Harbor Springs, MI

Set along the sheltered north shore of Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs is a classic northern Michigan waterfront town. Historic Victorian cottages, Harbor Point, and the Little Traverse Lighthouse give the community an unmistakable coastal character shaped by its past as a summer retreat. The area also holds deep roots as the homeland of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, a heritage honored downtown through landmarks like the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum.

ATTRBobak Ha'Eri / CC BY 3.0

Most of the town gathers around a compact, walkable downtown right on the marina. Strolling down Main Street brings you past local bakeries, cozy restaurants, art galleries, the town library, and the vintage marquee of the Lyric Theatre. Waterfront parks offer front-row views of the boats in the harbor, while summer farmers markets, community festivals, and ferry trips across the bay to Petoskey give residents plenty to do close to home.