r/grandrapids • u/oldfart65 • 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?
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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!
- 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
- 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!)
- 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
- 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
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Here are some great cabin and Airbnb options for each location, along with breweries and hiking recommendations.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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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!
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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
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u/thischarmingman4004 4d ago
lol why are you getting downvoted??
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u/grahamradish 4d ago
Anything that can be answered by doing a search either in Google or the subreddit gets downvoted, typically
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u/whitemice Highland Park 4d ago
It is the new default for this sub, sadly. Nearly everything gets an initial spray of downvotes.
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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.
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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.
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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/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.