Manistee County Self-Guided Tour Series

Historic Sites | Bridges | Artisan Markets | Shopping | M-22 Scenic Highway


 

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Self-Guided Tours in Manistee County & The Region

The Manistee County Visitors Center has compiled years worth of data on how travelers explore and enjoy Manistee County. Out of numerous discussions and survey’s the Manistee County Self-Guided Tour series was formed.  The tour series consists of hundreds of historic sites, attractions, natural wonders and much much more.  Browse our latest tours below.

Guided Tours

Looking to explore the region with a guided tour?  Browse our guided tour options below.

 

Follow the travelers that love Manistee County, enjoy these stories about our incredible outdoor recreation, things-to-do, dining, shopping and unique experiences you will ONLY find here.

Browse our latest #MyManistee perspectives here, or scroll through these top stories in your category.

Toni’s Top Ten

Hands down my favorite place in town. The Ramsdell Theatre is bursting with magic, music, and art, as well as incredible history and architecture. You can catch a play, see concerts and if you are lucky, wander over into Hardy Hall to view some of our treasured local...

History of Main Streets

As a general rule of thumb, the phrase “Main Street” is normally given to a road in a city, town, or village that runs through a specified area where the foremost business was being done in that community. The main streets of Manistee County are in essence...

The city of Manistee turns 150

During the first week in March of 1869, Manistee was granted a charter by the State Legislature officially making Manistee a city.  After the first charter election was held on March 15 of that year, a mayor was elected as were alderman for the city’s...

Explore the Bridges & Dams of Manistee County

Follow our Bridges & Dams Self-Guided Tour as it leads you to 10 spectacular structures. Manistee is home to 3 vehicular, 3 railroad, and 1 massive pedestrian bridge along with 2 hydroelectric dams, 1 egg take/salmon harvest weir, and 1 historic bridge site. This...

City Bridges: Memorial Bridge

One can imagine that after enduring the Great Fire of 1871, people of Manistee would be extra concerned about fires. Since there was only one bridge to cross the river a theory arose that if the bridge were open for boating traffic or by some chance...

Moonlight Skiing at Big M

During the dead of winter, there is one light that is shining brightly in the heart of the Manistee National Forest.  At the Big-M Recreation area, there are two "moonlight ski night" that take place on the full moon evenings in January and February...

Hooked on Salmon

Salmon fever erupted in Lake Michigan in the late 1960’s. Actually, erupted is an understatement: How about EXPLODED! For many years prior, Lake Michigan fishing was mostly fishing… not so much catching. The lamprey had devastated the lake trout. There...

Kaleva Bottle House

In 1941, a unique home was built in Kaleva out of 60,000 glass bottles by John Makinen.   Mr. Makinen owned the local pop bottling factory so he used chipped or flawed bottles from his pop bottling factory for his house. It was designed with artistic...

144 Greens: Start planning your golf vacation

There is perhaps no better spot in all of Michigan golf than the balcony at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club at sunset. The views toward the horizon of Lake Michigan stretch for miles. The fescue grasses of the course’s rugged dunes flutter in the wind and shimmer...

Wonders of Winter Along M22

The scenic M22 route following the Lake Michigan shoreline from Manistee north through the Leelanau Peninsula is one of the most beautiful drives in any season of the year, winter is no exception. Your route begins at US31 & M22 at the Little River Casino Resort....