Day Drive on Hwy. M-119 North Of Petoskey

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Day Drive on Hwy. M-119 North Of Petoskey

Wednesday 9/4/2013

Our first day drive while in Petoskey, MI., was 4 miles back on Hwy 31 north to M-119. It was another 7 miles to the town of Harbor Springs on M-119. We had several people who heard we were going to be in upper Lower Michigan area, tell us to be sure to stop and see Harbor Springs, MI.

Harbor Springs has a population of 1,194 people.

As we drove into Harbor Springs, we saw older homes with all the character and charm that you don't see in newer homes.

This map shows Harbor Springs's location on the north side of Little Traverse Bay across from Petoskey.

After walking up and down the cute downtown area of Harbor Springs, we continued north on M-119 through the Tunnel Of Trees.

M-119 Scenic Heritage Route runs along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, though there are many places you do not see the lake.

We drove through one small town, and stopped at the very small town of Cross Village. Another visitor who I met in one of the shops in Harbor Springs and who frequents this area every year, told us we should stop at the Legs Inn for lunch in Cross Village.

The restaurant/Inn is called Legs Inn, because the roof is lined with stove legs. The Inn was the work of a Polish immigrant who hired Odawa Indian's and area residence, to build it using timbers, stones, driftwood, tree roots, and what ever else was available in the area. Smolak, the Polish owner, continue his creative work on the Inn until 1968 when he died at the age of 81.

A very interesting door to the restaurant/bar/gift shop.

You can eat inside or out on the enclosed patio.

If it is a nice day, as it was that day, you can eat out back on the outdoors patio.

The restaurant sits high on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

After lunch, your little ones can play on the backyard lawn, or you can sit in one of the chairs, and enjoy the views overlooking the lake.

Fortunately, we were short of groceries that day, so we had planned on getting lunch somewhere along the way. Unfortunately, my husband was mad at me because I had brought Mallery, and dogs were not allowed anywhere on the premises. Joe ordered the whitefish sandwich (I keep telling him he is going to start blowing bubbles soon),

and I ordered a Reuben sandwich. We ate our lunch in the car, while I heard my husband complain to me that Mallery was not coming ever again. DON"T BRING YOUR DOG IF YOU WANT TO EAT AT LEGS INN! Both sandwiches were good.

After our lunch, we drove down to the lake to see the Legs Inn cabins. They were just simple cabins, and you had to walk a short distance through the woods to the lake. Next we drove to the boat ramp/park of Cross Village.

It has a nice small sandy beach with scattered rocks to check out.

The water was cold and clear like all the places we have seen in the UP and upper Lower Michigan areas we have visited.

At Cross Village we turned and headed back down M-119 and stopped at the small town of Good Hart that we had missed on our way north. On the weekends you can get some crepes from a local. It was Wednesday, so no crepes for us.

Good Hart has about 2-3 little shops and a general store. This shop also had a tea shop in the back with some goodies if you were still hungry.

Most of the homes along M-119 have long driveways through the woods to their lake shore summer homes. Their were a few homes along the road, when the lots were too narrow between the road and the bluffs.

When we got back to Harbor Springs, we stopped at the marina, to check out that area of the town. Another place to eat, is the Stafford's Point Room at the marina.

We walked out along the main pier to get views of the water, lake shore homes and boats.

Once again the water is gorgeous.

Joe envies the owner of this boat and imagines having that kind of money to buy it.

Looking out from the bay.

At the end of the bay, I used my zoom lens to see this building. I wondered if maybe it was a Country Club, as all the homes in Harbor Springs Bay are well over a million and half.