Top 15 Things To Do In Grayling, Michigan

things to do in Grayling MI
Salim
Salim 
Updated
| 7 min read

Grayling, a beautiful sanctuary in the center of Northern Michigan, is nothing short of a paradise destination for outdoor lovers. This quaint river town has absolutely everything you need to make your vacation unforgettable. During the sunny Grayling summer period, enjoy going on exciting hikes, navigating bike trails, playing golf and even hunting in the town’s lush outdoor greenery. Winter season here isn’t drab too, as there are several places to go skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling within the city. Canoeing and kayaking are a regular activity here as the majestic rivers AuSable and Manistee pass right through the town. Grayling is also home to some interesting historical sites and beautiful large parks. The city is perfect for your family vacation or a weekend getaway. With the below top things to do in Grayling, Michigan, you are in for a memorable getaway. Scroll down to find out more.

1. Take a stroll through the scenic Hartwick Pines State Park

Happy International Day of Forests! We can't think of a better place to spend it than here under the canopy of our Old Growth Forest! #HartwickPines #MiStateParks #Forests ???

Posted by Hartwick Pines State Park on Thursday, 21 March 2019

Home to thousands of old-growth white pines, Hartwick Pines, is one of the largest state parks in the state. Set on 19.8 hectares (49 acres) of land, this park is a fantastic place of natural beauty. A visit to this sprawling park offers you several interesting things to do. You can enjoy exciting hikes on paved trails or through the forest, ride through mountain bike trails, explore the impressive visitors center and learn more about the forest, its past and proposed future. Try fishing at the branch of the river passing through the park or camp out with the family for a great time.

Hartwick Pines State Park

Address: 3612 State Park Dr, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Hartwick Pines State Park

Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)

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2. Enjoy homemade beers at the Rolling Oak Brewing Co.


Rolling Oaks is an impressive local brewery in the heart of Grayling. This mini brewery is run by a husband and wife team of beer lovers. At Rolling Oaks, you get a chance to see how some premium homemade craft beer is brewed with locally sourced ingredients. Visitors here are also offered cultivated hand-made craft brews that are made on-site. So you can visit Rolling Oaks Brewing Co – with your food or snacks – to sample some of the best craft brews Grayling has to offer.

Rolling Oak Brewing Co

Address: 509 Norway St, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Rolling Oak Brewing Co

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 12pm - 10pm; Sun - Thu: 1pm - 10pm

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3. Go snow tubing at the Hanson Hills Recreational Park

Posted by Hanson Hills on Saturday, 27 July 2019

A place of fun, excitement and all-round family recreation, Hanson Hills Recreation Center is a must-visit place in the city. This family-friendly recreation center offers you a wide range of different outdoor activities for you to have an unforgettable experience. Explore the various hiking and bike-riding trails all over the center, having fun on the fields or relax playing golf during summertime. During the winter season, you can enjoy exhilarating snow tube rides (a ride down the slopes on a tube to the base of the hill right next to the tow rope that tows you back to the top to do it again), skiing, snowboarding, and others.

Hanson Hills Recreational Park

Address: 7601 Old Lake Rd, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Hanson Hills Recreational Park

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 30 USD

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4. View the artifacts at Crawford County Historical Society Museum


Iconic and beautiful, Crawford County Historical Museum is home to pure proof of the rich history of this town. Formerly a railroad depot, this place has been converted into a quaint museum for the exhibition of several artifacts that shaped the city to what it is today. Spend time exploring and seeing historical pictures that line the wall, the untouched rooms upstairs showing life as a trapper’s wife, an old saloon, a schoolhouse, and more. See how the city grew from a small lumbering place to the beautiful land it is now.

Crawford County Historical Society Museum

Address: 97 East Michigan Avenue, Grayling, MI 49738, United States

Website: Crawford County Historical Society Museum

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5. Watch a movie at Rialto Theater


The oldest theater and showplace in town, Rialto Theater was first opened in 1915. Since then, it has been a premium location for full screen and sometimes off-screen entertainment. Although this theater has undergone many renovations since it was built, it still has a vintage, historic charm about it. Rialto Theater remains open and active and shows the latest Hollywood movie releases. This single-screen theater also plays hosts to special events and concerts occasionally. Locals usually storm this historic theater with their partner to live the moments that your parents, and possibly grandparents lived years ago.

Rialto Theater

Address: 302 E Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Rialto Theater

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 7pm - 9pm; Tue: 1:30pm - 4pm, 7pm - 9pm

Price: from 5 USD

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6. Take an educative hike through the W.J Beal Tree Plantation

A side trip to the W.J. Beal Tree Plantation in Grayling, MI. http://www.michigan.org/property/w-j-beal-tree-plantation/ 9/15/2015

Posted by Story Lake on Sunday, 20 September 2015

Planted in 1888, the W.J Beal Tree Plantation is popularly referred to as the oldest documented tree plantation in North America. Aimed at determining how well trees and shrubs could be grown on sandy soils, this historic plantation is now a site for learning and exploring exciting hiking trails. Visitors here get the chance to go on self-guided tours of the unique ranch, offering incredible views of the trees and some rare plants within the plantation. If you are a lover of trees and nature, you shouldn’t miss a visit to this tree plantation during your time in Grayling.

W.J Beal Tree Plantation

Address: Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: W.J Beal Tree Plantation

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7. Check out the interesting items at Wellington Farm Park

Posted by Wellington Farm, USA on Tuesday, 9 July 2019

Located in a building that can be described as an artifact itself, Wellington Farm Park Museum is an exciting place to visit. The building – built in the 1930s – is home to amazing displays of the tools and items used on small farms in the Midwest during the early 1900s. Enjoy seeing vintage farm machinery, ice harvesting, and fishing tools used during the Great Depression, and a full gallery exhibiting cartoons depicting life during the harsh times. A visit to Wellington Farm Park will leave you entertained and informed about the life of farmers back then.

Wellington Farm Park

Address: 6944 S Military Rd, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Wellington Farm Park

Opening hours: Sun: 10am - 4pm; Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm

Price: 6 - 10 USD

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8. Shop for fresh produce at Grayling Farmers Market

Help our page grow! 1. Invite your friends to like this page. 2. Rate the Grayling Farmers Market by giving us a review. Thank you!

Posted by Grayling Farmers Market on Saturday, 6 July 2019

Summertime in Grayling comes with several exciting activities and events, one of which is the Grayling Farm market fair. This seasonal market offers you the very best local farm produce and organic products within the city. Shop for homegrown veggies, locally made bread, honey, organic eggs, different fruits and many other fresh items. Grayling Farmers Market is also the perfect place to try out some of the locally made goods and products. Who knows, you may find yourself new favorite cuisines. It is held every Thursday during the summer months.

Grayling Farmers Market

Address: 2141 I-75BL, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Grayling Farmers Market

Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 3pm; Thu: 10am - 5pm (closed from Sun - Wed & Fri)

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9. Feed the fishes at Grayling Fish Hatchery


One of the most visited places in the city, Grayling Fish Hatchery is a delightful place to visit. This historic place played a significant part in making Grayling a famous town for trout fishing. Enjoy watching thousands of trout fishes jump and swim around in the hatchery’s ponds. You can even purchase fish feed on-site, and if you are with your kids, watch them have the time of their lives feeding the trout fishes. It’s a beautiful place for all-round family fun and entertainment.

Grayling Fish Hatchery

Address: 4890 W North Down River Rd, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Grayling Fish Hatchery

Opening hours: Thu - Mon: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Tue & Wed)

Price: from 14 USD/family

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10. Enjoy a round of golf at Grayling Golf Clubs

Posted by Grayling Country Club on Saturday, 8 April 2017

Grayling is a paradise for golfing in Northern Michigan. Blessed with three massive, award-winning golf courses, this city offers you exquisite places for enjoyable golfing adventures. With Grayling golf clubs boasting lush green gentle slopes of excellent golf playing courses, incredible golf clubhouses and excellent food and refreshment options, even the most professional golfers will have a fantastic time shooting for birdies in the city. The golf clubs can also be used to host special events, office parties, golf tours, business meetings, etc.

Graying Golf Clubs

Address: 2122 I-75BL, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Graying Golf Clubs

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11. Rent a kayak from Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak

Posted by Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak on Thursday, 24 September 2015

A city blessed with the beautiful AuSable River, you should not miss going on a refreshing canoe trip down the river on your visit to Grayling. However, to do that, you’ll need a canoe or a kayak. That’s where Borchers comes in. Borchers Canoe & Kayak is a family-owned place where you can hire a canoe/kayak and paddle down the fantastic river. Get treated to scenic views of the water and incredible wildlife sights as you relax and drift down the river. When you are done, Borchers will bring you right back into the city.

Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak

Address: 101 Maple St, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak

Opening hours: 8:30am - 6:30pm (daily)

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12. Experience art at the AuSable Artisan Village Art Center

Posted by AuSable Artisan Village on Friday, 26 July 2019

An educational and art display center in the heart of downtown Grayling, AuSable Artisan Village Art center is an incredible place to visit. Established to support life-enriching art and cultural activities within the city, this center showcases the works of over 50 different artists from the city and other places around Northern Michigan. Enjoy experiencing and exploring the creative works of these artists, learning new things about art or catching a contemporary art performance on the performance stage in the center.

AuSable Artisan Village Art Center

Address:219 Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: AuSable Artisan Village Art Center

Opening hours: 11am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 5 - 10 USD

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13. Dine at Grayling Restaurant


Enjoy dining to the most delicious cuisines at this incredible restaurant on the main strip in town. Opened in 1937, Grayling Restaurant is a great place to enjoy eating high-quality food in a relaxing atmosphere. Interact with the locals, get treated to excellent customer service, and a wide range of dishes on the menu to choose from. You are bound to have an enjoyable dining experience at this homely restaurant. A popular place among the locals, this restaurant offers meals at quite affordable rates too. You should check it out!

Grayling Restaurant

Address: 211 Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Grayling Restaurant

Opening hours: 6am - 3pm (daily)

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14. Relax at the Grayling Country Club

Great day for lunch on the patio.

Posted by Grayling Country Club on Sunday, 2 June 2019

This club offers you a place to relax and unwind with friends in a friendly atmosphere. With a fantastic golf course on its property, Grayling Country Club also has its bar and restaurant, a fire pit and a spacious deck to watch golf games. This iconic country club is set along the charming AuSable River and it is open to the public. So whether you are playing golf, watching those playing, or just sipping on a drink at the bar, you are sure to have a relaxing time.

Grayling Country Club

Address: 2122 I-75BL, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Grayling Country Club

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15. Have a lovely evening at Tinker’s Junction

Stop in and try out the new summer drink!!! Raspberry Hard Ice Tea ?3️⃣‼️‼️

Posted by Tinker's Junction on Monday, 24 April 2017

Tinker’s Junction offers you a casual dining experience or party destination within the city. If you are in Grayling with friends and you are wondering where to have a fun and memorable time, then Tinker’s is where you should go. With delicious meals on their menu, this exciting place also offers you music from live bands, DJs, and a chance to sing your songs at the karaoke bar. Sip on drinks and party away with friends at Tinker’s Junction.

Tinker's Junction

Address: 6811 M-72, Grayling, MI 49738, USA

Website: Tinker’s Junction

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 12pm - 2am; Sun - Thu: 12pm - 11pm

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Explore the amazing things in Grayling

Grayling, Michigan city hall
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Notorious4life used under CC0

Grayling, an incredible city in Northern Michigan, can only be described as the hidden gem of the region. The things to do in Grayling, Michigan, are exciting, educative, fun-filled, healthy and just too numerous to list. So get ready for a most beautiful timeout.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Salim is a lover of adventure and creativity. He is fascinated with the beauty of nature and the great African arts and history. He has visited many of the waterfalls and museums in Nigeria and...Read more

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