11 Small Towns In the Great Lakes region that were ranked among US favorites
The Great Lakes towns share a coastline of dunes, lighthouses, and inland-sea horizons that look more like the Atlantic than the Midwest. The eleven towns below sit on four of the five Great Lakes and cover the range from car-free Mackinac Island to ore-port Duluth. Some carry the maritime tradition. Others lean on the dunes. Each one makes the case that the Midwest has a coastline.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island sits in Lake Huron between Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas. Shaded woods, trails, and the limestone Arch Rock define the island’s terrain. Outdoor activities run from golf to carriage tours, bike rides, and swimming. Mackinac Island State Park covers much of the island and protects historic landmarks and natural areas reachable by foot, bike, carriage, or horse. The park was originally the country’s second national park, established in 1875 and transferred to Michigan as a state park in 1895.
The Grand Hotel was built in the 1880s and is known for what it bills as the world’s longest porch. Wine Spectator and Gourmet have both featured the property. The hotel has hosted multiple US presidents, including John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, Harry Truman, and Gerald Ford. Fort Mackinac runs living-history reenactments from the island’s colonial-era military life. Main Street’s fudge shops are the last stop before the ferry back.
Beverly Shores, Indiana
Beverly Shores sits on Lake Michigan with the Indiana Dunes National Park running through and around it. The park covers 15 miles of Indiana shoreline with dunes, beaches, marshes, and trails. Mount Baldy, a 126-foot “living dune” that shifts a few feet a year, sits just northeast of town near Michigan City and is accessible by ranger-guided tour.
The Century of Progress Architectural District is the town’s other claim. Five preserved houses were originally built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and later relocated by barge to Beverly Shores. The House of Tomorrow is the standout, a 12-sided glass-walled example of early modernist design. The Beverly Shores Depot Museum walks through the town’s South Shore railroad heritage with indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Paradise, Michigan
Paradise sits at the eastern edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior. The town’s biggest draw is Tahquamenon Falls, a pair of waterfalls with tannin-stained water that runs the color of root beer. The Upper Falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The Lower Falls breaks into a series of smaller cascades around an island. Both run year-round.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum sits about 11 miles north on Whitefish Point. The museum covers the wrecks and shipping disasters of the Great Lakes, anchored by the historic Whitefish Point Light Station whose current cast-iron tower has stood since 1861.
Kelleys Island, Ohio
Kelleys Island sits in the western basin of Lake Erie, accessible by ferry from Marblehead. The waters around the island are a regional walleye-fishing destination. The headline attraction is the set of glacial grooves on the north side of the island, deep striations carved into limestone bedrock by glaciers during the last ice age. They sit inside Glacial Grooves State Memorial next to Kelleys Island State Park, which adds beaches, hiking trails, and picnic spots.
The Kelleys Island Historical Association Museum and the 19th-century German Evangelical Church handle the town’s history. The Glacial Grooves Visitor Center sits beside the memorial. The Kelleys Island Wine Company keeps the tasting-room scene going on the island.
Saugatuck, Michigan
Another Lake Michigan beach town, Saugatuck runs under 1,000 residents and a beachfront economy. Soft-sand beaches, including Oval Beach, draw the crowds. Saugatuck Dunes State Park has miles of dune trails for hikers and campers. The Kalamazoo River runs through town and has been used by people in the area for over 11,000 years per archaeological evidence.
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is the cultural hub, with exhibitions, performances, and workshops. Galleries and boutiques line the downtown streets. The Saugatuck Chain Ferry, a hand-cranked vessel still shuttling passengers across the Kalamazoo River, is the town’s historical touchstone.
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Bayfield sits at the edge of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shore and is the gateway to the Apostle Islands. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is the main draw, with paddling, boat tours, kayaking, and guided shoreline trips. The sandstone sea caves carved into the lakeshore are the signature feature of the islands. Madeline Island sits a short ferry ride from town and adds beaches and bike trails.
Beyond the harbor, Bayfield runs galleries, the Wild Rice Retreat, and the Bayfield Maritime Museum, which covers local seafaring history. The Bayfield Apple Festival each October fills downtown with apple orchard events, live music, craft vendors, and the Spectrum Carnival.
Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven sits along Lake Michigan with the 48-acre Grand Haven State Park as its anchor. Sand beaches stretch the length of the park, with picnic and fishing access. Chinook salmon and lake trout fill the local catch. The red Grand Haven lighthouse marks the harbor entrance and is the most-photographed structure in town. The Rosy Mound Natural Area handles the dune hiking nearby.
Downtown carries the cultural weight. The Grand Haven Musical Fountain is a 25-to-30-minute choreographed water-and-light show running nightly May through September. The annual Coast Guard Festival each summer adds parades, fireworks, and a memorial service honoring the Coast Guard’s work on Lake Michigan.
Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton sits in northwest Indiana and is the gateway to Indiana Dunes State Park. The state park sits inside the larger Indiana Dunes National Park and has Mount Tom as its highest dune at around 192 feet. The state park’s trails wind through dunes, forests, and lakeshore habitat.
Beyond the dunes, Chesterton’s European Market runs every Saturday with local artisans, fresh produce, and international foods. Thomas Centennial Park houses the Chesterton Art Center with exhibitions and workshops. The Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead, inside the national park boundary near town, walk through the area’s 19th-century settler life.
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth sits at the western tip of Lake Superior with the Aerial Lift Bridge as its iconic landmark. The original bridge was built in 1905 as a transporter bridge and was converted to its current vertical-lift configuration in 1929. It still raises several times a day to let ships pass between the harbor and Lake Superior. The Lakewalk trail runs along the lakefront, connecting downtown to Park Point Beach.
The Glensheen Historic Estate sits on the lakeshore north of downtown and runs guided tours through its 39 rooms and the surrounding gardens. The Duluth Art Institute runs exhibitions and workshops. The Lincoln Park Craft District holds studios, galleries, and restaurants. The annual Tall Ships Festival brings historic vessels into the harbor. The North Shore Scenic Railroad runs from Duluth along Lake Superior for the longer ride out.
Marblehead, Ohio
Marblehead is known as “Vacationland” for the summer crowds it pulls. The town fronts Lake Erie on the Marblehead Peninsula and runs ferry service to Kelleys and other Lake Erie islands. The Marblehead Lighthouse is the headline, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the American side of the Great Lakes, in service since 1822. The Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve, nearby on the peninsula, protects a rare wildflower across 19 acres of old limestone quarry land.
The Keeper’s House Museum walks through the lives of the 15 lighthouse keepers who tended Marblehead, including Rachel Wolcott, one of the first female lighthouse keepers in the country. Rocky Point Winery runs tastings of local wines and beers after a stroll through Lake Point Park.
Leland, Michigan
Leland sits on a narrow stretch between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, with the historic Fishtown district as its anchor. Fishtown’s weathered fishing shanties and smokehouses still operate. Visitors walk the wooden docks, watch fishermen work, and pick up fresh whitefish for dinner.
The Manitou Island Transit runs ferries to the North and South Manitou Islands, with beaches, towering dunes, and hiking trails inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Back in Leland, the Old Art Building, a converted early 20th-century schoolhouse, runs exhibitions, workshops, and performances as the town’s cultural center.
The Allure of Great Lakes Towns
The eleven towns above run from car-free Mackinac Island to ore-port Duluth, with dunes, lighthouses, working harbors, and ferry-to-an-island weekends in between. The lakes themselves cover over 100,000 square miles and hold roughly a fifth of the world’s surface freshwater. The towns are what make that scale walkable.
