I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, Michigan and let me tell you it was AMAZING. I absolutely love the Petoskey area, and if you ask me the fall/winter season is the best time to visit. The beautiful fall colors we saw on our drive from Grand Rapids were just amazing. The red, orange and yellow leaves were stunning, and I definitely crossed off a fall color tour from my fall bucket list. So, why is the Inn at Bay Harbor a great place to stay on your weekend getaway? Let me give you a few reasons….
The Inn at Bay Harbor is a popular destination for people during the summer for the championship golf course, swimming pool, and the marina close by. But, during the fall/winter there are tons of activities to enjoy like a massage at the spa, a trip to a local winery on the wine shuttle, a dip in the hot tub, or even snowshoeing. And let’s not forget downtown Petoskey is just a quick 5-10 minute drive to explore cute shops and great dining options.
Accommodations
Let me fill you in on the accommodations at the Inn at Bay Harbor. Walking into the resort you’re immediately drawn to this amazing chandelier and a warm fireplace. What I really enjoyed about interior design was the mix of luxury and cottage/lake style. Most importantly, from the moment you walk through the door you’re greeted with a smile and instantly feel welcome.
We stayed in a hotel master suite that had recently been renovated. The master suite is perfect for families with a kitchen, living area, patio, master bedroom with a king bed, and a queen sized murphy bed, and sleep-away sofa. This suite can sleep up to 6 people so it really is a great option for a family getaway. During our stay we loved the gas fireplace and beautiful lake view each morning. The style of the room was also so comfortable, and it really tied into the lake setting.
On Site Activities
Like I mentioned above the hotel has many activities available during the fall/winter months. I couldn’t wait to jump in the hot tub to relax after a day of sightseeing around Petoskey and Harbor Springs. How incredible is this view from the hot tub?
The Inn at Bay Harbor also has a restaurant on site that we really enjoyed our first night staying here. The Vintage Chophouse | Wine Bar is classic American steakhouse with a cozy lounge feel that we loved on a cold and rainy fall evening. I ordered the squash cassoulet with acorn squash, vegan sausage and mixed beans. It was delicious and just what I was craving on a chilly fall night.
Things to do in the Area
The Inn at Bay Harbor is very close to some great area experiences during this fall season. We took at drive through the Tunnel of Trees to see some fall colors. This scenic drive had so much beauty around every corner. We took this drive and ended at Pond Hill Farm for some pumpkins and lunch. The cafe features farm to table options along with a winery & brewery. This is also a great stop for families to experience fun farm activities this season.
We also took a drive to Charlevoix to visit Friske’s Farm Market. If you want apples, donuts, pie or a playground for the kids this is the place to go. We loved all the fresh apples and trust me the caramel apple muffin is absolutely amazing.
If you love lavender you can’t miss Lavender Hill Farm. This beautiful lavender farm is quite a site to see and the gift shop is filled with all things lavender. We picked up their lavender laundry bar that helps remove stains and I can’t wait to try it.
Did you know the the Petoskey Wine Region includes 12 local wineries? I visited Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery while I was staying at the Inn at Bay Harbor. I liked the Unrestricted Chardonnay that was aged in stainless steel barrels. Learn more about the Inn at Bay Harbor’s wine shuttle that runs from November 2-December 21!
I would also recommend a short drive to Harbor Springs for some shopping and cookies from Tom’s Mom’s Cookies. If you’ve had these cookies before you know how amazing they are. I fully intended to take some home to enjoy, but they got devoured before the end of the day.
If you’ve been to the Inn at Bay Harbor what are some of your favorite things about staying here?
Disclosure: My stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor was sponsored, but all opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide.
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