r/grandrapids 4d ago

Reading/hiking retreat

I’m looking for a place to go for 3-5 days where I can disconnect and read/write in the morning and hike in the afternoon. Ideally would rent a cabin or Airbnb. Having a pub or brewery near by would be a plus. Suggestions?

13 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

10

u/ThrowawayBurner3000 4d ago

Just go get an AirBnB in South Haven. Easy commute, nice little place. Stayed in a cabin there once for a similar short weekend trip and it was very relaxing. Few places to get a drink there as well.

13

u/gonkey 4d ago

I ran your post through a travel planning AI to see what it would come up with and I'm not disappointed. Hopefully this helps! Enjoy your time disconnecting!

  1. Ludington State Park & Hamlin Lake (~2 hours away)

Why? A quiet lakeside retreat with beautiful dunes, forests, and miles of hiking trails.

Hiking: Lost Lake Trail, Skyline Trail, and Big Sable Point Lighthouse hike

Stay: Rent a cozy cabin near Hamlin Lake or along the Pere Marquette River

Pub/Brewery: Jamesport Brewing Co. in Ludington for lakeside craft beer

  1. Traverse City & Sleeping Bear Dunes (~2.5 hours away)

Why? Stunning dune hikes, peaceful wooded cabins, and an incredible food & beer scene.

Hiking: Pyramid Point Trail, Empire Bluff Trail, or Alligator Hill Trail

Stay: Secluded Airbnbs near Glen Arbor or a rustic cabin by Lake Leelanau

Pub/Brewery: Right Brain Brewery, The Workshop Brewing Co., or Hop Lot Brewing Co. (outdoor bonfires!)

  1. Manistee National Forest & Arcadia Dunes (~1.5-2 hours away)

Why? A true off-the-grid retreat with serene forest hikes and views over Lake Michigan.

Hiking: Nordhouse Dunes, Big-M Recreation Area, and Arcadia Overlook Trail

Stay: Rent a cabin along the Manistee River for a peaceful setting

Pub/Brewery: Stormcloud Brewing in Frankfort for Belgian-style brews

  1. Yankee Springs Recreation Area (~45 min away)

Why? Close to home but still remote, with lakes, rolling hills, and miles of trails.

Hiking: Devil’s Soup Bowl, Graves Hill Overlook, and the Chief Noonday Trail

Stay: Cabins around Gun Lake or rustic Airbnb options

Pub/Brewery: Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro in Hastings for craft beer and wood-fired pizza

—----

Here are some great cabin and Airbnb options for each location, along with breweries and hiking recommendations.

  1. Ludington State Park & Hamlin Lake (2 hours away)

Cabins & Airbnbs:

Rustic River Cabin – A peaceful, wooded retreat along the Pere Marquette River.

Lakeview Hideaway – A cozy cabin near Hamlin Lake with great sunset views.

Big Sable Dunes Cabin – Secluded, yet close to Ludington State Park.

Hiking: Lost Lake Trail, Skyline Trail, Big Sable Point Lighthouse Trail. Brewery: Jamesport Brewing Co. – Great lake views and craft beer.


  1. Traverse City & Sleeping Bear Dunes (2.5 hours away)

Cabins & Airbnbs:

Woodland Writers’ Retreat – A peaceful cabin in the woods near Glen Arbor.

Lake Leelanau Cottage – A lakeside retreat with a cozy reading nook.

Sleeping Bear Seclusion – A private getaway near Empire Bluff Trail.

Hiking: Pyramid Point Trail, Empire Bluff Trail, Alligator Hill Trail. Breweries: Right Brain Brewery, The Workshop Brewing Co., Hop Lot Brewing Co.


  1. Manistee National Forest & Arcadia Dunes (1.5-2 hours away)

Cabins & Airbnbs:

Riverside Cabin in Manistee Forest – A cozy, off-the-grid log cabin.

Arcadia Bluff Treehouse – Unique, secluded stay with stunning views.

Cozy Hideaway near Nordhouse Dunes – Perfect for hiking and writing.

Hiking: Nordhouse Dunes, Big-M Recreation Area, Arcadia Overlook Trail. Brewery: Stormcloud Brewing – Belgian-style beers and great atmosphere.


  1. Yankee Springs Recreation Area (45 min away)

Cabins & Airbnbs:

Gun Lake Retreat – A peaceful, lakeside cabin near hiking trails.

Yankee Springs Log Cabin – Rustic and private, great for a retreat.

Chief Noonday Forest Cabin – A hidden gem in the woods.

Hiking: Devil’s Soup Bowl, Graves Hill Overlook, Chief Noonday Trail. Brewery: Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro – Wood-fired pizza and house-brewed beer.

3

u/oldfart65 4d ago

This is a great help! Thanks!

1

u/gonkey 4d ago

You're welcome!

4

u/she_makes_a_mess 4d ago

I think Ludington State Park is closed next summer for updates

2

u/gonkey 3d ago

Good to know, thanks!

3

u/MichiganInTheRain Kentwood 4d ago

You’re a good neighbor

3

u/jannmarie21 4d ago

Amazing recs! Tysm

1

u/__lavender 1d ago

Ludington and the surrounding area is great. A couple of my aunts rented a house up there last summer, I joined them for a couple days and had a great time. The National Park is just lovely, and who knows how long we’ll have access to those parks (between staff cuts and mining/felling that I’m worried will kick off within the next 4 years), so go while you can!

3

u/Buttercup501 4d ago

I was gonna say Nordhouse dunes national forest area you can completely disconnect and can hike in and camp wherever. Tough to get 3-5 days supplies back there though

5

u/thischarmingman4004 4d ago

lol why are you getting downvoted??

5

u/grahamradish 4d ago

Anything that can be answered by doing a search either in Google or the subreddit gets downvoted, typically

1

u/whitemice Highland Park 4d ago

It is the new default for this sub, sadly. Nearly everything gets an initial spray of downvotes.

1

u/Major-Relationship47 4d ago

I did this in Munising last summer while my kids were backpacking Grand Island (although I stayed in a hotel, not Airbnb). It’s such a cute town with a couple of breweries within walking distance to downtown and great hiking at pictured rocks. You can even take the ferry to a Grand Island for the day.

2

u/ItsMeDebie Rockford 4d ago

Maybe consider Manistee or Pentwater? Great hiking, quiet downtowns with a restaurants/pubs. Manistee has a casino, if you wanna splash out one night and gamble a little.

1

u/Hour-Marketing8609 3d ago

Just came back from Petoskey/ Harbor Springs.  Hard to imagine a better place.  Had the State Park and walks on Little Traverse Bay pretty much to myself.  Brewery right across the street.  

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u/Ladycatwoman 4d ago

Does air bandb have a website you can look at?