Manistee is an affordable, navigable, and friendly city with a vibrant downtown that will make an ideal vacation spot for your family.
Manistee, the county seat of Manistee County located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, was once the base for lumber barons who competed for infrastructure.
During this vacation, you’ll love exploring various museums, restaurants, historical attractions, shops, theaters, lodgings, and bars.
This guide provides the best and most fun things to do in Manistee, MI.
Things To Do In Manistee, Michigan.
Check these out!
1. Watch Movies At Vogue Theater
Vogue Theater, built in 1930, is a historic movie theater with original neon signs and superbly renovated interiors, including a grand retro atrium and a fantastic outside façade.
It’s a lovely place with upbeat and friendly employees eager to provide the entire crew with a fun movie-going experience.
At Vogue Theater, you and your friends will have fun watching great classic and new movies.
2. Visit Manistee County Historical Museum
Manistee County Historical Museum is a local nineteenth-century museum with both permanent and rotating historical exhibits, as well as a pedigree collection.
You’ll see pioneer exhibits, antiques, housewares, costumes, maritime and genealogy research, and Civil War mementos at the museum.
The Lyman building houses a special drug exhibit, a maritime exhibit, a life-size log cabin, period rooms that include a business office, several Victorian rooms, and extensive collections of Victorian antiques.
3. Fish At Michigan Sport Fishing Company, LLC
Michigan Sport Fishing Company, LLC offers half- and full-day charters for up to six people on Lake Michigan, specializing in freshwater charters.
You’ll have fun fishing for brown trout, king salmon, steelhead, coho, and lake trout.
You would have a fun adventure laying hands on some hands-on fun fishing, setting the gear, catching the fish, and learning the techniques.
4. Explore Fifth Avenue Beach
Fifth Avenue Beach is an ideal location for a romantic date because you can enjoy a classic Lake Michigan sunset while watching the ships pass by.
You’ll enjoy looking for shells, strolling on the sands, splashing around in the water, surfing in the waves, and fishing off the pier.
There are tennis courts, a playground for the kids, concession stands, and clean public bathhouses.
5. Visit Manistee North Pierhead Lights
The Manistee Pierhead Lights are two marine navigational aids located on the north and south sides of Manistee Harbor in Michigan.
The current tower has a white cylinder body and a ten-sided steel lantern that can be seen from a distance of 12 nautical miles.
You should visit this peaceful lighthouse to enjoy the warm Manistee weather on the beach while listening to the crashing sound of the waves.
6. Golf At Manistee Golf and Country Club
Manistee Golf and Country Club are one of the state’s oldest courses, with scenic views of the beaches, jaw-dropping scenery of piers, and the backdrop of Lake Michigan.
You’ll enjoy playing golf at this historic course on the lake’s shores that present a challenge to golfers of all skill levels.
The golf course has short lengths, undulating terrain, and water hazards that present a great challenge.
23 Best & Fun Things To Do In Stockton (CA)
7. Explore Orchard Beach State Park
Orchard Beach State Park, a public recreation area in the city, is located on a bluff three miles north of Manistee on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Hiking trails, camping, self-guided tours, and scenic views of Lake Michigan and its beach are all available at the state park.
Boating and fishing are also permitted, and there is a separate playground and picnic area.
8. Explore First Street Beach
First Street Beach is Manistee’s largest city-owned recreation area, and it has a lot to offer visiting families.
Basketball courts, volleyball nets, tennis courts, playground equipment, ball fields, bike racks, a dog run, fishing areas, a boat launch, and a fish-cleaning station are all available.
The fine sugar sand is ideal for a variety of recreational activities such as volleyball, swimming, boating, surfing, parasailing, and kite-flying.
You could even attend a live music venue where you’ll listen to vibrant and entertaining musicians by the lake.
9. Hike or Bike On The North Country Trail
The North Country Trail, which runs along the Manistee River, is the longest in the National Trails System.
This trail spans four states, from North Dakota to Vermont, traversing sandy soils and a pine-hardwood forest, farmlands, forests, remote terrain, and nearby communities.
Many hiking opportunities and diverse landscapes are waiting for you, whether you want to day-hike a few miles or go on a longer overnight backpacking trip.
10. Explore Manistee River
The Manistee River begins in the Antrim County sandhills and flows 190 miles through Upper Michigan’s northwestern peninsula before emptying into Lake Michigan at Manistee.
It is regarded as one of the best trout and salmon fishing areas and a great place to go rope swinging, paddling, and relaxing on the sand bars.
The Manistee River is ideal for boating, sightseeing, swimming, and go tubing from the Hodenpyl Dam up to the Bear Creek or Red Tube access down to Rainbow Bend for a fun morning or afternoon trip downriver.
23 Best & Fun Things To Do In Kalispell (MT)
11. Golf At Northern Falls Mini Golf
Northern Falls Mini Golf provides a fun experience of traditional mini golf for both visitors and Manistee residents.
This family-friendly entertainment center has 18 holes hidden within a rock garden, water-based fountains, a small concession stand, and snow cones.
12. See The S.S. City of Milwaukee
The S.S. City of Milwaukee is a historic Great Lakes railroad car ferry that traveled on Lake Michigan between Milwaukee, Muskegon, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
She was designated a National Historic Landmark and is now a museum ship, caravansary, and events venue on Manistee Lake’s waterfront.
You can take a tour of the shop and examine its mechanicals in detail, learning about how they worked and lived in the past.
You should make plans to catch the ship in October when she will be dressed up for frights and spooks as a Ghost Ship.
13. Visit A M Galleries
A M Galleries is a lovely gallery in nearby Ludington, that displays both abstract and modern pieces in its collection and exhibits the work of several regional artists.
They are a boutique brand and online store specializing in fashion, driven by the desire to help everyone grow and feel at ease in a world full of fun, color, and freedom.
You’ll see various accessories, sportswear, jewelry, and fashion all available at very reasonable prices.
14. Visit Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts
The Ramsdell Theatre is a historic opera house and playhouse built in a classic colonial redbrick structure with six massive columns supporting the portico above the main entrance.
Every year, the center produces nearly 20 theater, music, and dance performances of the highest caliber.
Ballets, live music, operas, family performances, instrumentals, cultural presentations, contemporary music, and vocal groups are available here.
You would also have the opportunity to view exhibitions containing artworks related to Manistee’s history and growth.
15. Visit Manistee Recreation Association
Manistee Recreation Association promotes health and wellness throughout the community by offering a variety of activities.
It offers year-round programming for adults, including basketball and swimming, as well as CPR training, T-ball, and soccer clinics for local youth.
16. Take A Tour With Orchard Beach Aviation
You can take an exciting aerial sightseeing tour with Orchard Beach Aviation with your friends on a four-seater plane.
Your flight will usually fly over the Portage Lake area, downtown Manistee or the M-22, and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The pilot is usually friendly and will keep everyone safe and comfortable while providing information about the landmarks and areas you fly over.
As the earth changes from vibrant green to calm and bright colors, take to the skies to see Northern Michigan in all its glory.
17. Visit Secret Garden
The Secret Garden, though not in Manistee, is a seasonal art gallery showcasing the work of over 200 American artists.
The Secret Garden gallery is housed in a nineteenth-century storefront and sells art and other merchandise.
This gallery focuses on Michigan artists who want to express their thoughts on history, art, nature, existence, and many other topics.
23 Best & Fun Things To Do In Kent Island (MD)
18. Explore Magoon Creek Natural Area
Magoon Creek Natural Area is the place to be if you want to see aqua-blue water, lovely shorelines, and a sweeping lakeside panorama.
Magoon Creek Natural Area is ideal for an outdoor picnic, with stunning views of Lake Michigan and benches on a high bluff shaded by evergreen hemlock trees.
You can allow your kids to play at the nearby clay cliffs and in the sparkling water in the creek outlet as you explore the shore.
Magoon Creek Beach has many hidden treasures such as agate, jasper, Petoskey stones, and beach glass.
19. Explore Ludington Waterfront Park
The Ludington Waterfront Park is a five-acre park on Pere Marquette Lake that is nestled between two marinas and offers a view of the car ferry dock.
The expansive playground keeps the kids entertained, and you can sit on a comfortable bench and watch the S.S. Badger car ferry sail into port.
On a hot day, you can have a picnic at one of the park’s tables while enjoying the breeze off Pere Marquette Lake.
You can take a stroll along the scenic pathways and learn about history from the nine bronzed sculptures that are scattered throughout the five-acre park.
20. Visit Happy Owl Bookshop
The Happy Owl Bookshop is a small, independent bookstore with a mission to foster book-related conversations and to grow and groom a book-based community.
The bookshop is brimming with educational toys, cards, gifts, newspapers, new books, a collection of classics, award winners, educational materials, and childhood favorites.
You can stay and read at this bookstore, and bring your kids to the cozy-crafted reader’s nook, which encourages read-aloud bonding.
21. Camp At Insta Launch Campground & Marina
Insta Launch Campground and Marina is a family-friendly campground on the Big Manistee River near Manistee Lake’s north end.
It has Lake Michigan boating access, full hook-up sites, free WiFi, and river float trips, where you can fish for Steelhead, Chinook, Small Mouth and Large Mouth Bass, Walleye, Panfish, Perch, and Northern Pike.
The Campground and Marina also have many recreational opportunities, such as canoeing, boating, fishing, golf, kayaking, swimming, tubing, and sightseeing.
22. Walk On The Manistee Riverwalk
The Manistee Riverwalk is a popular boardwalk that runs 1.75 miles through downtown Manistee along the Manistee River.
The path is designed to be wheelchair and pedestrian-accessible, with interpretive signs, charter fishing docks, private docks, benches, multiple businesses, and vessels.
The riverwalk has stairs leading to restaurants and shops, and some sections direct visitors to picnic areas with grills and bench swings.
23. Go On The Manistee Harbor Tours
Manistee Harbor Tours is a boat tour company that offers private event excursions, sightseeing tours, and sunset cruises on Lake Michigan.
These cruises feature The Princess, a 65-foot all-aluminum vessel that departs from Manistee and navigates the Manistee River into Manistee Lake.
Their most popular excursion is the Sunset Cruise, which provides excellent photo and sightseeing opportunities as they cruise at sunset.
You can book a private boat charter on the Princess for one-of-a-kind events, with padded bench seating throughout the interior and perimeter, as well as open spaces for catering and dancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top attractions to visit in Manistee?
Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse
First Street Beach
S.S. City of Milwaukee/ USCGC Acacia
Manistee River
Orchard Beach State Park
What are the most popular things to do in Manistee with kids?
Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse
First Street Beach
Manistee River
Manistee Riverwalk
The Vogue Theatre
What is Manistee MI known for?
Manistee MI is known for its agriculture and fruit farming.
What is there to do in Manistee Michigan in the winter?
Snowshoeing, dog sledding, fat tire snow biking, horse-drawn surrey rides, ice skating, and hockey, are things to do in Manistee Michigan in the winter.
Is Manistee Michigan Nice?
Manistee Michigan has beautiful beaches, National Forests and Parks.
Can you swim in Lake Manistee?
Lake Manistee has beautiful beaches, with warm and turquoise water to swim in.
How big is Manistee National Forest?
Manistee National Forest is 538,756 acres large.
What is it like to live in Manistee Michigan?
Many young professionals and retirees live in Manistee and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Manistee are above average.
Does Manistee beach allow dogs?
North Beach Access is very pet friendly, with miles of walkable beachfront.
Are there bears in Manistee National Forest?
Bear sightings and activity seems to be increasing this year, in Manistee National Forest.
Visit Manistee, Michigan.
Manistee is a fun vacation city that offers new experiences for you and your family while also bringing you closer to nature and Michigan’s exciting hub.
You should start planning a fun vacation to Manistee, Michigan and you can always refer to this guide for the best and most fun things to do in Manistee.
Have a great day.
