Visit Northeast Michigan
Visit Northeast Michigan
Centered around Onaway (our home base) with the best stops in Rogers City, Alpena, Cheboygan, Mackinaw City, and Indian River.
Quick note: Email us if you find any broken links or out-of-service webpages (bonzbeachfarm@gmail.com). This page is built as a high-coverage master resource using official links + trusted review hubs so visitors can verify details fast.
Table of Contents
Onaway
Onaway is the perfect “quiet Up North” base near Black Lake with quick access to forests, sinkholes, and classic northern Michigan water + trails.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onaway State Park | Camping, buoyed swim beach, trails, and classic Black Lake sunsets. | Michigan DNR | Map | Reviews hub: Tripadvisor (Onaway) |
| Black Mountain Pathway | Loop system through pines along Black Lake (hike / XC ski; check rules). | Michigan DNR | Map | Trail reviews: AllTrails |
| Sinkholes Pathway | Short loop around limestone sinkholes (great “wow” geology without a long hike). | Michigan DNR | Map | “Easy route… unlikely you’ll encounter many other people…” — AllTrails |
| Shoepac Lake State Forest Campground | Rustic camping + fishing/paddling; close to the sinkholes area. | Michigan DNR | Map | Reviews hub: Michigan.org |
| Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway | Lower Peninsula waterfall + loop options; easy day trip. | Michigan DNR | Map | “What a beautiful place… trails are well-marked…” — Tripadvisor |
| Onaway Speedway | Family-friendly Saturday night racing (seasonal schedule). | Michigan.org | Map | Community “what to do” thread: Reddit |
| Onaway restaurants (list) | Quick list for visitors who want to eat without hunting around. | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a “coverage check” for food stops. |
Rogers City
A Lake Huron shoreline hub with lighthouse road trips, beaches, and the kind of simple day that just works.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Mile Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse park + coastline views + Great Lakes history. | Official site | Map | Tripadvisor |
| P.H. Hoeft State Park | Lake Huron beach + camping (great “basecamp” if you like state parks). | Michigan DNR | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Lakeside Park | Beach, marina views, playgrounds, volleyball, easy family day. | City page | Map | “A beach, a playground, a marina…” — Tripadvisor |
| Rogers City Area Chamber: Play | One page that points visitors to parks, trails, beaches, and seasonal ideas. | Chamber resource | Map | Best for “what else is nearby?” planning. |
| Rogers City attractions (full hub) | The most complete rolling list of “things to do” (kept updated by travelers). | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a coverage check before your trip. |
Alpena
Alpena is your shipwreck + Great Lakes history anchor, centered around Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center | Huge shipwreck + Great Lakes exhibits (and it’s famously great for families). | NOAA Sanctuary | Map | “The museum is free… both are excellent…” — Tripadvisor |
| Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | Shipwreck story central (nearly 200 wrecks are protected in the sanctuary). | Official site | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Alpena Shipwreck Tours | On-the-water shipwreck learning (conditions dependent, but unforgettable when it’s good). | Official tour info | Map | “The boat tour is about two hours… very informative…” — Source |
| Besser Museum | Local history + science exhibits (great rainy-day plan). | Official site | Map | “full of interesting exhibits…” — Tripadvisor |
| Island Park & Wildlife Sanctuary | Easy trails + wildlife viewing in town. | VisitAlpena | Map | “excellent trails… beautiful views…” — Tripadvisor |
| Rockport State Recreation Area | Lake Huron shoreline + fossil hunting vibe + big open views. | Michigan DNR | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Negwegon State Park | Secluded Lake Huron shoreline (a “get away from people” kind of park). | Michigan DNR | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Alpena attractions (full hub) | The widest rolling list of Alpena-area activities (kept current by travelers). | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a coverage check before your trip. |
Cheboygan
Cheboygan mixes river + Lake Huron access, state parks, trails, and a legit historic venue downtown.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan State Park | Camping + beach time + forest trails. | Michigan DNR | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Aloha State Park | Mullett Lake beach + campground. | Michigan DNR | Map | “very nice park… clean…” — Tripadvisor |
| Cheboygan Opera House | Historic venue for shows + community events (check calendar). | Official site | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Cheboygan Crib Light | Pierhead lighthouse photo stop (iconic Cheboygan look). | Michigan.org | Map | Tripadvisor |
| North Central State Trail | Flat crushed-limestone trail great for biking (connects multiple towns). | Michigan DNR | Map | Michigan.org |
| Cheboygan attractions (full hub) | Large rolling list of activities (kept current by travelers). | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a coverage check before your trip. |
Mackinaw City
Gateway to the Straits of Mackinac and the classic jumping-off point for Mackinac Island.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlands International Dark Sky Park | Milky Way nights + meteor showers + aurora potential (weather dependent). | Official site | Map | Public sentiment: Tripadvisor |
| Colonial Michilimackinac | Reconstructed 18th-century fort + living history. | Mackinac State Historic Parks | Map | “made history come alive” — Tripadvisor |
| Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse | Bridge views + lighthouse history. | Official details | Map | Tripadvisor |
| McGulpin Point Lighthouse | Smaller lighthouse stop with great shoreline views (seasonal access). | Official details | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum | Tour a Great Lakes icebreaker + maritime exhibits (seasonal). | Museum info | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry | Fast ferry to Mackinac Island (tickets + schedule). | Official site | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Mackinaw City attractions (full hub) | Big rolling list (kept current by travelers). | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a coverage check before your trip. |
Indian River
Indian River sits in the middle of Michigan’s Inland Waterway between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake.
| Place (linked) | What to do | Official / Details | Maps | Reviews (snippets) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross in the Woods National Shrine | Walk the grounds and experience a famous Northern Michigan landmark. | Plan your visit | Map | “Nice quiet wooded area… the size of it is amazing.” — Tripadvisor |
| Burt Lake State Park | Beach, camping, boating access. | Michigan DNR | Map | “beautiful… lovely sand beach…” — Tripadvisor |
| Big Bear Adventures | Rafting, tubing, kayaking and more on the Sturgeon River. | Tube trips info | Map | Tripadvisor |
| Michigan Inland Waterway (guide) | Plan boat routes connecting lakes/rivers (super useful for first-timers). | Michigan.org | Map | Planning reference (not a review page). |
| Indian River attractions (full hub) | Most complete rolling list of activities in the area. | Tripadvisor | Map | Use as a coverage check before your trip. |
More “find anything” links
- Michigan DNR Parks & Trails directory
- Michigan Recreation Search (parks, trails, campgrounds)
- Michigan.org travel directory
- Tripadvisor (search anything)
>> Visiting Northeast Michigan In Winter
Featured photo: Mackinac Island, Michigan / Michael Deemer/iStock