Sure, sun-soaked beaches in Hawaii and Florida steal the spotlight, but Michigan’s coastal gems hold their own with storybook charm and breathtaking views that deserve a spot on your travel bucket list and to capture those picture-perfect moments.
Home-listing platform, New Jersey Real Estate Network, conducted a survey which ranked Bay View, just north of Petoskey at No. 15 on its list of the Top 135 Lesser-Known U.S. Coastal Towns with Scenic Views.
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Leland, home to Historic Fishtown, came in at No. 52 and Charlevoix ranks No. 58.
Places in Hawaii, Florida and Colorado dominated the top 10 on the list.
According to NJ Real Estate Network, “Bay View is a Victorian-era resort community turned storybook summer town. It overlooks Little Traverse Bay, where sailboats cut across clear water framed by wooded hills. The cottages are straight out of a novel, and the local Chautauqua program still hosts music, lectures, and spiritual retreats - with lake breezes drifting through.”
Leland is known for its historic “Fishtown” district which has shanties, docks, and smokehouses. “There’s a kind of maritime grit here - textured, honest, quietly beautiful. Fishing boats still work the harbor, and the ferry to North Manitou Island departs from just down the boardwalk,” the NJ Real Estate Network wrote.
Charlevoix is between Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. “Stroll the channel walkway to the lighthouse and watch yachts glide under the drawbridge - or explore Round Lake, a perfect blue basin in the town center. The lakes shape daily life here, sometimes shifting with the seasons, as wind and water redraw the shoreline’s edge. But the heart of Charlevoix holds steady - from the soft clap of waves to the fairytale “mushroom houses” tucked among trees."
You can view the entire list here. Below is the top 10.
- Kaunakakai, HI
- Hana, HI
- Haleiwa, HI
- Cedar Key, FL
- Apalachicola, FL
- Cambria, CA
- Cape May, NJ
- Twin Lakes, CO
- Lake City, CO
- Ocean Grove, NJ