# Frankfort (Michigan)

Frankfort lies on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Benzie County in the Grand Traverse Bay Area of Michigan.

## Understand

The Frankfort and Elberta communities encompass beautiful Betsie Bay, a historic sailing harbor. Frankfort offers unique and friendly shops, restaurants, and accommodation. Seven full-service marinas line the harbor, providing over 400 slips.

## Get in

* 44.741667-85.5822221 Cherry Capital Airport (TVC). Located in Traverse City is the closest airport, about 45 minutes away. (updated Jan 2020)

## See

* 44.685556-86.2555561 The Point Betsie Lighthouse. Benzie County's most famous landmark, is located on the Lake Michigan shore of the county just south of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and just north of Frankfort, Michigan. Point Betsie is the second most photographed lighthouse in the USA, and likely the most visited attraction in Benzie County. Watching the sunsets from Point Betsie is a long-standing tradition.
* Beaches Frankfort and Elberta both have public beaches, and you can walk in either direction for as long as your legs hold-out. Start at Elberta Beach park and then walk south for access to lonely and beautiful beaches for miles.
* 44.632417-86.2355312 Frankfort Mineral Springs, 630 Main St. The Frankfort Mineral Springs used to be advertised as an attraction of the area back in the days when the mineral-rich waters were thought to cure a number of ailments. Although some of the fanfare is gone today, the springs are still around providing cool, mineral-rich water to anyone looking to quench their thirst. A pair of nozzles under a small pavilion continuously provide a stream of water for free. The mineral content provides for a unique flavor. (updated Jul 2021)

## Do

* Frankfort-Elberta Beach-to-Beach Trail/ Betsie Valley Trail:. The 4.2-mile trail connecting the beaches of Elberta and Frankfort is paved from the Lake Michigan Beach in Frankfort to Elberta. There it connects to the 18-mile-long Betsie Valley Trail which goes past Rail Road Point on Crystal Lake, then to Beulah, and will eventually connect to Thompsonville. On the trail near Frankfort is fishing deck on Betsie Bay, and there are two fishing bridges on M-22 connecting Elberta to the Trail.

## Buy

* Gwen Frostic Prints, 5140 River Rd, Benzonia, +1 231 882-5505, M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Featuring the artwork of Gwen Frostic. Located on River Road with art, library, duck pond, and lots of cool and inexpensive gifts.
* 44.618115-86.1427651 Crystal Lake Alpaca Farm and Boutique, 4907 River Rd, ☏ +1 231 920-7085, CrystalLakeAlpacas@gmail.com. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. This alpaca farm not only offers great products made from the wool of their alpacas, but you also watch and pet the alpacas. It's great for kids, and the alpaca wool is extremely soft. (updated Jul 2021)

## Eat

* Papanos. Downtown Frankfort Offers pizza, subs, salads, chicken wings. Great Pizza, best for carryout. Open all year.
* $^{[formerlydeadlink]}$ The Fusion Restaurant, 411 Main St, ☏ +1 231 352-4114. Fresh, flavorful East & West cuisine. Come taste the flavors of Asia in a cool, contemporary setting.
* Rhonda's Wharfside, Main St. (overlooking Betsie Bay) +1 231 352-5300. Casual fun dining. Specialties: pasta, steaks, seafood. Fresh whitefish daily. Open all year.
* Crescent Bakery, 404 Main Street, ☏ +1 231 352-4611. Northern Michigan's only full-service artisan bakery cafe, featuring award winning crusty breads, hand crafted pastries and cakes and a cafe menu that's sure to satisfy. Named two years in a row as one of the best places to eat Up North by the editors of Traverse Magazine.

## Drink

* Dinghy's Restaurant & Bar, 415 Main Street, ☏ +1 231 352-4702. Great food, great service at a friendly "watering hole"! Best ribs "up north". Friday night fish fry and Sunday brunch.
* Cabbage Shed in Elberta.
* Roadhouse in Benzonia.
* 44.632729-86.2410721 Stormcloud Brewing Company, 303 Main St, ☏ +1 231 352-0118. 11:30AM-10PM. A great local brewery open since 2013. They have two locations: this one downtown and another taproom a little further away at 366 Parkview Ln. (updated Jul 2021)
* 44.618757-85.9971782 St. Ambrose Cellars, 841 S Pioneer Rd, Beulah, ☏ +1 (231) 383-4262. M-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-7PM. St. Ambrose offers a great range of drinks made at their farm in the countryside. They make mead, wine and beer, and their products are of great quality. There is plenty of outdoor seating and location is quite peaceful. (updated Jul 2021)
* 44.629642-86.0939893 Five Shores Brewing, 163 S Benzie Blvd, Beulah, ☏ +1 (231) 383-4400, cheers@fiveshoresbrewing.com. M W-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM Sunday. Five Shores Brewing is a nice brewery with a number of beers, wines and ciders available in their modern styled location. The view over Crystal Lake at sunset is very beautiful too. (updated Jul 2021)

## Sleep

* Farm House Cottage. Arcadia, 4-bedroom home made to resemble a farm. Open year-round.
* The Beach House, 5484 Indian Trail, ☏ +1 231 632-0833. Sandy frontage on Upper Herring Lake. Open year-round. Sleeps 8.
* The Barn Cottage. Arcadia. 5-bedroom home on Upper Herring Lake. Open year-round.
* School House Cottage. Arcadia. 4-bedroom home on Upper Herring Lake. Includes water trampoline. Open year-round.
* Long Lake Landing. Honor. 4-bedroom home on Long Lake. Open year-round.
* $^{[deadlink]}$ HarborView Condos, 510 Main Street, ☏ +1 231 882-7277. Offers sophisticated adult vacation rental lodging.
* Arcadia House B & B, 17304 Sixth Street, ☏ +1 231 889-4394. (M-22), Arcadia. Restored Edwardian Home: 5 guest rooms each with private bath. 5 blocks to Lake Michigan. Nearby tennis, golf, skiing, canoeing. Spectacular scenery and charm in quiet country village. Full breakfast. Open year-round.
* $^{[deadlink]}$ Betsie River Camp Site, 1923 River Road, ☏ +1 231 352-9535. RV and tent camping, flush toilets, and hot showers. Fish cleaning and freezing. Close to Lake Michigan, Crystal Lake, and golf. Cabin rentals. Open April ist to October 1st.
* Chimney Corners Resort, ☏ +1 231 352-7522. An old-fashioned family resort on Crystal Lake since 1935, with summer cottage rentals, tennis court, basketball court, playground areas, 300 acres of wooded hills, 1,000 feet of private sandy beach.

## Go next

* Spirit of the Woods Music Association, . An annual music festival, the Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival, held at the Dickson Township Park in Brethren, Michigan, the third Saturday in June. The festival features a day full of music on two stages, arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, great food, and a closing square dance.
* Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies just to the north. It encompasses a 35-mi (60-km) stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, as well as North and South Manitou Islands. The park was established primarily for its outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena.
* Zetterberg Preserve at Point Betsie, $^{[deadlink]}$
Point Betsie is a dynamic mosaic of shifting sand dunes, interdunal wetlands, boreal forest and sandy Lake Michigan beaches. Hike a path or volunteer to pick baby's breath (or just help out!) by emailing: . Directions From Frankfort, Michigan: Point Betsie Preserve is located approximately 4.5 miles north of Frankfort off of M-22. At Point Betsie Road, turn left (west). Follow Point Betsie Road for 0.5 miles, to the wooden preserve sign on the south side of the road. You can park on the roadside by the sign, or drive to the end of the road near the lighthouse and walk back to the preserve sign. A trail starts near the sign.