Wendy's Guidebook
Best Beaches
Frankfort Public Beach and Playground
Elberta Beach (Ebeach)
Bye RoadPoint Betsie Lighthouse Beach
3485 Point Betsie RdFood scene
Dos Arboles
735 Main StreetTasty upscale tacos and delicious tequila inspired cocktails.
Birch & Maple
727 Main StCreative, upscale food. Their chicken & waffles is addictive!
Delicious authentic Neapolitan food. Wood fired pizza. I love to sit on their back deck in the screened in porch, overlooking Betsie Bay! Takeout is also a good option, and they have some fun tidbits in their market.
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Vita Bella Italian Kitchen and Market
320 Main StreetDelicious authentic Neapolitan food. Wood fired pizza. I love to sit on their back deck in the screened in porch, overlooking Betsie Bay! Takeout is also a good option, and they have some fun tidbits in their market.
Bella's Café
313 Main StreetA lovely spot for an espresso drink and quiet contemplation or a coffee date.
Fun, upbeat atmosphere. Decent bar food. Often have live music. Thursday open mic nights are a local favorite. I love the Rhonda’s Palmoma - a refreshing, yummy cocktail. Can’t beat the bayside dining off the back deck and fun outdoor games.
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Cabbage Shed
198 Frankfort AveFun, upbeat atmosphere. Decent bar food. Often have live music. Thursday open mic nights are a local favorite. I love the Rhonda’s Palmoma - a refreshing, yummy cocktail. Can’t beat the bayside dining off the back deck and fun outdoor games.
Fun outdoor seating. Food truck food options with Saint Ambrose mead.
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St. Ambrose Cellars
841 S Pioneer RdFun outdoor seating. Food truck food options with Saint Ambrose mead.
This is a family friendly diner/bistro that serves breakfast all day. Espresso drinks and Moomers Ice Cream, great scratch made soups, unique sandwiches. They cure their own corned beef for delicious Reubens.
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Ursa Major Bistro (formerly Blue C Cafe)
245 S Benzie BlvdThis is a family friendly diner/bistro that serves breakfast all day. Espresso drinks and Moomers Ice Cream, great scratch made soups, unique sandwiches. They cure their own corned beef for delicious Reubens.
Grab one of their delicious subs to take to the beach for a picnic. The “hot vegan” is my favorite and I’m a carnivore! Most everyone I know loves “the Judy” - a yummy towering sub with 4 kinds of meat, 2 cheeses, and some veggies.
East Shore 2GO
111 10th StreetGrab one of their delicious subs to take to the beach for a picnic. The “hot vegan” is my favorite and I’m a carnivore! Most everyone I know loves “the Judy” - a yummy towering sub with 4 kinds of meat, 2 cheeses, and some veggies.
Great day trips
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a gorgeous way to see the dunes and surrounding forest. The overlooks are stunning, and there are fabulous picnic areas. Climbing the dunes is so fun for those physically able, but just remember that it’s a whole lot harder to climb back up than it is to go down!
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 W Front StThe Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a gorgeous way to see the dunes and surrounding forest. The overlooks are stunning, and there are fabulous picnic areas. Climbing the dunes is so fun for those physically able, but just remember that it’s a whole lot harder to climb back up than it is to go down!
Leland’s fish town combines eclectic shopping, interesting history, and great food. We recommend The Cove for a nice dinner or Rick’s Cafe for casual outside on the waterfront. Walk across the Dam Bridge and go to Van’s Beach on Lake Michigan to search for Leland blue stones! Browse the shops for local art. Stop by Carlson’s Fishery to snag some delicious smoked whitefish to snack on during on your next adventure!
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Leland
Leland’s fish town combines eclectic shopping, interesting history, and great food. We recommend The Cove for a nice dinner or Rick’s Cafe for casual outside on the waterfront. Walk across the Dam Bridge and go to Van’s Beach on Lake Michigan to search for Leland blue stones! Browse the shops for local art. Stop by Carlson’s Fishery to snag some delicious smoked whitefish to snack on during on your next adventure!
My favorite hiking (& biking) trails
This 22 mile long trail starts less than a mile from our house. It is paved from Frankfort to Beulah. It’s great for hiking or biking, goes through some beautiful forest, and has a lovely stretch along Crystal Lake.
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Betsie Valley Trail
826 Michigan AveThis 22 mile long trail starts less than a mile from our house. It is paved from Frankfort to Beulah. It’s great for hiking or biking, goes through some beautiful forest, and has a lovely stretch along Crystal Lake.
This is an easy loop through beautiful deciduous woods which was designed for mountain bikes. The wildflowers are fabulous!
Pete's Woods Trail
Pete's Woods TrailThis is an easy loop through beautiful deciduous woods which was designed for mountain bikes. The wildflowers are fabulous!
This is an epic hike that overlooks Lake Michigan.
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Arcadia Dunes Baldy Trailhead
Trail to BaldyThis is an epic hike that overlooks Lake Michigan.
This is one of my favorite hikes - there’s a lot of ups and downs and it wanders to Lake Michigan in a couple of spots. It is less known than some other trails, so it is rarely busy.
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Green Point Dunes
1198 Green Point RdThis is one of my favorite hikes - there’s a lot of ups and downs and it wanders to Lake Michigan in a couple of spots. It is less known than some other trails, so it is rarely busy.
Fun destinations close by
Crystal Lake Alpacas
4907 River RdSo fun for the kiddos!
Gwen Frostic Prints
5140 River RdQuirky nature art of worldwide fame.