![]() The red brick building served as a one-room schoolhouse from 1880 to 1950. Five Mile Creek SchoolhouseĪbout 5 miles north of Harbor Springs, you’ll find the Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse, built in 1880. The Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is one of many nature preserves in the Little Traverse Conservancy. Dogs and horses aren’t allowed at this nature preserve. At dusk, owls and nighthawks fly over the deck.Īll trails start at Elizabeth Kennedy Nature Center, where you’ll find educational displays on the area’s plants and wildlife.īe sure to bring some insect repellent. Bird-watchers might see waterfowl, warblers, and chickadees. The half-mile-long Balsam Trail features an observation deck high above the restricted dunes it offers a good view of the sunset. This trail is excellent for spotting deer and other wetland populations. The Cedar Trail has a boardwalk path overlooking cedar swamps. The Beach Trail is a quarter-mile trail leading to the beach, where you can have a picnic or go for a swim. Located 4 miles north of Harbor Springs on Lower Shore Drive, the Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is a 30-acre wildlife sanctuary with three nature trails. The cafe serves farm-to-table lunches, and you can buy homemade canned goods and fresh, farm-grown produce at the market. ![]() The grandkids can pet the farm animals and play on the playground. Craft beer enthusiasts will appreciate their outdoor beer garden, where they serve craft beers made on-site. The farm is also home to a winery where you can sample wine in their tasting room, grab a glass, and explore the vineyards. In the fall, they celebrate the harvest with a festival that centers on pumpkins and apples. Pond Hill Farm, located about 4 miles north of Harbor Springs, is a family-friendly venue. One example is Boyer Glassworks Studio and Gallery, a working studio where the staff members demonstrate the art of glassblowing. Spend some time at the beach, and then browse some of Harbor Springs’s art galleries. ![]() While we enjoyed the salmon and beef filet, the meals change regularly depending on what’s fresh. Willow offers farm-to-fork dining and artfully plated dishes. If you’re planning a day trip through the Tunnel of Trees, Harbor Springs would be an excellent place to visit on your return trip for dinner. The Michigan 119 Scenic Heritage Route officially starts in Harbor Springs however, the tunnel-like feeling begins a couple of miles from town. Highway markers along the route provide information about the tunnel’s history. While the driving distance is only 20.5 miles and takes about an hour, you’ll want to spend some time exploring these stops along the way. We noticed that the slight peaks and valleys made it difficult for some bikers to keep up with their groups. Biking is another way to travel through the Tunnel of Trees, and you’ll hear the waves as you ride. ![]() ![]() We made the drive by car, but it’s also known as one of the country’s top motorcycle itineraries. The foliage minimizes the force of falling rain on bare surfaces, reducing erosion. The tree’s roots hold the soil in place, and the roots’ growth helps the ground absorb more water, replenishing groundwater feeding Lake Michigan and reducing flooding. The trees are critical to maintaining the area’s bluffs. In addition to its beauty, the Tunnel of Trees has an essential ecological function. In 1936, Alice Irwin used her statewide newspaper column to develop a grassroots effort to preserve and protect the trees lining Michigan 119, now known as the Tunnel of Trees. The hardwood trees grow at the road’s edge, with their leafy canopies reaching out over the byway to create a tunnel-like experience. With no centerline or shoulders, this Scenic Heritage Route is one of the nation’s narrowest highways. Michigan 119 snakes along Lake Michigan’s shoreline with hairpin twists and turns. ![]()
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