Historic Inns
Whether you're looking for a romantic weekend getaway or a cozy spot for some homelike relaxation, Michigan offers a multitude of Inns and Bed & Breakfasts lodging options to choose from.
Check Into an Historic Michigan Inn
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. Guests from the past wouldn't recognize the amenities that these refurbished historic lodgings offer today but the hospitality remains Pure Michigan.
Inns of Mackinac Island
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-bed & breakfasts and large lodgings built as inns, including the Island House Hotel, circa 1852; Grand Hotel, celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year, and the 1904 Hotel Iroquois.
Inn Northern Michigan
In Harbor Springs, Petoskeys 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.
Old Mission Inn claims the distinction of being Northern Michigans 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.
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.
Vacation Inn Harbor Country
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 20th century vacation spots that they were with the addition of modern amenities.
Inn the UP
This year, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The lodge was built during the Great Depression as an escape from the harsh reality of the times. Today, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge offers 24 quaint and clean cabins and eight motel rooms for people still looking for a refreshing getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
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.
Chamberlins 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 Chamberlins is noted for its fine dining room and more casual Porch and Pub menu.
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 19th century fare. The stagecoach stop was built in 1831 in Clinton, on the Chicago Road and relocated to Henry Fords 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, which hosts the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race on August 19.
Stay Inn Michigan College Towns
Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan, is one college town winning accolades from all over the world including being named one of the top 20 best destination spots of 2012 by Frommers Travel Guides.
During your stay in Ann Arbor, spend a night, weekend, or whole week in one of the many historic Bed & Breakfasts. Vitosha Guest Haus is a 1917 historic castlestone complex with ten lodgings and a cottage that sleeps six. The cottage served as a Model-T garage and caretakers abode 90 years ago. Guests that prefer a more peaceful vacation choose Steller House Bed & Breakfast, which is located three miles from downtown. Steller House, originally known as Gleaner Hall, was built in the mid-1800s as a place for farmers to store and trade their supplies. The house later became a beer and dance hall, and rumor has it that Bob Seger once performed there.
East Lansing is the home of Michigan State University. This charming and historic college town has many amenities to offer including world-class restaurants, unique shops, and is up the street from the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing.
The Rosewood Inn Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful 1870s Italianate with four spacious guest suites.The Bed & Breakfast is located in Lansing and is ideal for couples looking for a romantic getaway or parents visiting their kids in college.
Mount Pleasant and Kalamazoo are Michigan college towns with plenty of school spirit, cultural attractions and stunning historical inns.
Stay in a home away from home at Ginkgo Tree Inn. The 1902 Victorian Gem was built by Dr. Sheridan E. Gardiner with precise detail. Gardiner was in no hurry to finish building his home until he met his bride-to-be. At that point, he rushed the remainder of the project so they could marry. Ginkgo Tree Inn is located in Mount Pleasant and offers guests a relaxing stay in the luxuriously furnished Victorian style rooms and a fantastic cuisine at the Riverbluff Bistro.
Hall House is a 1923 Georgian Revival home in Kalamazoo that boasts exceptional craftsmanship and a rich history. The home has 14 rooms and is located in the National Historic District of Kalamazoo. Hall House was featured in Inn Traveler Magazine as one of the best Bed & Breakfasts near a college or university throughout North America.