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.
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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)
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
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
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
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
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
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
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
8. Shop for fresh produce at Grayling Farmers Market
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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)
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
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
11. Rent a kayak from Borchers AuSable Canoe & Kayak
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)
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
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)
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
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
Explore the amazing things in Grayling
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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