9 Stunning Small Towns In Michigan

If you're looking to spend time in Michigan's smaller towns, picture a sunset walk along Grand Haven’s waterfront after watching the lighthouse blink on or an easy evening in Charlevoix with the lake close by. Across the state, these communities deliver these moments plus walkable downtowns, historic streets, and shorelines shaped by the Great Lakes. Each one brings its own setting, whether it’s a waterfront park, a carriage ride through a preserved past, or a garden in full bloom like those in Holland. If you’re planning your next in-state escape, these nine stunning small towns show just how much scenery, history, and character Michigan fits between its peninsulas.

Frankenmuth

Stepping into Frankenmuth feels like stepping into another country. In many ways, that is true, as 15 colonists from the Franconian region of Germany founded Frankenmuth in 1845, bringing their unique architecture and design with them. The Frankenmuth Historical Museum highlights the small town’s German roots, and residents refer to the town as Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Thanks to its Bavarian-style architecture, buildings look like medieval, fairytale castles. Frankenmuth is “made for memories,” and visitors will make plenty visiting the Bavarian Blacksmith Experience and journeying back in time on the fantastical horse-drawn carriage rides.

Marquette

Beauty in Marquette is less about the buildings themselves, but rather what is painted on them. Marquette highlights street art and graffiti murals. Locals and tourists have plenty of opportunities to meet these artists through a self-guided tour, available with maps from the Travel Marquette and Marquette Arts and Culture offices, which guide visitors around town to the most famous displays and art pieces. Marquette’s annual Art Week brings the Marquette Symphony Orchestra into the celebration, while the Art on the Rocks fine art show arrives later in the season, continuing the town’s transformation into one big, coordinated canvas.

Holland

Holland proudly displays its Dutch heritage in its architecture, its cobblestone sidewalks, and the many landmarks that contain centuries of history. Visitors looking for a Dutch-themed experience will find it in the Windmill Island Gardens, famous for its tulip gardens and a windmill that has stood for over 250 years. The Holland Museum and Nelis’ Dutch Village provide an experience unlike any other town in Michigan, where tourists may even forget what country they are in. The peak of Holland is quite literally the peak. The Big Red Lighthouse offers the greatest view of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan, located at the channel that connects them both.

Grand Haven

Naturally, Lake Michigan is a staple of the state, but with so many towns lining the lake, choosing the right place to visit is difficult. Thankfully, Grand Haven offers a superior view of Lake Michigan along the Grand Haven State Park boardwalk and harbor, along with the 48-acre park attached to it. There is no better way to see Lake Michigan, especially with the Grand Haven Lighthouse, built in 1839. Once tourists have stretched their legs along the boardwalk, they can sit back, relax, and enjoy the magical Grand Haven Musical Fountain, a synchronized water, music, and light show atop Dewey Hill.

Sault Ste. Marie

Journey to the past with the first steps into the small town of Sault Ste. Marie, one of Michigan's oldest settlements. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train stretches for over 114 miles and is the best way to experience the St. Marys River as it travels through Northern Ontario, Canada. With the Chippewa County Courthouse, built in 1877, the appropriately-named Tower of History and its view of the town, and the Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral, originally built in 1881, Sault Ste. Marie truly feels like the past preserved for the present.

Munising

There are over 300 waterfalls in Michigan, and many of which are located in Munising, such as Alger Falls, Bridaveil Falls along Lake Superior, and Horseshoe Falls, surrounded by gardens, trails, trout ponds and the Upper Peninsula northern woods. The Grand Island North Lighthouse, built in 1856, is just one of many that dot the shoreline, and the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise was voted the best boat tour in Michigan, starting right from Munising Bayshore Marina. Munising delivers the breeze, the smell, and the calming air of the Great Lakes more than any other Michigan town.

Mackinac Island

Imagine a town free of private cars. No traffic noise, no exhaust in the air. Just a small island of pedestrians, bikers, and hikers. Those who live on the small Mackinac Island do not have to imagine. Horse-drawn carriage rides are their daily reality. More than the novelty of a car-free island, historical landmarks make Mackinac one of the most beautiful small towns in Michigan. The McGulpin House dates back to 1790 as a preserved architectural artifact, and The Officers’ Stone Quarters at Fort Mackinac is the oldest public building in Michigan. Beauty is in the history of Mackinac Island, perpetually a short walk or carriage ride away.

Charlevoix

Charlevoix’s South Pier Lighthouse offers a stunning view of the sunset over Lake Michigan, while some of the best shorelines, parks, and trails exist at Mt. McSauba Recreation Area, the Charles Ransom Nature Preserve, and Fisherman’s Island. Charlevoix even has its very own castle at Castle Farms, built in 1918 and now used to host concerts and events like the appropriately themed Charlevoix Venetian Festival. But the famous mushroom houses, designed by Earl Young, overshadow all of those landmarks. These strange houses with mushroom-shaped roofs are a must in Charlevoix.

Petoskey

Petoskey encourages travel and exploration. 25 acres of Bayfront Park takes visitors to the city marina and the famous Petoskey Breakwall, while the Tunnel of Trees offers a 20-mile drive from Harbor Springs to Cross Village through a canopy of trees that line the road much like the historic-style lamps that illuminate the streets of Petoskey’s “Gaslight District.” The Petoskey Stone is Michigan’s state stone, found on beaches at Petoskey State Park and Magnus Park. A true visit to Petoskey is incomplete without this souvenir to show for it.

Small-Town Gems

Michigan offers so much variety thanks to the many stunning small towns in the state. No town is like the other, and every experience in these towns is unique. Hikers can intentionally lose themselves in Petoskey’s massive Bayfront Park. People tired of the hustle, bustle, and noise of city life will love the quiet, car-free atmosphere on Mackinac Island. Marquette invites all artists and art enthusiasts to view their murals and add a splash of their own creativity to the town canvas. No trip through Michigan is complete without some of these small-town gems.