David Letterman has nothing on Jessie Voigts, who checks in today with a great "Top Ten" list of things to do in the northern Michigan town of Onekama. Her list (no surprise if you've read some of her stories here in the past!) starts off with an ice cream stop and includes more great suggestions for places to eat, shop, play and stay in town.
Onekama is a lovely small town on the Sunset Coast of Michigan, north of Manistee and south of Frankfort. It is on Portage Lake, which leads into Lake Michigan. Gorgeous flowers line the streets in the summer, the library has free Wi-Fi, there’s plenty of fish to go around, and much to see and do. If you’re in the area for a weekend (or a week!), try to hit these local gems:
Eat:
Ice Cream! Right next to the public park is Annie & Teddy’s Ice Cream shop. Perfect for warm summer evening concerts in the park, or a cool-down after a long day at the beach.
My favorite place is the Blue Slipper. (http://www.midwestguest.com/2012/04/foodie-finds-blue-slipper-bistro-onekama-michigan.html). They have delicious, fresh food and a convivial atmosphere. Be sure to get the balsamic dressing for your house salad – it’s amazing!
Eat at the Glenwood for a special occasion – their food is incredible and the view of Portage Lake is outstanding. I highly recommend the perch tower – but if you bring your own fish (yay you!), they’ll cook it up for you, just the way you want it. They also offer beef, lamb, pasta, seafood, and salads. Try their desserts or freshly baked breads.
Drink:
On your way to the big lake, toward Portage Point Inn, stop by the artesian well on the roadside. You’ll know it from the tall curving cedar trees that shelter it, and the line of cars that have stopped to fill their water bottles, or get a drink. Best water EVER.
Stay:
Where else, but the Portage Point Inn? A century+ old inn, it’s also a yacht club, with moorings, tennis courts, and plenty of space for your boats. If you need more space, there are also rental houses available in town, by the week.
Shop:
My favorite is the Lookout Shoppe, an upscale resale shop. I’ve found Dooney & Burke purses, a tortilla press, amazing jewelry, furniture, beautiful upscale clothes, and more. You never know what you’ll find on the racks and shelves, but you WILL find the owner, who’s always smiling and warmly welcomes us back each time.
Also hit up MacBeth & Co. With its beautiful white interiors and plenty of gifts, you’ll be sure to be in “lake mode” pretty quickly.
New this year is Lakeside Treats – where you can find up north clothes, books, treats, and toys galore. Forgot your kite? Find it here! A welcome addition to Onekama, for sure.
Play:
Next to the Ice cream shop is a public park. There are clean bathrooms, a boat ramp, concerts in the summer, a nice playground, and several covered shelters if your family’s too big to eat elsewhere (reunion time?). Each Memorial Day weekend, the local Garden Club has a huge plant sale in these shelters – get there early for the best selection from these master gardeners.
Lake Michigan!
Past the Portage Point Inn and the Onekama Sailing Club, on an extremely narrow, winding road, you’ll find Portage Point Beach. It’s one of my top 10 beach towns on Michigan’s Sunset Coast (http://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/top-10/top-10-beach-towns-michigans-sunset-coast.html) and here’s why: there’s a pier, a sheltered beach, a gazebo, and a wide, clear, clean sandy beach. There’s easy entry to the lake with smooth sand. And, of course, swimming in Lake Michigan is one of my very favorite things to do. A day at Portage Point Beach, and you’ll concur.
Jessie Voigts is the publisher of Wandering Educators, a travel resource for global educators. Love to learn about the world? Head to http://www.WanderingEducators.com
Photos and text © Jessie Voigts 2012 All rights reserved, used with permission
Hey, what about the wine store there? Linebacks is a great retail wine supplier, and I'm thinking they often have wine tasting too. AND Monday nights at the park at 7 pm are some of the best concerts in the area. Bring a picnic and listen to jazz, bluegrass, or easy listening. Always top notch.
Posted by: xmas carol | August 09, 2012 at 05:17 PM
Carol-Thanks for stopping by!
I can tell I need to check out Onekama :)
Posted by: Dominique King | August 10, 2012 at 06:21 AM
I love Onekama - thanks for the great article!
Posted by: Karen | August 10, 2012 at 07:26 AM