Guidebook for Frankfort

Linda
Guidebook for Frankfort

Drinks & Nightlife

Maybe the best beer brewed in northern Michigan ... Short's has some serious competition. Also, wonderful atmosphere ... check-out the games on the piano, or ask for a set of chess pieces.
99 locals recommend
Stormcloud Brewing Company
303 Main St
99 locals recommend
Maybe the best beer brewed in northern Michigan ... Short's has some serious competition. Also, wonderful atmosphere ... check-out the games on the piano, or ask for a set of chess pieces.
GREAT locals watering hole, with solid food and a great deck overlooking the water. Live music most weekends.
30 locals recommend
Cabbage Shed
198 Frankfort Ave
30 locals recommend
GREAT locals watering hole, with solid food and a great deck overlooking the water. Live music most weekends.
Karaoke!
8 locals recommend
Villa Marine Bar & Grill
228 Main St
8 locals recommend
Karaoke!

Arts & Culture

Literally across the street from the cottage, these outdoor, world-class productions are always fun and engaging.
Lakeside Shakespeare Theater
188 Park Ave
Literally across the street from the cottage, these outdoor, world-class productions are always fun and engaging.
Restored single-screen theater that plays first-run movies, and hosts a film festival each October.
25 locals recommend
The Garden Theater
301 Main St
25 locals recommend
Restored single-screen theater that plays first-run movies, and hosts a film festival each October.
World-class performing arts of ALL kinds.
117 locals recommend
Interlochen Center for the Arts
4000 J. Maddy Pkwy
117 locals recommend
World-class performing arts of ALL kinds.

Parks & Nature

Secluded local beach. Drive past Trick Dog, & down the hill; then drive down the two-track, park & hike over the dune ... it's possible to have the entire beach to yourselves. GREAT for stargazing!
Elberta Bluffs
Secluded local beach. Drive past Trick Dog, & down the hill; then drive down the two-track, park & hike over the dune ... it's possible to have the entire beach to yourselves. GREAT for stargazing!
Great playground for kids
Elberta's Waterfront Park
Centre Street
Great playground for kids
It's possible to hike the beach to here from Frankfort (4-miles), but it's also a nice excursion to check-out the rocky beach and lighthouse.
57 locals recommend
Point Betsie Lighthouse
3701 Point Betsie Rd
57 locals recommend
It's possible to hike the beach to here from Frankfort (4-miles), but it's also a nice excursion to check-out the rocky beach and lighthouse.
Kinda touristy, but a fun bucket-list item in the park. Be sure to run down the dune all the way to the beach.
46 locals recommend
Dune Climb Lot station
46 locals recommend
Kinda touristy, but a fun bucket-list item in the park. Be sure to run down the dune all the way to the beach.
Miles of trails, and, from the dunes high above the lake ... some of the most beautiful vistas in the world! The Dry Hill Loop is a 10-mile single track, and was designed as a mountain bike trail, though is also great for a hike. The easiest access is from the parking lot near St. Pierre & Matzinger roads
23 locals recommend
Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve
7292 Swamp Rd
23 locals recommend
Miles of trails, and, from the dunes high above the lake ... some of the most beautiful vistas in the world! The Dry Hill Loop is a 10-mile single track, and was designed as a mountain bike trail, though is also great for a hike. The easiest access is from the parking lot near St. Pierre & Matzinger roads
Our favorite hike in Glen Arbor ... it loops, and at the top there are great views of the Manitou Islands.
25 locals recommend
Alligator Hill Trail
Stocking Road
25 locals recommend
Our favorite hike in Glen Arbor ... it loops, and at the top there are great views of the Manitou Islands.
Lovely & secluded beach ... Sleeping Bear Dunes park pass recommended.
Good Harbor Bay
Lovely & secluded beach ... Sleeping Bear Dunes park pass recommended.
This is a really great river to float, kayak or canoe down. There are several places to put in and take out, and LOTS of wildlife along the way. It empties into Lake Michigan in Frankfort.
Betsie River
This is a really great river to float, kayak or canoe down. There are several places to put in and take out, and LOTS of wildlife along the way. It empties into Lake Michigan in Frankfort.
A lovely hike down to a secluded beach.
22 locals recommend
Green Point Dunes
1198 Green Point Rd
22 locals recommend
A lovely hike down to a secluded beach.

Sightseeing

At the end of this street is a rustic set of wooden steps that lead down to the western end of Frankfort beach, which tends to be less crowded. We usually leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs.
Nipissing Street
Nipissing Street
At the end of this street is a rustic set of wooden steps that lead down to the western end of Frankfort beach, which tends to be less crowded. We usually leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs.
This is an old railroad grade that begins at Frankfort beach, following the alley south of Main St., continuing through downtown Beulah, and then all the way to Crystal Mountain in Thomponsville.
33 locals recommend
Betsie Valley Trail
826 Michigan Ave
33 locals recommend
This is an old railroad grade that begins at Frankfort beach, following the alley south of Main St., continuing through downtown Beulah, and then all the way to Crystal Mountain in Thomponsville.
Beautiful Beach ... Sleeping Bear Dunes pass recommended.
Esch Road
Esch Road
Beautiful Beach ... Sleeping Bear Dunes pass recommended.
A MUST see view of the Sleeping Bear Dunes ... easy hike. Park pass recommended.
40 locals recommend
Empire Bluff Trail
Empire Bluff Trail
40 locals recommend
A MUST see view of the Sleeping Bear Dunes ... easy hike. Park pass recommended.

Food Scene

Our favorite burgers in town, and ribs ... with decent beers on tap. Fun nautical theme, with cool old posters and prints from Frankfort's past.
28 locals recommend
Dinghy's Restaurant & Bar
415 Main St
28 locals recommend
Our favorite burgers in town, and ribs ... with decent beers on tap. Fun nautical theme, with cool old posters and prints from Frankfort's past.
Surprisingly good Asian fusion, with well-curated beer and wines, and good cocktails.
33 locals recommend
The Fusion
300 Main St
33 locals recommend
Surprisingly good Asian fusion, with well-curated beer and wines, and good cocktails.
Real bagels, and good sandwiches ... the original location is in downtown Beulah.
11 locals recommend
L'Chayim Delicatessen
318 Main St
11 locals recommend
Real bagels, and good sandwiches ... the original location is in downtown Beulah.
Solid menu, good steaks & whitefish ... and the best selection of Scotch Whiskies in and area.
17 locals recommend
The Manitou
4349 N Scenic Hwy
17 locals recommend
Solid menu, good steaks & whitefish ... and the best selection of Scotch Whiskies in and area.
The best selection of liquor in the area, and they'll also sell you single beers, or mixed six-packs, 12-packs, etc.
Conundrum Cafe
603 Frankfort Ave
The best selection of liquor in the area, and they'll also sell you single beers, or mixed six-packs, 12-packs, etc.
Our favorite breakfast spot in town. Nice outdoor seating.
6 locals recommend
Bayview Grille
727 Main St
6 locals recommend
Our favorite breakfast spot in town. Nice outdoor seating.
Our favorite restaurant in Benzie County ... everything's good; GREAT salsas, Dos Equis always on tap ... decent selection of tequilas. Nice outdoor patio seating.
52 locals recommend
Road House
1058 Michigan Ave
52 locals recommend
Our favorite restaurant in Benzie County ... everything's good; GREAT salsas, Dos Equis always on tap ... decent selection of tequilas. Nice outdoor patio seating.
Wine Bar, if that's your thing. LOTS of choices by the glass, which is nice.
Cru Cellars Michigan
411 Main Street
Wine Bar, if that's your thing. LOTS of choices by the glass, which is nice.
Classic Americana ... the cherry pie is a must!
27 locals recommend
The Cherry Hut
211 N Michigan Ave
27 locals recommend
Classic Americana ... the cherry pie is a must!
GREAT burgers and tater tots ... solid beers always on tap.
24 locals recommend
Joe's Friendly Tavern
11015 W Front St
24 locals recommend
GREAT burgers and tater tots ... solid beers always on tap.
GREAT burgers and tater tots ... excellent beers on tap. Worth the wait.
72 locals recommend
Art's Tavern
6487 W Western Ave
72 locals recommend
GREAT burgers and tater tots ... excellent beers on tap. Worth the wait.
Our favorite Italian restaurant in the area ... GREAT wine list!
28 locals recommend
Trattoria Funistrada
4566 West Macfarlane Road
28 locals recommend
Our favorite Italian restaurant in the area ... GREAT wine list!
The finest in fine dining ... with a view to match. The best dining experience outside of Traverse City in the entire area.
16 locals recommend
Blu
5705 S Lake St
16 locals recommend
The finest in fine dining ... with a view to match. The best dining experience outside of Traverse City in the entire area.
Kinda touristy... but fun for a visit.
55 locals recommend
Cherry Republic | Glen Arbor
South Lake Street
55 locals recommend
Kinda touristy... but fun for a visit.

Everything Else

The best local canoe livery ... with surprisingly good food and ice cream from their takeout window.
58 locals recommend
Riverside Canoe Trips
5042 N Scenic Hwy
58 locals recommend
The best local canoe livery ... with surprisingly good food and ice cream from their takeout window.

Essentials

Best meat counter in Benzie County ... REALLY good sausages ... interesting selection of beer & wines.
17 locals recommend
Honor Family Market
10625 Main St
17 locals recommend
Best meat counter in Benzie County ... REALLY good sausages ... interesting selection of beer & wines.