Northern Michigan summer fun: Our favorite stops along the Tunnel of Trees
The M-119 Tunnel of Trees runs along the northwestern coast of the Lower Peninsula, going north from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. It is designated as a State Scenic Byway, with more than 20 miles of narrow, winding road. The route is also popular with cyclists and is lined with towering trees, historic cottages and glimpses of Lake Michigan off to the west.
Here are five stops we recommend along the way:
Pond Hill Farm
Located at 5699 S. Lake Shore Drive, Pond Hill Farm has got it all. The family-owned farm has vineyards, greenhouses, a farm market, an animal barn — and that's only the beginning.
You'll often find live music on the farm's calendar, and you can enjoy brick oven pizzas, s'mores, wine, beer, cider and more while you listen. There's a playground, human foosball, the gnome house hunt, hiking trails and many other fun activities to fill your time at the farm.
This year, Pond Hill Farm is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The farm is open during the summer from 12-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and from 12-6 p.m. on Sundays.
You can check out their complete events schedule and products at pondhill.com.
Trillium Woods Coffee
Further north along the road you'll find Trillium Woods Coffee, 811 S. Lake Shore Drive, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This cozy little coffee spot looks like a log cabin and includes an outdoor dining space under the trees. Several people who stopped here at the same time were also thrilled to know there was a flushable toilet on site for customers.
Inside you'll find not just coffee and pastries, but also books, candles, art and other unique trinkets available for purchase.
Find out more at facebook.com/trilliumwoodscoffee.
Good Hart
You'll want to be sure to stop and check out the stores in Good Hart, including the Good Hart General Store, Primitive Images and A Studio.
In the beloved Good Hart General Store, built in 1934, you can find Tunnel of Trees souvenirs and a wide selection of food, drinks and more. You can pick up a bottle of wine or a freshly made ciabatta sandwich right alongside homemade cookies and fruit pies. If you're planning on stopping at a beach or camping in the area, you are sure to elevate your meal experience by stopping at the general store first.
The store is located at 1075 N. Lake Shore Drive. Check out more of their products at goodhartstore.com.
Woollam Family Nature Preserve
Continuing north, you'll find the Little Traverse Conservancy's Woollam Family Nature Preserve, located at 5581 N. Lake Shore Drive.
You'll take a short half-mile hike through the hilly woods before walking out onto the beach. The preserve features 3,300 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan, and the shoreline is both sandy and rocky in some places.
According to the conservancy, much of the property is classified as 'critical dunes' by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and dogs are not allowed due to nesting birds.
The trailhead is marked with a small parking lot and signage. For more information, visit landtrust.org/explore/woollam-family-nature-preserve.
Legs Inn
If you're looking for lunch or dinner during your drive, Legs Inn in Cross Village should be at the top of your list.
The restaurant was built in the 1930s by Polish immigrant Stanley Smolak. According to the Legs Inn website, Smolak, who was a self-trained artist, used tree roots, limbs and driftwood to carve fantastical creatures into the furniture and decorative objects still used in the building. The property is a State of Michigan Historic Site.
Legs Inn specializes in housemade Polish cuisine, and you'll find classics like pierogi, Polska kielbasa and sauerkraut along with some Northern Michigan favorites like smoked whitefish on the menu.
The restaurant is only open seasonally, so you'll have to catch them before they close for the winter on Oct. 19. Legs Inn is open daily from 12-9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are not accepted.
The restaurant is located at 6425 N. Lake Shore Drive. Find out more at legsinn.com.
Bonus: Sturgeon Bay
If you drive all the way to the end of Lake Shore Drive, you'll enter Wilderness State Park and hit an intersection with Sturgeon Bay Trail. Turn left, and you'll find yourself along a stretch of beautiful sandy beach at Sturgeon Bay Dunes.
There are three miles of sandy dunes along Lake Michigan for you to stretch out on, making this one of the largest public beaches in northwestern Lower Michigan. According to the Little Traverse Conservancy, the property includes habitat for the endangered piping plover as well as four threatened species of plants. The North Country Trail also runs through the area, with nearby trailheads allowing access.
There is roadside parking, and visitors should note that while there are seasonal port-o-johns there are no restrooms.
For more information, visit landtrust.org/explore/sturgeon-bay-dunes.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northern Michigan summer fun: Our favorite stops along the M-119 Tunnel of Trees
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