Things to Do in the Area

While you can easily spend every day of your getaway exploring and enjoying The Homestead, the great news is there are also things to do nearby that will guarantee adventures aplenty. From award-winning wineries and museums to art galleries and sights you simply can’t catch anywhere else, be sure to check out the nearby places to have fun.   

Wineries

With its unique climate and natural insulation of Lake Michigan, the Leelanau County area is renowned for great grapes that make stellar vino. To make the most of the winery experience, check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau map, which indicates local wineries, spanning rolling terrain, including vineyards, farms, and forests. There are more than 20 award-winning area wineries. Be sure to check out the Visitors Bureau website for seasonal, wine-based events that take place throughout the year.

Museums

The Leelanau County area is steeped in culture, and one of the best ways to explore it is by visiting the region’s multiple museums. Go back in time at the Empire Area Museum, which pays tribute to the area during its historic lumbering days. Modeled after the original Roen Saloon (a popular spot during that time), it includes the Saloon’s original bar, a Victorian parlor, turn-of-century kitchen, and a covered wagon.

Designed specifically for children up to age eight, the Great Lakes Children's Museum promotes education and engagement through fun hands-on and interactive activities including a water table, an 8′ x 17′ Great Lakes freighter, and a lighthouse.

Learn about the area’s fascinating maritime history at the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum. In addition to beautiful beach views, it boasts a fascinating collection of artifacts, including life-saving equipment used by the U.S. Life-Saving Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and Great Lakes shipping during the early 1900s. 

Sightseeing

There’s no limit to things to do in the area, especially when it comes to sightseeing all of the natural and historic attractions. One of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse is a must-see. Situated within the 1500-acre Leelanau State Park, it offers exceptional views, a miniature museum that’s reminiscent of a 1920s and ’30s-era lighthouse keeper's home, and numerous exhibits depicting local maritime history.

Head a little further south near Frankfort, where you can explore the captivating Point Betsie Lighthouse. This iconic beacon stands as one of the oldest operating lighthouses on the Great Lakes, dating back to 1858. Its picturesque location along the Lake Michigan shoreline offers stunning views and amazing photo opportunities. Join a tour to learn about its rich maritime history, like tales of shipwrecks and daring rescues. 

You could easily spend a day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Named the most beautiful place in America in 2011 by ABC's “Good Morning America," this national park 
boasts 35 miles of pristine shoreline, a couple of driving/hiking routes, and majestic sand dunes, the most famous of which is a 284-foot-high wall of sand. 

Rove Estate Winery

Wineries

For generations, much of the privately-owned land in the communities surrounding the Sleeping Bear Dunes was used for agricultural purposes, with sweet and tart cherries being the dominant crop.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing

For a complete list and great map, be sure to get a copy of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau map of the area.

artisan food

Artisanal Food & Beverage

A quiet revolution has been taking place throughout America - small farmers and artisans are helping to bringing their freshly harvested food and hand-made products back to our tables. 

shipwreck

Day Trips

Get your Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau Map, park pass, picnic lunch and beverages at Cavanaugh’s, do the dune climb, then drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and stop for a picnic with a sweeping view of the “Most...

Art

Art Galleries

We’re proud of the rich artistic heritage of our region whose natural beauty and hospitality have inspired generations of artists working in different media. 

Dunes Aerial

Movies

Movie lovers will be delighted by the choices – large and small, old and new – that they will find in our area. 

Kilcherman Farm

Museums

Whether you want to explore the history of our region’s first peoples in Peshawbestown; learn about the process of European settlement; or appreciate fine art, there’s a museum in Leelanau County that will leave you feeling...