July 6, 2025

Harbor Springs & Bay Harbor In Some Elite Company

Oct. 16, 2021

Travel + Leisure magazine knows its stuff, so when the publication partnered released its list last week of the “Eight best small towns to buy a vacation home” and our very own Emmet County landed on the list, we were impressed. The article notes that second homes are having a moment right now because so many people are escaping big cities and can work from anywhere.

The piece notes Bay Harbor and Petoskey have seen a “surge of demand” in waterfront homes of late, and hails the area further: “These serene resort communities on Lake Michigan attract visitors of all ages year-round with their charming lakeside dining and shopping spots, golfing, fishing, and sailing opportunities, as well as their overall laid-back vibe. Fall foliage here is absolutely stunning, and when the first snow transforms the area into a winter wonderland.”

The other towns were Bend, Oregon; Seaside, Florida; St. Augustine, Florida; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Grand Lake, Colorado; Big Sky, Montana; and Wailea, Hawaii.

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