Patios that put out a water bowl without being asked. Trails that don't require leashes when nobody's looking. Breweries with a yard. Beaches off-season.
The state park on Mullett Lake's northeast shore, with 285 campsites, two beaches, and a boat basin cut into a protected harbor rather than open water. Waterfront sites book up to six months out for a summer weekend. The pier doubles as the sunset spot once the day-trippers clear the beach. Full hookups run the south loop, for anyone pulling something bigger than a tent.
Crushed limestone from Waters to Mackinaw City, 75 miles total, but the stretch that matters here runs from Indian River across the Indian River spreads into Topinabee — 5.4 miles, ending at a beach right at the Topinabee trailhead — then another 12 miles north, directly along Mullett Lake's shore, before the trail cuts inland through farmland toward Cheboygan. Flat riding the whole way; bring your own bike.