Fall for Manistee Michigan- Your Perfect Autumn Guide.

The fall season is upon us and the leaves are starting to change colors. I recently went to Manistee County and found the perfect fall getaway in Pure Michigan. Situated on the coast of Lake Michigan, with 25 miles of coastline, there is no other place to ring in fall than Manistee.

Catie Keogh in Manistee County, Michigan

My first night, I checked into the Ramsdell Inn, a boutique hotel in the historic Ramsdell Building in downtown Manistee. Adorned with Victorian architecture and stained glass, it was just the right level of cozy and intimate for my weekend in Manistee. The Ramsdell Inn was built in the late 1800s and was originally a bank. The lobby is a step back in time and a great place to plan out the next few days in Manistee. After checking in and freshening up in the Harbor Suite, I made my way downstairs to TJ’s Pub and ordered the pesto chicken and a glass of wine. They have a really fresh menu including vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as a nice selection of Michigan craft beer.

For breakfast, I walked down River Street (the town’s main street) to Goody’s Juice and Java. You can build your own breakfast sandwich and grab a coffee or tea to start your day. It was a nice place to meet the locals and take in the downtown scene.

A key attraction to visiting the Manistee region is taking a trip up the coast or inland in Manistee County to experience its natural beauty, not to mention its stunning Lake Michigan coastline. A favorite route is M-22 - an iconic, 116-mile state highway that starts in Manistee County and winds along the Lake Michigan shoreline north. It’s not only the most famous road in Michigan, it’s consistently ranked one of the prettiest drives in the country by publications like Town & Country and USA Today 10Best.

My first stop was Lake Bluff Farms, a 75-acre wildlife sanctuary overlooking Lake Michigan that is home to the only giant Sequoia tree in Michigan! Be sure to visit the Yellow Dog Cafe for a maple spice latte and cross the street to shop at Anchored Designs Boutique in Onekama on your way up M-22 to one of the many farm markets and farm stands in the area. Check out BrixStone Farms (a slight diversion off M-22 in Bear Lake) or Miller’s Northwood Market for fresh produce. (BrixStone has 20 kinds of apples alone!) Pick up seasonal squash, pumpkins, and jams along the way!

From there, I stopped at Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve for a nature walk on its 3/4-mile, universal access boardwalk across the marsh so people of all abilities can enjoy this property. This fascinating, 313-acre preserve is one of only 15 coastal marshes remaining in the Great Lakes, home to more than 200 plant species and 250 bird species, and year-round habitat for many fish and aquatic organisms.

If you’re like me, all the walking works up an appetite. I grabbed a bite at Ketch 22, an upscale food truck next to the marsh. The smoked gouda bites and BLT were great choices! We continued traveling north on M-22 and walked the Arcadia Dunes Universally Accessible Overlook Trail and gorgeous Arcadia Overlook - also known as “Inspiration Point.” On a clear day, it gives you one of the best views of Lake Michigan imaginable!

On our return route via U.S. 31 (an inland scenic route that changes color in the fall a week ahead of the coast), we passed Wee Bee Jammin’ in Bear Lake. Make sure to shop for local honey, jams, and other handmade goods from the area.

A hard cider tasting at Northern Natural Cider House & Winery is a great way to ring in the fall. I did a flight tasting of their ciders (they have almost 20 on draft at a time) and realized how much I loved cider. My personal favorites were the Northern Star and Lavender Apple. Make sure to take some cider home with you, as they currently only sell their ciders in Michigan.

After a full day of exploring Manistee County, a fun place to enjoy dinner, shopping, and nightlife is in the city of Manistee - and specifically its charming, Victorian downtown along River Street. The Blue Fish Kitchen & Bar overlooking the Manistee River was the perfect way to end our day. I ordered the grilled salmon and tasted the walleye piccata. Both were really great options. Make sure to save room for dessert! The Blue Fish offers classic fare from grilled salmon to Wagyu sirloin. It’s also a great place for brunch as you wander into the shops. I had so much fun shopping locally in downtown Manistee. Here are a few of my favorites... the Outpost at Manistee, The Ideal Kitchen, Well Nested and Snyder's Shoes.

Manistee is also rich in historic buildings and theaters (including the 1903 Ramsdell Theatre where James Earl Jones got his acting start in high school in a production of Othello), with themed historic sites tours of the area to enlighten your curious mind. The Victorian architecture hearkens back to its founding in 1882 as a lumber boomtown. In fact, Manistee at one time had more millionaires per capita than any town in America! I am looking forward to coming back to Manistee in December for its annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade & Old Christmas Weekend.

If you ever wanted to feel what it’s like to step into a Norman Rockwell painting, it’s in Manistee County! For more information on any of the lodging and dining options, be sure to visit visitmanisteecounty.com and follow me on social at Let’s Go with Catie Keogh.

NEXT: Check out a video recap of Manistee County featured on Daytime Chicago, WGN Channel 9.