Dave wasn't feeling the tourist thing today, so I hopped in the truck and went exploring by myself, which gives me an opportunity to just stop anywhere that catches my fancy.
My first stop was the township of Charlevoix. Their town sign says "Charlevoix the Beautiful" and that's very fitting. It reminded me a lot of Boothbay Harbor Maine, with all the small shops, the harbor and general small town feel.
East Point Harbor had a small lighthouse and a small beach that seemed to be very popular.
Several of the store fronts had beautiful murals painted, like the one in the pictures below. The town park by the harbor was very user friendly. Splash pads for the kids and an outdoor auditorium for concerts.
Another feature I loved was along the main street. All of the street curbs had colorful flowers planted, which added an extra touch of whimsy. I could probably spend a week there and not get bored.
Lavender Hill Farms has many events throughout the season, from movie nights to barn dances. It's one of the largest lavender farms in Michigan, and I didn't even know that Michigan had lavender farms. They have honey bees and make over 23 varieties of lavender honey. Their gift shop was filled with culinary delights and lavender inspired items handcrafted by local artisans. The farm is also used as a venue for weddings and other events.
I purchased the kiddies some lavender dog shampoo, hoping it would help their allergy itching.