Things to do in Harbor Beach
We’re a very small, rural lakeside city so there’s not a ton going on in the fall. That's part of why it's a great place to avoid distraction & focus on your art!
When you need a break from your creative process, you'll love exploring Harbor Beach. We do have great access to nature in the city and there are other local communities worth exploring as well. We’d love to have you back for the Summer high season when you can really enjoy all we have to offer.
We’ve highlighted some of our favorites below. You can also visit the city’s website to learn more.
Trail System
Harbor Beach has the longest (and expanding) city wide trail system in the Thumb!
The paved Harbor View Trail starts at the cottages where you’ll stay and stretches from one end of the city to the other. It connects the shoreline, parks, and downtown.
The Backus Nature Trail is just a couple minutes walk from the cottages and is a great spot in the City limits to take a hike.
We are also located on the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail.
Lake Huron
The cottages you’ll be staying in are located on the shoreline next to the city marina. We have many access points to Lake Huron, all of which are connected by the Harbor View Trail.
Take a nice bike ride along the shoreline, bring your tackle and do some fishing, or just wake up early and catch the sunrise over the Lake.
If you're able to get out on the water, check out the Harbor Beach Lighthouse & two large shipwrecks that are visible from the water surface! If you’re really adventurous, bring your dry suit and dive the shipwrecks. If the weather is still warm, we may be able to get you a kayak or SUP to use for your stay.
Theater & Museums
Harbor Beach has a beautiful, historic theater. Though it's mostly used to show movies these days, you may be able to catch a special event while you're here. This will be the venue for your artist discussion during your residency as well.
The Harbor Beach District Library offers free WiFi and computers, copying, and faxing services, a local history collection, and abundant reading materials.
Harbor Beach has several museums, including the home and office of former Supreme Court Justice, US Attorney General, Michigan Governor, Mayor of Detroit, and Governor General of the Philippine Islands, Frank Murphy.
Nearby Communities
Port Austin & Grindstone City
Port Austin is the "Tip of the Thumb" where you can watch both the sunrise and sunset. It is the arts leader in the Thumb region with large and small scale projects, galleries, and events that celebrate the arts. The village is growing rapidly with new restaurants & shops every year. It is also the home of Turnip Rock and many other rock formations as well as the famous Port Austin Farmers Market.
Located on Lake Huron, between Huron City and Port Austin, you'll find the newly renovated harbor in Grindstone City. You'll also find campgrounds, parks, restaurants, an art gallery, and one of the most famous ice cream joint around!
Visit the Port Austin Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more.
Barn Art Installations
You might be surprised to learn that our county has some large art installations by renownd artists including murals by Hygienic Dress League and sculptures by Scott Hocking and Catie Newell.
The projects have been garnering much attention for our area, and have been featured in nationally televised stories and have even won international design awards.
Port Hope
Our neighboring community (only 7 miles away) is sleepy little town on Lake Huron. Port Hope offers a few restaurants and shops as well as another access point to Lake Huron with a completely different beach than we have.
Huron City
This ghost town had its start as a lumber town in 1854 founded by Langdon Hubbard. His descendants are keeping the history alive caring for the buildings and the things he left behind through the William Lyon Phelps Foundation. A neat place to check out if you’re exploring the region or headed up to Port Austin.
Bad Axe
If you need more provisions than offered in Harbor Beach, Bad Axe probably has what you need. Home of most of our area’s large retail stores and restaurants.