is the place for Fishtown and fishing charters, Suttons Bay is walkable with a bay beach, and Northport sits at the quiet tip of the peninsula.
M-22 is a scenic highway of about 116 miles that follows the Lake Michigan shoreline through Leelanau, Benzie, and Manistee counties, including the stretch through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Not in 2026. The National Park Service reports that the Manitou Island Transit ferry is not operating during dock construction. Check nps.gov/slbe for the latest access information.
Yes. A park pass is required for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, including the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. You can get one at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.
Left Coast Vacation Rentals manages homes across Glen Arbor, Empire, Northport, and more. Browse our properties or check availability.
Details verified October 2026. Restaurants, tasting rooms, and attractions keep seasonal hours, so confirm with each business before you go.
