Visiting Harbor Springs, Michigan

Things to Do in Harbor Springs MI

Take the Pointer Boat Tour

Visit the Harbor Springs History Museum

Visit the Andrew J Blackbird Museum

Visit the Ephraim Shay Innovation Museum

See Shay's 1890 Steel "Aha" Boat at Shay Park

Watch a Glass Blowing Demonstration at Boyer Glassworks

Take in a Movie at the Lyric Theatre

Shop Local to Live Music at the Harbor Springs Farmers Market

Enjoy a Bite to Eat at one of the many local restaurants including: Gurney's Bottle Shop, The Paper Station, and Small Batch.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at places like Tom's Mom's Cookies, Yummies Ice Cream, and Howse's Fudge.

Stretch your legs or ride your bike on one of the many local nature preserve trails or along the Little Traverse Wheelway, a non-motorized 26-mile trail connecting Harbor Springs with Petoskey and Charlevoix.

Looking for some beach time? No problem! Harbor Springs has a public beach right in town near the marina.

On the Pointer Boat

Tips for Visiting Harbor Springs, Michigan

Harbor Springs is easy to walk around. Wear your comfortable shoes and plan to spend the day exploring.

The town offers free parking in lots around town and along the main streets.

If you want to enjoy a great deli sandwich from Gurney's, bring cash or stop at the bank across the street before you order your meal. Then walk one block over to the marina to enjoy lunch at one of the park picnic tables. The HarborMaster's office next to the park has clean public restrooms.

Do NOT miss the Harbor Springs Farmers Market, held twice a week from the end of May through August, and once a week September through October.

If you have questions while you're in town, stop by the Visitor Information booth in the park by the marina (between the Harbormaster's Office and the Pointer Boat.)

On a rainy day or for a relaxing evening, be sure to catch a movie at the beautiful Lyric Theater on Main Street.

Lots of folks drive right through Harbor Springs on their way to drive the iconic Tunnel of Trees (M-119). Don't make that mistake! Stop in town and spend some time strolling Main Street, do a bit of shopping, grab a bite to eat, or just enjoy the day in this picturesque downtown.

If you want to take in the Shay Days Festival and see the Boyne Thunder Poker Run like we did, be sure to plan your visit for mid-July.

Harbor Springs is a very clean town. From the beach, to the marina, to Main Street, on weekdays and during events, we saw zero trash on the streets or overflowing cans. Everything looks great. This community takes pride in its streets and its buildings.

Beautiful Homes are Everywhere Here!

The Library Sits Above the Fudge Shop

How Did Harbor Springs Get Its Name?

Over its history, this town has gone by several names. In the 1600s, this area was wilderness and was inhabited by the Odawa tribes who called it Waganikisi.

When the French Catholic Jesuit missionaries arrived to work with the Odawa people, they called it L'Arbre Croche meaning "Crooked Tree". The tree they referred to was used a meeting place for trade and located at about the center of the Odawa settlement. It could be seen for miles, as well as from the water to guide canoes to shore.

And speaking of trade... by the mid-1800s this region was inhabited by French fur traders who named it Petite Traverse or "Little Traverse", meaning small crossing.

The village was renamed for the final time in 1880 when it became known as Harbor Springs. "Harbor" pays homage to the fact that the town harbor is located on the deepest body of water on Lake Michigan. "Springs" comes from the fact that artisian springs flow underneath the ground here.

Where is Harbor Springs, Michigan?

Harbor Springs is located on the northern shore of Little Traverse Bay, an offshoot of Lake Michigan. It's in Northwest Michigan about 39 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge, 10 miles northwest of Petoskey (on the other side of the bay) and about 26 miles along the coast from Charlevoix.