The waterfront community of Boyne City boasts the best of all worlds as a tourism destination, a quaint award-winning business district complete with preserved historic structures, along with miles of shoreline along Lake Charlevoix, one of Michigan’s top-rated inland lakes.
Tucked into the eastern shore of Lake Charlevoix, the small town of Boyne City is just a 15-mile boat ride to the channel out to Lake Michigan. As the third largest natural inland lake in Michigan, Lake Charlevoix encompasses 17,200 acres with 56 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 122 feet, making it the state’s 15th deepest lake. Readers of USA Today even ranked Lake Charlevoix among the best lakes in the country for several years.
Settled in the 1850s, Boyne City was once a thriving lumber town. Later, tanning factories produced millions of pounds of shoe sole leather annually, and clay bricks were made and used to construct many buildings that remain standing today. Tourism now reigns as the top industry, bringing visitors to explore recreational activities, cultural attractions and diverse culinary offerings.
Over the past three decades, community leaders and passionate residents have turned this former dusty ghost town into an award- winning, pedestrian-friendly year-round destination.
The establishment of a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district in the mid-1990s was the first of many steps to enhance the image of this small town. A Historical Study Committee was also established, resulting in the creation of The Historic District on Pearl Street in 2002. The next year, Boyne City became one of the first four cities in Michigan to join the Main Street America program — a network that includes more than 1,000 rural and urban communities around the country focused on growth through preservation-based economic development.
Seventy-five buildings within the Downtown Historic District, as well as Sunset Park and the adjacent Pearl Street Residential District, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Explore this area more by taking the self-guided Boyne City Historic Walking Tour. Also of note is the Boyne City Carnegie Library, which opened in 1918 thanks to a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. For a fun summer read, grab a copy of Katherine Heiny’s 2021 novel, “Early Morning Riser,” set in Boyne City.
In 2020, Boyne City became the second Michigan city to win the Great American Main Street Award (the first was Howell, in Livingston County, in 2018), after rising to the semi-finalist level in 2011 and 2019. Just last summer, Boyne City was named a Monarch City, USA — one of seven communities in the state (six within Emmet and Charlevoix counties) recognized for its efforts to attract pollinators through the planting of garden spaces.
Boyne City continues to ride the wave of community pride, with an increased number of diverse businesses within its downtown. The city’s population has also risen by nearly 13% since the 1990s (3,850 according to the latest figures), making Boyne City the fastest-growing city in Northern Michigan.
petoskey area visitors
Top Photo: boyne city main street
Resources
charles dawley
boynechamber.com
boynecitymainstreet.com
petoskey area visitors/kim mettler
petoskey area visitors/kim mettler
Tie up
“Boaters have a number of options, including the municipal marina, The Harborage Marina and One Water Marina. There is also great anchorage just north of the municipal marina,” notes Dee McClure of Suttons Bay, an avid, life-long boater who cruises extensively on the Great Lakes on M/V Seaquel, a 42-foot Back Cove. “If marine services are needed, Boyne Boat Yard or Mobile Marine can assist boaters.”
The F. Grant Moore Municipal Marina, adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, features 42 slips with 19 reserved for transient vessels. These slips are 8 to 10 feet deep and can accommodate up to 50-foot boats at the inner docks.
There is limited power and water access on the docks, with restrooms and showers in the marina building available to paying boaters (rates start at $30 a night). A covered patio with picnic tables, grills and a propane heater, as well as two bicycles, are available for visitor use. The marina also features a small boat launch.
An L-shape shoppers dock to the south of the marina provides a temporary tie-up, giving boaters the chance to disembark and explore all the amenities of this charming downtown. The adjacent One Water Marina features an additional 24 slips. Just north of the municipal marina is a launch for boats 20 feet and larger.
Don’t have a boat of your own? Boyne Watersports offers daily and multi-day rentals on brand-new PWCs, pontoons, stand-up paddleboards and more, right from One Water Marina. You can even rent inflatables and wakeboards if you’re seeking a watersports thrill.
To scope out the marina area, check out the Lake Charlevoix webcam overlooking the mouth of the Boyne River and out into Lake Charlevoix (cityofboynecity.com).
On the southern edge of downtown, The Harborage Marina features 227 privately owned slips. While there isn’t a set number of transient slips, owners contribute to the pool of availability, and reservations are allowed 14 days in advance by calling the harbormaster. Recreational and diesel fuel, as well as pump-out service, are also available.
Three miles southwest of Boyne City, the Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club has an 80-slip floating dock featuring 32-, 40- and 50-foot slips, along with freshwater hook-ups. Access to The Pointe Health Club, with its heated pool, shower facilities and gym, is available for $15 a day per person. The Pointe Fish and Grill restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails throughout the boating season (Wednesday through Sunday).
Top photo: Municipal Marina Facebook; Left photo: Sommerset Point Facebook
boyne city main street
Eat, drink & shop
More than a dozen eateries can be found within walking distance of the municipal marina, including Café Sante, which serves up a European-influenced breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with everything from wood-fired pizzas and hearty pastas to Great Lakes whitefish and steak au poivre. Sharable small plates like handmade pâté maison and mussels with frites, as well as decadent desserts such as Pot de Crème are sure to whet any appetite. For a cup of joe, try Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company, Beani’s Coffee Lounge or Sunnyside, which serves breakfast all day.
Other popular restaurants in the downtown area include Red Mesa Grill, offering Latin American cuisine and the best margaritas in town; Lake Street Pub, featuring a large tap list, a great selection of American fare and an outdoor patio; and Boyne River Inn, aptly named with a deck overlooking the Boyne River.
For those with a sweet tooth, you can’t miss Kilwins for a slice of fudge or Alpine Chocolate Haus for its famous chocolate-covered potato chips. Gilda’s Lake Street Bakery has a vast selection of baked goods, from crepes to cinnamon rolls and croissants.
Fans of craft beverages should pop into Muskrat Distilling for a prohibition-era-inspired cocktail or visit Stigg’s Brewing for a locally brewed beer, cider or seltzer. Boyne City Tap Room boasts a vast drink and food menu, along with outside seating and live music throughout the summer.
Boyne City also has an established “Social District,” which allows pedestrians aged 21 and over to consume alcoholic beverages in specially marked containers from participating bars and restaurants within the district boundaries, adding to the accessibility and festive atmosphere of the downtown area.
But it’s not just the food and beverage selection that makes Boyne City a fun downtown area to explore. Pop into its many shops, including 52 Up North Weekends, offering women’s clothing and gifts; Bo & Ro’s for adorable kid’s clothing; I Love Boyne City for touristy apparel; Inspired Living for home goods and gifts; Peninsula clothing boutique; and many art galleries featuring local artists’ creations. A brand-new shop, For Fun’s Sake, opened in June and offers kid’s toys, books and games.
Whether capturing a sunrise or sunset from the boat, walking through the thriving downtown business district or heading off to explore nearby attractions, Boyne City delivers the cultural and historic appeal of larger Great Lakes towns while retaining the distinct charm it is renowned for.
Stigg’s photo: Petoskey Area Visitors/Kim Mettler
ANNUAL SUMMER EVENTS
ANNUAL SUMMER EVENTSFarmers Market: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Veteran’s Park
Pavilion Summer Concerts: Wednesdays (early June through August 28), 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Veterans Park
Stroll the Streets: Fridays (mid-June through Labor Day), 6 – 9 p.m. throughout downtown with music, children’s activities and more
Fourth of July Duck Race: July 4, a rubber duck race down the Boyne River
Boyne Thunder: July 12 – 13, a popular powerboat poker run down to Elk Rapids and up to Harbor Springs
Food Truck Rally: July 25, food trucks, local brews and live music at Veterans Park
Rally by the Bay Auto Show & Flea Market: August 9 – 11, free admission at Veterans Park
Clockwise from top left: Petoskey Area Visitors/Kim Mettler; Boyne City Main Street; Boyne City Main Street; Boyne Thunder website; Boyne City Farmers Market; Boyne City Main Street; Boyne Area Chamber
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
(in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties)
NEARBY ATTRACTIONSSkyBridge at Boyne Mountain
Don’t miss the chance to walk “The World’s Longest Timber-Towered Suspension Bridge” in nearby Boyne Falls. First opened in the fall of 2022, this 1,200-foot-long, 118-foot-high year-round pedestrian bridge spans between McLouth and Disciples Ridge peaks, overlooking the Boyne
Valley Lavender Hill Farm
Featuring over 8,000 plants (30 varieties), this Horton Bay agritourism site hosts special events such as concerts, yoga, art classes and more.
Castle Farms
Guided tours of this 1920s-era former working farm in Charlevoix, designed after rural operations in Normandy, France, are offered Tuesdays through Sundays. The gardens are also impressive and worth a walk-through.
Earl Young Homes Tour
Hop aboard a Gem Car and meander through the Charlevoix neighborhoods where famed naturalist architect Earl Young constructed his renowned “Hobbit Houses” out of boulders of all shapes and sizes found along the Lake Michigan shoreline. There are also a handful of businesses downtown like The Earl, The Weathervane and Stafford’s Weathervane Inn, built by Young.
Hemingway Country
Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway spent the first 21 summers of his life at his family cottage on nearby Walloon Lake. He was also known to frequent Petoskey, Horton Bay and Boyne City, where his uncle George operated a nursery. Many of the sites associated with Hemingway have been identified with historic bronze signs from the Michigan Hemingway Society.
Ironton Ferry
This historic four-car cable ferry has been crossing the narrows on the south arm of Lake Charlevoix between Ironton and Charlevoix (at present-day M-66) since 1876, saving significant drive time. The Landing, on the Charlevoix side, is one of the area’s only boat-up restaurants
Avalanche Preserve Recreation Area
Explore the 300-plus acres of woodlands on the southern border of Boyne City, which is open to hiking, biking and other non-motorized activities. Trek up Avalanche Hill (462 steps or via a two-plus mile trail through forested terrain) to the observation deck for stunning views of Lake Charlevoix.
Great Lakes Center for the Arts
Situated along the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay southwest of Petoskey, this state-of-the-art facility opened in the summer of 2018. Top entertainers and performances are featured year-round in the 525-seat theater.
Petoskey Wine Region
More than a dozen tasting rooms make up this newest Michigan wine trail, stretching from Alanson to Walloon Lake and over to Charlevoix. Many sites also offer food and live entertainment.
Photos (clockwise from top left): Petoskey Area Visitors/Boyne Mountain Resort; Petoskey Area Visitors/Kim Mettler; Castle Farms website; Ferry Facebook; Visit Charlevoix; Great Lakes Center for the Arts Facebook; Petoskey Wine Region; Hotel Walloon website
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
