Weary travelers have been resting their heads and finding nourishment at inns along Michigan roads and highways since the early 1800s. Some of these historic establishments still welcome guests for an overnight stay, a satisfying meal and a refreshing beverage. The blossoming tourism era of the late 19^th century saw hotels catering to Victorian vacationers and there was another boom in the early 1900s. Guests from the past wouldn’t recognize the amenities that these refurbished historic lodgings offer today---but the hospitality remains Pure Michigan.

Stagecoach Stops

Marshall, which has 850 structures in its National Historic Landmark District, is home to Michigan’s oldest operating Bed & Breakfast, The National House Inn. The stagecoach stop dates to 1835 and continues to welcome guests to its 16 rooms. The Mendon Country Inn was the halfway mark on the five-hour stagecoach journey between Detroit and Chicago. Built in 1843, the B&B now makes travelers comfortable with private baths, television and other modern touches. The Historic White Horse Inn opened as a stagecoach stop in 1850 in Metamora, and is still serving lunch, dinner, brunch and tea as “the oldest restaurant in Michigan.” 

Inn Northern Michigan

As the fur trading and military uses for Mackinac Island came to an end, the island in the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas became a destination for Victorian visitors who arrived by steamship from Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and elsewhere. Historic accommodations range from lovely cottages-turned-B&Bs and large lodgings built as inns, including the Island House Hotel, circa 1852; Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887; and the 1904 Hotel Iroquois.

The century-old Bay View Terrace Inn is located in the Victorian era Chautauqua retreat known as the Bay View Association, in Petoskey. While the surrounding private cottages are open only in the summertime, Terrace Inn operates its 37 B&B guest rooms and dining room year round. Nearby, Stafford’s Bay View Inn, with 31 rooms and suites on Little Traverse Bay, has hosted vacationers since 1886. Its sister property, the 79-room Perry Hotel, has catered to guests since 1899 and is the last of the original resort hotels standing in downtown Petoskey.

In Harbor Springs, Petoskey’s neighbor across Little Traverse Bay, guests can stay at the Colonial Inn among the impressive “cottages” of Wequetonsing. The inn was built by a Civil War Colonel in 1894, and now offers 40 rooms and suites, swimming pool and indoor spa tub.

Enjoy some time at the romantic 116 year old Grand Victorian Inn with Queen Inn Victorian architecture in the quaint town of Bellaire. First private residence in Michigan to have electric power.

Old Mission Inn claims the distinction of being Northern Michigan’s oldest continually operating historic hotel. Located on the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City, it was built in 1869 as a 31 room hotel and now has five rooms, two suites, and a five-bedroom cabin.

Inn the Early Twentieth Century

For over a century the southwest area of the state now known as Harbor Country has been a popular Lake Michigan destination. The Inn at Union Pier began as a 39 room summer resort in the 1920s, and now offers 16 guest rooms with private baths, outdoor hot tub, and local berries at breakfast. Sister properties, the 20-room Gordon Beach Inn in Union Pier and 31-room Lakeside Inn in Lakeside, have been restored to evoke the feel of the early 20^th century vacation spots that they were---with the addition of modern amenities.

On Michigan’s Sunrise Side near Lake Huron and Alpena, Churchill Pointe Inn on Hubbard Lake has been a vacation retreat since the 1920s, with nine guest rooms and a popular dining room overlooking the water.

Inn the UP

St. Ignace, at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, was settled in 1671, but its oldest operating accommodations date to 1928 when the Travelers Hotel opened. The renamed Boardwalk Inn accommodates its B&B guests in a dozen rooms and suites, all with private baths.

Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn was built in the 1800s as a hotel near the Curtis railroad station during the booming logging era, and relocated to a bluff on Big Manistique Lake in 1924. The 11-room Chamberlin’s is noted for its fine dining room and more casual Porch and Pub menu. Close to the Garden Peninsula and Fayette Historic State Park you can stay in the restored, 14-room Nahma Inn, built in 1909 as a hotel for employees of the Bay De Noc Lumber Company. Be sure to enjoy a meal and beverage in the dining room or Arrow Lounge.  

In 1930 the Northland Hotel debuted in Marquette, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula, and welcomed guests including Amelia Earhart, Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Stewart and the Rolling Stones. Beautifully renovated in the 1990s, it reopened as the 62-room Landmark Inn. Enjoy the birds-eye view of Lake Superior from the North Star Lounge.

Museum Inn-sights

While touring Greenfield Village in Dearborn stop at Eagle Tavern for a cup of cider, bowl of chicken corn chowder, or other taste of 19^th century fare. The stagecoach stop was built in 1831 in Clinton, on the Chicago Road, and relocated to Henry Ford’s outdoor museum to preserve an aspect of early American travel.

In 1843 Sylvester Walker assumed ownership of a tavern that had been built in 1836 at Cambridge Junction, a crossroads on the Chicago Road between Detroit and Chicago. Walker Tavern and the barn still stand as a museum about stagecoach travel at Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Brooklyn, also the home of Michigan International Speedway,

Detroit

Book a room at the striking blue 30-story tower of the 400-room Greektown Casino hotel and then check out the 2,500 slots and video poker machines, more than 60 tables of gaming fun and a Poker Room. Satisfy your appetite at Bistro 555, International Buffet, or Shotz Sports Bar & Grill, or step outside and enjoy a choice of ethnic restaurants and nightspots in the heart of Greektown. Eclipz features live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night along with food and drink specials.

The dramatic Art Deco exterior of the MGM Grand Detroit makes a grand impression that continues throughout the million-square-foot casino, hotel, and spa. Original art and striking decor sets the scene for some 4,000 slots and video poker, over 100 table games and Poker Room. Indulge in a treatment at IMMERSE spa and dine at one of three signature restaurants: Wolfgang Puck’s Grille, Bourbon Steak and Saltwater by Michael Mina. Or relax at one of the casual dining spots, Palette or Breeze. Sip something of your choice at five lounges or high energy nightspots, or take in live entertainment before retiring to one of the 400 plush rooms or suites. Ask about the spa and hotel packages for a pampered stay.

Colorful strips of neon wrap around the exterior of MotorCity Casino and signal the electricity inside at the 2,800 gaming machines plus table games and Poker Room. The 400 guest rooms and suites are AAA Four Diamond rated, as is the beautiful 2011 Hour Detroit magazine Restaurant of the Year, Iridescence, atop the hotel tower with an amazing view. Amnesia Ultra Lounge on the 16^th floor boasts the hottest DJs on weekends, and there’s live music and DJ entertainment at three additional clubs. You can also please your appetite at the Assembly Line Buffet, Pit Stop for sandwiches and burgers, Grand River Deli and the D.Tour Spa with luxury services to soothe any traveler.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, just 75 miles east of Chicago, boasts the Midwest’s only World Poker Tour Poker Room on top of 3,000 slots and 100 gaming tables. Enjoy a great meal at the Copper Rock steakhouse or choose one of the casual dining spots and relax over a beverage at one of four bars. Take in live entertainment or do some boutique shopping in a beautiful setting of stone and wood, and retire to one of the 165 deluxe rooms or suites.

There are poker tournaments every Wednesday at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, plus 2,680 slot machines, a 120-seat 24/7 Poker Room and 78 game tables. Satisfy your sweet tooth at the chocolate fountain on the dessert bar at the Mijem (food) buffet, one of five eateries. Hear live music and DJs at Kabaret or sip a local micro brew and watch the 14 large screen TVs at Dacey’s Sports Bar.

Gun Lake Casino is in Wayland Township, halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The contemporary casino offers 1,200 slot machines, 36 tables, entertainment at Stage 131 and casual dining at the Sandhill Café. Crossroads features beverages and big screen sports.

Northern Lower Peninsula

The stunning décor of Petoskey’s 50,000 square-feet Odawa Casino Resort includes a 16-foot tall wine tower in Sage Restaurant, known for seafood and prime beef. Waas-no-de (Northern Lights) Buffet offers more than 100 choices from sandwiches to wood-burning pizza. The sleek O Zone night club “party pods” are hot spots and top names perform at the 1,000-seat Ovation Hall. The Rendezvous Lounge is convenient for drink on the casino floor which, by the way, offers 1,500 machines, 17 table games and Poker Room. Nearby, half of the Odawa Hotel’s 127 guest rooms boast views of Little Traverse Bay and offers a shuttle to the casino.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant is one of the largest casinos in North America, with 4,400 slots, 70 tables, 24/7 Poker Room and High Stakes Bingo on the weekends. The AAA Four Diamond hotel has 514 rooms and suites, a full service spa, and dining choices include Isabella’s for Italian specialties, Siniikaung Steak and Chop House, Firefly Buffet, Water Lily Lounge and the Native Grind Coffee Shoppe. The indoor pool has Italian glass tiles and underwater music and lights, and for the family there’s Kids Quest hourly childcare and Cyber Quest entertainment center.

Not far away in Standish, the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino brings over 800 slot machines including high limit slots and a variety of electronic table games to Michigan’s Sunrise Side.

In the Traverse City area the contemporary Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg offers 650 slots from one cent  to $100, plus popular table games and a Poker Room. The casino is redesigning the game floor and will include a new High Limit area. Savor international flavors at Seasons Buffet plus the Coffee Spoon and Deli. Turtle Creek offers comedy and live music, and an outdoor patio for a change of pace. Some of the hotel’s spacious rooms or suites have balconies overlooking the rolling Grand Traverse terrain.

Play and stay on the eastern shore of the Leelanau Peninsula at Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Suttons Bay. Favorite tables and 480 slots entertain along with comedy and music in Elements Lounge, and touring performers at the 1,000-seat Leelanau Sands Showroom. Sleep at the 51-room Lodge, 2-bedroom Chalet, or Cedar View cottage.

There’s a northern lodge resort air about the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee with 1,500 slots, popular table games, three dining choices, entertainment at The Grove and big name acts performing in the 1,700-seat event center. In addition to the 292 hotel rooms, guests can stay at the resort’s full-service 95-site RV Park, and have access to the hotel’s pool, sauna and fitness center.

Upper Peninsula

Visit the Kewadin Casinos with non-stop entertainment including national talent headliners at the Sault Ste. Marie Casino. Kewadin’s five locations across the UP, from Hessel to Christmas and Manistique, offer a combined 86,000 square feet of gaming space with 2,000 slot machines and 50 game tables, seven restaurants and delis, eight lounges, four gift shops, two on-site hotels and 25,000-square foot convention facility. The St. Ignace location has 820 machines, 22 tables, entertainment and an 81-room hotel on Lake Huron with pool and fitness center. Sault Ste. Marie has 700 slots, 19 tables, and 400-seat Bingo, plus a 318-room hotel and 1,500-seat Dream Makers Theater.

On the banks of the St. Mary’s River in Brimley, the Bay Mills Resort & Casino Brimley has nearly 1,000 slot and video poker machines, many game tables, and Poker Room. There’s a 76-space RV Park within walking distance of the casino and the 142-room hotel nearby at Waishkey Bay has a Jacuzzi in every suite. A shuttle bus services both to the Bay Mills and Kings Club Casino, also in Brimley. Kings Club, with 250 machines, was the first tribally-operated blackjack casino in the US. Be sure to try the local whitefish dinner basket at Chums Café. In addition, golfers will enjoy the 18-hole Wild Bluff golf course, rated tops in the UP.

The 18-hole golf course at Lac Vieux Desert Resort Casino in Watersmeet also gets great reviews for its beautiful setting in the Ottawa National Forest—and there’s a mini casino in the course clubhouse. The main casino features 670 slots, favorite tables, Poker Room on weekends and Cribbage on the third Saturday each month, Bingo every Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, plus bars and theme dinners at the full-service restaurant. Stay at the 132-room Dancing Eagles Hotel that offers an indoor heated pool, or hitch-up at the 14-space RV Park/Campground.

The UP offers gaming fun at two Ojibwa Casinos, in Marquette and Baraga. The Ojibwa Casino Marquette offers a 7-site RV Park and is convenient to the variety of dining and lodging in that city. The casino has slots, table games and bi-weekly Texas Hold ‘em tournaments. Ojibwa Casino Baraga has a 40-room hotel plus 12-site RV Park, on site bowling lanes, lounge and sports bar. Enjoy a meal at the Red Apple Family Restaurant or the Press Box Sports Bar. Play at 300 slots or at popular table games.

Escape to the tropics at the Island Resort & Casino in Harris, west of Escanaba. There are 1,400 state of the art slots including the new virtual horse racing, plus top table games, Live Poker five days and Bingo seven days a week.

Stay at the 275-room hotel or 53-site RV Park and dine at Firekeeper’s, Coral Reef Grille or Beachcomber Restaurant. Top entertainers regularly visit, and Club Four One offers music and comedy nights. The resort’s Sweetgrass Golf Club was recognized with “best course” honors by three top golf magazines in 2009.