Surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty year round, Manistee County offers small town charm with recreation for every enthusiast; many attractions are available, including the finest fishing in the country, white sandy beaches, a national forest, hunting, campgrounds, bandshells, historic buildings, Victorian Mansions, trolley tours, museums and festivals throughout the year. Two piers and the U.S. Coast Guard Station protect the entrance to the Manistee River Channel; the much photographed and painted lighthouse and beautiful beach scenes draw artists to the area; and the historic Ramsdell Theatre offers plays by local theatre group and concerts by traveling orchestras.
Coastline villages in Manistee County include Onekama, Arcadia and Bear Lake. Inland communities include Copemish, Kaleva, Brethren and Wellston. Each is unique in its own way, but common to all is a warm welcome to visitors and new residents.
Manistee - Manistee is called "The Victorian Port City" due to its elegant downtown section of well-preserved, turn-of- the-century buildings. The historic architecture and boardwalk along the waterfront make dining, shopping and sight-seeing a pleasant experience. A short distance away is Lake Michigan with a swimming beach, park, pier head, catwalk and lighthouse.
Onekama - The village of Onekama (pronounced Oh-neck-uh-muh) holds all the appeal that makes Northern Michigan a great place to visit or live. Not only does it rest on its own Portage Lake, but via a channel there is access to Lake Michigan. Activities in the area include fishing, boating, kayaking, golf and cross-country skiing.
Arcadia - Acadia ("Peaceful") is one of a group of small villages along the western border of Michigan, facing Lake Michigan. Arcadia has a historical museum, restaurants, a post office, law office, shops and marinas.
Bear Lake - Bear Lake is located just five miles from Lake Michigan shores. Campgrounds, antique shops, restaurants, a golf course, a western theme park and riding stable are nearby. Camping, biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, kayaking, fishing and hunting bring visitors to the area.
Kaleva - Kaleva is ten miles from Lake Michigan and eight miles from Crystal Mountain Resort. A local tourist attraction is the Bottle House which houses the Kaleva Historical Museum. It was built by John Makinen out of 60,000 bottles from the local bottling factory.
Brethren - The town is about ten miles from Lake Michigan and 10 miles from Crystal Mountain Resort. Brethren being located in the Manistee National Forest affords many activities - hiking, hunting, bird watching, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and much more.
Wellston - Things to do while in Wellston are fishing, mushrooming, hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, hunting, snowmobiling and bird watching. Area amenities include restaurants, tackle shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, campgrounds and casinos.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: