Seniors Discover Another Top Small Town in Petoskey

Smithsonian Magazine named Petoskey as a Top Small Town in America in its April 2013 issue. It did not hurt that Ernest Hemingway’s family started summering near Petoskey back in 1899.  Today senior visitors look for its famed “Million Dollar Sunsets.”

The city is found in the heart of the Midwest’s most popular four-season resort areas. Covering just over six square miles, with a population of 6,080, the area is located on the shore of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay and gets its name from chief Ignatius Petosega.

Petoskey has a famed downtown area with many cultural offerings that helped Petoskey get selected as a Top Town. Smithsonian Magazine called Petoskey “charm central” with its concerts, historical architecture, art galleries and nighttime festivities.

For your information, the other Top 10 Best Small Towns to visit, according to Smithsonian Magazine, include  Gettysburg, Pa.; Cleveland, Miss.; St. Augustine, Fla.; Baraboo, Wis.; Astoria, Ore.; Petoskey; Fairfield, Iowa; Los Alamos, N.M.; Sitka, Alaska; and Provincetown, Mass. Seniors, have you been to any of those yet?

The People Make the Town

The locals are graced by concerts, vintage architecture, art galleries and Friday night festivities that attract senior travelers to the petunia basket-draped downtown district. The Smithsonian reported that Jesperson’s Restaurant has been serving local sour cherry pie since 1903 and the doors are still open at bay-front Stafford’s Perry Hotel, which catered to summer people in the Victorian heyday. The local chamber of commerce lists several things for seniors to see and do in town as well as community information. Seniors who travel by motor coach will want to know about Hearthside Grove.

Seniors Discover a Resort Destination in Petoskey

You will note on Wikipedia’s site this quaint, small resort community with unmatched beauty and charm overlooks the shores of Lake Michigan‘s Little Traverse Bay. Seniors return yearly to soak in the rich views, breathe the clean air, eat at world-class restaurants and shop in the specialty shops and boutiques of its historic downtown. Ever heard of a Petoskey Stone? It’s made of fossilized coral and is the state stone of Michigan.

The Michigan Daily likes it too and notes several places not to be missed like Roast and Toast, Glen’s Grocery Store, The Perry Hotel, The Noggin Room and City Park Grill. The Gaslight District in downtown Petoskey, the Odawa Casino Resort and The Waterfront are also a big draws as is the Mackinaw Trail Winery.

The 303 acre Petoskey State Park features visitor activities such as swimming, hiking, sunbathing and biking in the summer and a host of winter fun. Sure it’s small, but Virtual Tourist has beat us there with a Petoskey Overview. I’ve located an historic B&B built back in 1875 called the Bayfield View Terrace Inn.

So when you get up close to northern Michigan, plan on spending time in Petoskey and you’ll learn why it was selected as a Top Town.  jeb