Best Places To Visit In Michigan: Frankfort

One of the best places to visit in Michigan has to be the lakeside town of Frankfort. Located on Michigan’s upper-west coast, the city has one of the prettiest beaches in the state. I also offers so many scenic views, a plethora of activities, shops, and restaurants for anyone to enjoy.

Frankfort Beach

My family has been visiting almost yearly since I was born and it never gets old. I have so many reasons to love this place which I go into more, but the main reason I love visiting is for the beach. Frankfort on a summer weekend feels like a true “beach town” with everyone walking around in swimsuits, all the kids have a slushy or ice cream in hand, family and friends are facing off in volleyball, and everyone seems to be in a great mood while the sun beats down all afternoon long.

My favorite beach tradition is to walk north along the beach toward the sand dune cliffs and skip rocks. The walk seems short at a glance from afar, but you’ll probably be gone for an hour or two (maybe more). If you’re feeling really courageous you can climb one of the dunes too like I tend to.

Frankfort Pier

Another one of my beach traditions is to walk along the pier for a great photo-op and to breathe in the crisp, lake breeze. When you find yourself there on an extra breezy day, you might catch some waves crashing over the pier too. Again, great photo-op.

Downtown Frankfort

Once you leave the beach, the downtown area has plenty of places to stop in for a bite to eat. For lunch, I would visit Stormcloud Brewery or venture over to Elberta (Frankfort’s neighboring city) and eat at the Cabbage Shed. For Dinner, Fusion is always a favorite but can get pretty busy. My favorite is probably Birch & Maple which is a bit fancier of a place too. Having a BBQ is also a great option if you’re there with a big group. That way, you don’t have to worry about getting ready and making a reservation after a nice beach day.

For dessert, I would head over to the Cool Spot which has the best ice cream and dairy-free options as well. Warning, EVERYONE goes here at night so you’ll most likely hit a little bit of line. But, the team acts as a well-oiled machine so you won’t be waiting long.

Other Things To Do

In addition to everything I mentioned, there are also great bike and running paths, shopping, fishing excursions, and more! Frankfort is honestly such a lovely place to relax, soak up the run, and get away from the day-to-day. One “cherry on top” is that every summer night ends in a beautiful sunset that you’ll never get enough of.

Where To Stay In Frankfort

If you’re planning a trip, the Harbor Lights Resort is a great place to stay and will have the most availability. It’s the biggest resort in the area! There are also great VRBOs and AirBnB in the area.