Lake-facing patios, west-shore tasting rooms, the dock at the right time of year. Bring a sweater after seven, even in July.
Earl Young converted an old grist mill into this restaurant in the 1950s, curving the roofline like a gull's wing and building the dining room fireplace around a nine-ton boulder he'd dug up decades earlier. It's Charlevoix's only true waterfront dining room, set right on the Pine River Channel where drawbridge traffic backs up for passing sailboats. Order the Great Lakes whitefish and take the deck seat if the weather holds.
Thirty-two taps of Michigan beer and cider inside Bridge Park, looking straight across Round Lake at the marina where the reservation window for a summer slip fills within minutes of opening. Weekly specials give the regulars a reason to keep coming back — Tuesday ramen, Wednesday build-your-own mac, Thursday wings and pizza. Dog-friendly patio, no reservations taken. Order the whitefish dip while you wait for a table on a Saturday.
The hub of the Boyne City waterfront, sharing its lawn with the F. Grant Moore Municipal Marina and the farmers market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. West-facing shoreline, so this is the spot for a sunset rather than a sunrise. Boyne Thunder and the Fourth of July festival both stage here, which means a packed lot on those specific weekends. Dogs are welcome on leash except during events — check the calendar before bringing one to a festival day.