The Ultimate Fall Getaway in Harbor Springs, Michigan
There's a version of Northern Michigan that only shows up for about six weeks a year — cooler air, quieter roads, a color show along the water that people plan whole trips around. If summer is Harbor Springs at full volume, fall is Harbor Springs at its most itself: slower, warmer-colored, and a little emptier in all the right ways.
Here's your complete guide to a fall trip here — what to do, where to eat, and why the season is worth building a whole getaway around.
A-frame Exterior ©moody cabin girl
Pumpkin picking (and a whole lot more) at Pond Hill Farm
A few minutes from the a-frame is the start of the Tunnel of Trees, and where you’ll find Pond Hill Farm, a full autumn destination every weekend. There are rows of pumpkin large and small worth walking the rows of, a corn maze, hayrides, apple cannons, and pumpkin bowling for anyone who wants to make an afternoon of it. The farm's vineyard and tasting room stay open too, so it's easy to pair pumpkin picking with wood-fired pizza and a glass of local wine, hard cider or beer before you head back into town. Plan for at least a couple of hours — most people end up staying longer than they meant to. *Check their website for hours and events.
The Tunnel of Trees, with a stop in Good Hart
No fall guide to this area is complete without M-119. North of Harbor Springs, the road narrows and the tree canopy arches overhead, turning into a genuine tunnel of red, orange, and gold — typically at its best sometime between early and mid-October, though it shifts year to year.
Drive it slow. There's no need to rush a road that was built for the opposite. About 14 miles up, you'll hit Good Hart, home to the Good Hart General Store — a working 1934 general store, post office, bakery, and deli nestled in along with a few other small businesses along the road. It's the kind of stop where you go in for a pot pie and leave twenty minutes later with jam, a gift, and a reason to come back. If you're an early riser, Trillium Woods Coffee, tucked into the trees along the way, is a good excuse to stop the drive to visit the boutique and grab a coffee under the canopy .
M-119 Tunnel of Trees
Dining in Harbor Springs
Fall is a good season to actually get a table. A few local favorites worth building an evening around:
- Small Batch at the Cupola— scratch-made brunch/lunch spot with European vibes
- Pier Restaurant — waterfront dining looking out over the marina and Little Traverse Bay
- Bar Harbor — locals favorite and open year-round in the historic Juilleret's building
- Chandler's — a cozy, romantic spot known for its wine cellar dining room in Petoskey
- Otis — moody mcm lounge with amazing cocktails and seasonally inspired food menu
Reservations get easier once the summer crowds thin out, which makes fall one of the better times of year to actually get into the spots that book up solid in July.
More to fill out the trip
- Downtown wandering — Come October, Harbor Springs businesses and residents decorate skeletons all over town for the season's SkeleTOUR. It's a fun, low-key way to explore Main Street while visiting the local shops.
- Thorne Swift Nature Preserve — An easy boardwalk hike through dune and forest just outside town, ending at a quiet stretch of Lake Michigan beach. A good way to get outside without committing to a full hiking day.
- Fall color drives beyond M-119 — If you have an extra afternoon, point the car in any direction, the backroads around Harbor Springs and Petoskey hold their own against the Tunnel of Trees for color, with a lot less traffic.
Come back to the A-frame
However you spend the day, this is the part of the trip that makes it a getaway instead of just a day trip. The A-frame is built for exactly this season, light the wood-burning stove after a day outside, or head out back to the firepit for smores under string lights once the sun's down. Two upstairs bedrooms with clean, comfortable queen beds mean everyone actually sleeps well, and a full kitchen means you can make it a slow morning before you head back out.
Five minutes from downtown, five minutes from the the Tunnel of Trees — close enough to do it all, quiet enough to actually unwind in between.
*Skip the Airbnb service fees and book your fall getaway directly through our website. Booking direct means more of what you pay goes toward your stay, and a real person on the other end if anything comes up. We’re looking forward to hosting you!