Ernest Hemingway used Petoskey as the setting for his Nick Adams stories. As a child, Hemingway spent several summers fishing and vacationing in the northern Michigan community, so it was only natural that, once he became an author, he made Petoskey the home base for the semi-autobiographical character who starred in dozens of Hemingway's short stories.
Petoskey, Michigan, is a lakeside community that sits on the southern end of Little Traverse Bay in Emmet County (of which Petoskey is the county seat)
Ernest Hemingway used Petoskey as the setting for his Nick Adams stories. As a child, Hemingway spent several summers fishing and vacationing in the northern Michigan community, so it was only natural that, once he became an author, he made Petoskey the home base for the semi-autobiographical character who starred in dozens of Hemingway's short stories.
Petoskey, Michigan, is a lakeside community that sits on the southern end of Little Traverse Bay in Emmet County (of which Petoskey is the county seat). The city's 5,670 permanent residents see their numbers swell during the summer months, when tourists arrive to take advantage of Petoskey's proximity to sun, sand, and casinos that attract thousands of visitors each year. Still, Petoskey offers plenty of diversions that keep its year-round residents occupied, including a thriving business district, a variety of dining options, and, of course, the same lake views that tourists enjoy during their temporary visits to the north country.
If a move to Petoskey is in your future, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. First is the fact that, because Petoskey is a resort community, much of its rental real estate involves temporary leases of city apartments and vacation homes. Still, Petoskey offers plenty in the way of permanent digs. Rental homes in Petoskey are available throughout the city's residential neighborhoods. Petoskey also has apartment complexes like Bear Creek Meadows and Little Traverse Village that offer everything from one- to three-bedroom apartments. If you're flexible in terms of when you're able to move, you might want to consider doing so at the beginning of autumn, when temporary workers who have relocated to Petoskey for summer jobs are vacating their rental apt and, consequently, leaving the market open for prospective renters.
Because Petoskey is a fairly small city, it doesn't have large, defined neighborhoods. However, the downtown area does have a Gaslight Shopping District, which includes several boutiques and specialty shops, as well as restaurants. Apartments and houses are available for rent near this district, while other rental accommodations are available near the Odawa casino and shopping district on Petoskey's north side, which is also a short distance from U.S. Highways 31 and 131.
There's no shortage of things to do in Petoskey. Its location on the water makes it a prime spot for boating, swimming, or sunbathing. In addition, the Gaslight District is ready and waiting for shoppers, featuring locally owned stores like Horizon Books and Lake Street Dry Goods, as well as chain shops like Chico's and JCPenney. Diners will find plenty of culinary options in the Gaslight District as well, including restaurants like Polish Kitchen and Chandler's.
For the outdoorsy, perhaps the city's most popular activity involves heading to the beach and looking for the fossil known as the Petoskey Stone, which is Michigan's state stone. With all those activities on hand, it's a wonder that residents ever want to leave Petoskey, even for a short trip. However, in case they do, mass transit is available in the form of an Indian Trails bus service that offers a direct route from Petoskey to Grand Rapids, as well as a route that starts in St. Ignace, stops in Petoskey, and continues on to its final destination of East Lansing.
