Small-batch craft brews, food, and lively libations in a beer garden setting, Northland Brewing Co. also has live music, occasional food trucks, and Indian River Farmer’s Market on Thursday mornings. A quick 5-minute drive south from Indian River RV Resort, at 3798 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749.

A downtown Indian River tradition since 1942. Christopher’s serves dozens of breakfast favorites (including Elk sausage!) all day; salads, quesadillas, soup, burgers, wings, wraps, and more. Close by at 3725 S. Straits Hwy, in Indian River, Michigan. Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michael’s is Indian River’s boutique steakhouse, serving delicious American cuisine. Distinctive dishes include Lobster and Truffle Mac N’ Cheese, Michigan Craft Burgers, Scottish Salmon, Baby Back Ribs, Pasta, and a large assortment of Sushi. Open in the evening Tuesday through Saturday. Located 5.8 miles from Indian River RV Resort at 4653 S. Straits Highway.

Unfussy, fun, and friendly, Wilson’s is our cozy neighborhood diner in Indian River, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. Comfort foods including classic breakfast with carafes of fresh coffee, sandwiches, BBQ steak, seafood, fried chicken, liver and onions, freshly made pie, and seasonal and daily specials.

Wilson’s Rivers Edge is located 7 minutes south from Indian River RV Resort at 4208 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749.

This local hot-spot is minutes away from Indian River RV Resort at 3614 S. Straits Hwy. Aurora B ‘s owners, Doug and Tamara, describe their place as offering, “A huge selection of Michigan craft beers and liquors. We also have the the only walk-in humidor in the area, with an awesome selection of cigars.” A summer’s evening in their outdoor space is perfect for enjoying a craft bar or one of Aurora B’s famous old fashions. Feeling sporty? Aurora B also have cornhole tournaments on Thursday nights starting at 6:30. Some reservations are accepted.

With stunning views of Little Traverse Bay, Palette Bistro is one of the best choices in the area for upscale casual dining. Palette serves lunch, dinner and take out. The Mediterranean inspired menu specializes in small plates, a well-stocked wine cellar, and creative dishes like braised short ribs with cheesy polenta, Kobe hanger steak, seafood paella, Calabria pizza, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Leave room for desserts like Baked Chocolate Pudding with butterscotch sauce, specialty cheesecake and dessert cocktails.

Serving daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 4 -9 at 321 Bay Street, Petoskey, MI 49770, a 35-minute drive from Indian River RV Resort.

🍔🍟 If you’re craving juicy burgers done with style, fries that are seasoned and fresh, heavenly flavors created with bacon, and tender pulled pork, then you may want to check out our family favorite food truck, The Change Up Grill. It’s amazing. It’s our Lunchtime jam Monday thru Thursday (open 10:30 - 3:30), and our favorite Friday night indulgence, (Friday hours 11 - 7) … closed Sat/Sunday. Address: 9611 N. Straits Hwy, Cheboygan.

Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery is the result of “God orchestrating many miracles,” according to founders Todd and Christi Petersen, who weren’t even wine drinkers when they began producing Michigan maple syrup in 2011. Tapping into a new business opportunity (pun intended), Maple Moon released five wines in 2015 that were fermented from the natural sugars in maple syrup, without any grapes. Their selection has expanded into 11 wines varying in flavor from dry to sweet; maple ginger hard cider, maple bourbon hard cider, as well as homemade jams and salsas. Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery at 4454 Atkins Rd in Petoskey MI 49770 is a 33-minute drive from Indian River RV Resort via S. Straits Hwy and Pickerel Lake Road.

If you’re like us, sometimes we want Pizza and a Movie at “home”. . . even when we’re out of town. B.C. Pizza in Indian River will deliver to your RV or Cabin! They are also close to picnic tables by the bridge (in a dog-friendly spot, 3695 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749). In addition to pizza, B.C. Pizza have appetizers, salads, pasta, wings, breadsticks, grinders, subs and wraps. Text your order to 231-238-0055 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or order via their website.

Take a quick 9-minute trip from Indian River RV Resort for the best coffee in Northern Michigan at Wildwood Coffee, located at 3842 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749. Wildwood Coffee serves fabulous coffee (Black Diesel from Ann Arbor), tea (Republic of Tea), smoothies, bagels, avocado toast, and fresh, homemade pastries (including specialty cupcakes, hot apple turnovers, and scones). Visiting Indian River in the summer? Wildwood’s refreshing Cold Brew coffee gets our thumb’s up. Need to stock your RV or Camping Cabin? Wildwood offers coffee by the pound and cool t-shirts to remind you of a summer of great brews.

M-F 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sat 8-2. Closed Sunday. Look for Wildwood Coffee at the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays, behind Northland Brewery, 3798 S. Straits Hwy, 2 - 6 p.m., June through October.

Open daily, Big Bear Adventures has been offering safe kayak, river raft, catamaran, and tube trips on the Sturgeon River for over 30 years. On land, check out their ATV Tours, 18-Hole Adventure Golf Course, ropes course, and family fun center. Just up the road at 4271 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749. Big Bear Adventures (231) 238-8181 has a cool log cabin style general store, and a Subway restaurant for a quick and easy lunch.

The crown jewel of the Great Lakes, Mackinac Island is a short 1/2 hour drive from Indian River RV Resort. Take the pedestrian Shepler’s Ferry to the island and enjoy exploring 5 miles of fabulous food, shopping, biking, and horse-drawn carriages. Visit the opulent Grand Hotel, The Biddle House, Fort Mackinac and St. Anne’s Church. Don’t forget to pick up some of the island’s famous fudge!

Located in Cheboygan, Michigan, a 20-minute from Indian River RV Resort, Nautical North Family Adventures is a safe and exciting way to explore shipwrecks from glass-bottomed boats, go snorkeling, and tour a Lake Huron lighthouse the way it was meant to be seen…from the water. Nautical North Family Adventures also have kayak rentals, eco tours, private charter boats excursions, and scuba diving. Hungry after your exciting excursion? Cheboygan has Mulligan’s on Main Street (with burgers, pasta, Tex Mex in a sports bar setting), a B.C. Pizza restaurant, and a DQ Dairy Queen close to Nautical North.

Exciting family-fun! Showcasing Michigan’s logging past, audiences are awed by the amazing talents of the world-champion Jack Pine’s Lumberjacks, showcasing their skills at ax-throwing, log rolling, and speed climbing up gigantic trees. Tickets are available on their website or at the door. Jack Pine’s Lumberjack Show is a half-hour drive to 10510 W US-23, Mackinaw City, MI 49701. Phone (231) 436-5225.

Guests of Indian River RV Resort enjoy fun, adventure, and getting back to nature. What better way to combine all three than to ride horses? Maple Ridge Stables is a quick 20 minute drive from the resort and offers trail rides for the whole family, lessons, Day Camp and more. Located at 8097 Sunshine Trl Vanderbilt, MI 49795.

Take at moment for quiet reflection as you gaze at the largest crucifix in the World. Cross in the Woods Catholic Shrine hold masses, have a dozen other shrines, host a religious doll museum, and have an on-site gift shop. Open 365 days a yea during daylight hours. Plan your visit to Cross in the Woods at 7078 M-68, Indian River, MI 49749, less than 10 minutes’ drive from Indian River RV Resort.

Need a little change in perspective? Seeing the world in a different way isn’t hard when you experience amazing Copper Peak in Ironwood, Michigan. The upper peninsula boasts the largest artificial ski jump in the whole world, and the only ski flying hill outside of Europe! For the brave at heart, ride a chairlift (or take the elevator) to the observation deck, and walk up to the very tip-top of the ski jump for one of the most spectacular views you’ll ever see.

Yeah, “Golf” is so awesome it can be a noun and a verb. Indian River RV Resort in Michigan is a great place for golfers to stay and play. We have 8 public golf clubs close-by ranging from 2 to 18 miles from Indian River. Visit golflink.com and type in “Indian River, Michigan” for more details (and to find golf courses wherever you travel). The closest 18-hole public course is at the Indian River Golf Club, a beautiful club founded in 1923 and located at 3301 Chippewa Beach Road. Other golf courses include economical games at Wildwood Lakes in Wolverine, the fairly new facility at Hidden River Golf in Brutus, the 9-hole gem at Mullett Lake Country Club in Cheboygan, and True North in Harbor Springs.

Calling all ATVs, UTVs, Jeeps and other Off-Road Riders! Our county trails are mostly flat and wide, so your whole family can enjoy the nearby 21-mile loop. The Indian River ATV trail begins right down the road from us (for help to find access, try 6104 S. Straights Hwy, Indian River, MI, in your GPS).

The sounds of nature envelope you when you climb into “nature’s megaphone” at Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve just a few miles from Indian River RV Resort. It’s a fascinating way to experience nature: Crawl inside, lie still, and stay quiet. The design amplifies sounds filtering into the opening and lets you profoundly focus on your senses. The preserve also provides five miles of trails, with a mile alongside the Pigeon River.

Click here for Directions to Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve

Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a great place to day-trip from Indian River RV Resort. The park encompasses close to 50,000 acres stretching over 13 miles with beautiful waterfalls cascading around an island. The 2. 5 hour drive from the resort will be easier towards the end of your travel if you don’t use your GPS after getting a pass at the entrance booth. Consult a map, and follow the signs to the Lower Falls. Park and walk the easy-going paved path to one or two observation areas. Then return to your car and, if you wish, drive (go left) to the Upper Falls Viewing area (it’s a 10 minute walk to the first viewing area). The falls can also be viewed from the island, which can be reached by a rented rowboat ($20 for a group).

Indian River RV Resort is a great destination for wine lovers. “Seasons of the North” is an Indian-River-based winery offering distinctive quality wine with an emphasis on local production. Their grapes are hybrid, cold-hardy varieties that withstand brutal North-country winters. Our pick? Try "The Cabin,” a dry red with a hint of black cherry, a perfect pairing with sharp cheddar cheese, or to alongside a burger. The winery is a family-owned business, and they take pleasure in having families visit! Find them located just off South Straits Hwy, on M-68. Just another enticing reason to stay at Indian River RV Resort.

Another great destination close to Indian River RV Resort is an extensive tunnel of trees that canopy state highway M-119. The narrow, winding, scenic drive begins north of Harbor Springs, Michigan. The route offers beautiful glimpses into the woods and other views that are best enjoyed from a car, motorcycle, or bicycle (it would be a tight squeeze for an RV). Popular stops along the way include Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs, the Good Hart General Store, and the Heritage Museum in Cross Village. Another great reason to come stay at Indian River RV Resort!

A leisurely hike is food for the soul. Walk the well-groomed shady path that leads to a view of Burt Lake at the Seven Springs Nature Preserve Loop (limited parking on Chippewa Beach Road). This is a light 1.2 mile trail in a 66 acre preserve with numerous springs, forest, wetlands and a wave-swept shoreline. Very tranquil with clearly marked trails. Dogs on a leash are welcome.

As Evie Carrick wrote in her article about us for TRAVEL + LEISURE, Indian River RV Resort is a little gem nestled between two crystal-clear lakes. Burt Lake and Mullett Lake are great for fishing, boating and water sports. Try your luck at snagging some walleye, bass, pike, perch, and brown and rainbow trout in our Inland Waterway. Crooked and Pickerel Lakes are noted for good fishing, and are relatively deep lakes given their more compact size. Crooked Lakes has locks to Burt Lake; learn more, here. 🐟 Also notable is Tahquamenon River for rock bass and perch. Find more great fishing at Aloha State Park and Cheboygan State Park. Or, your sights on massive Lake Michigan for some very large trout!

Come to Burt Lake’s 2,000 feet of sandy, well maintained beach for a swim in a boat-free area. Burt Lake State Park has a boat launch (6 miles southwest from Indian River RV Resort); access for non-motorized craft, campsite rentals, hiking and biking areas, picnic tables, and even a dog beach. To reach the shoreline, head toward Burt Lake State Park, 6635 State Park Dr, Indian River, MI 49749.

Topinabee is a quick 10-minute drive from Indian River RV Resort. Topinabee Beach Park on North Straits Highway has a swimming area, playground, benches and picnic area. It is located right on the North Central State Trail (accessible by crossing the road at the Indian River RV Resort entrance). The Topinabee Library is housed in a vintage train depot and they welcome seasonal guests.

McCormick Farmz is a family owned and operated lavender farm located in Wolverine, Michigan. The 36-acre rural property in Northern Michigan is between Gaylord and Mackinac on I-75. McCormick Farmz offers all-natural and hand harvested lavender and lavender products. Check out the website for special events, and shop for their products at the Camp Store here at Indian River RV Resort!

Looking for somewhere different to see a nice view? Hike the Castle Rock Trail in Saint Ignace! Castle Rock is a popular tourist attraction. Climb to the top of this limestone stack to the popular lookout spot. There are also some fun statues and a gift shop.

Hike, Walk, Run, and Cycle on the North Central State Trail, across the road from the entrance of Indian River RV Resort. It is surfaced with crushed limestone and its flat terrain makes for easy cycling through diverse natural beauty. Highlights include the Sturgeon River valley between Vanderbilt and Indian River and the section of trail that runs along Mullet Lake between Indian River and Cheboygan. When you reach Indian River, the trail is situated between Mullett and Burt lakes. A paved path along M-68 takes you from the North Central State Trail to the entrance of Burt Lake State Park, where there are restrooms and water.

Indian River’s Cooperation Park offers numerous outdoor activities including baseball fields, a skateboard park, a nature trail, tennis courts, basketball courts, multiple children’s playgrounds, horse shoe pits and soccer fields. Cooperation Park is located on the south end of Indian River at 5454 S. Straits Hwy.

Providing compassionate, high quality care at a convenient location, Indian River Pet Resort offers boarding and day care for dogs and cats. There is an adjacent veterinarian office. They also provide bathing, grooming, and have an area that you can call ahead and reserve to wash your pet (everything is included, even fluffy towels and a wash apron for you to stay dry!). Forgot your favorite collars, toys, or pet bowls? They also have an onsite Pet Store with the essentials and carry Hill’s Science diet foods.

Staying in Indian River for a while? Getting a “Non Resident Library Card” for $40 a year may be worth it to access all of the events, such as children’s playgroups and story time, pilates fitness classes, craft classes and book clubs. Visit the library website for more details.

Ostego Memorial Hospital Medical Group offers Same Day Care at their office, 3860 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (4 p.m. on the weekends). Phone (2310 238-0581. Our local police department phone number is (231) 238-9481.

FOR AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 9-1-1

Small independent grocery store and pharmacy. Ken’s Market is a 7-min drive from Indian River RV Resort, located at 6433 Barbara Ave, Indian River, MI 49749.

The Walmart Supercenter is a 20-minute drive from Indian River RV Resort, located at 1150 S Main St, Cheboygan, MI 49721. Hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Meet our neighbors, Stewart and Elizabeth Olney, at Star Gate Motel. They came to the Indian River area in June of 2022 and have been tastefully remodeling each spacious, clean, and quiet motel room. The charming Star Gate Motel sits on a peaceful 16 acres and offers several vacation rental homes that sleep six. Star Gate Motel has pleasantly-surprising prices and spoils guests with freshly-ground coffee (what?! who does that?!) and free movies on Roku.

Star Gate Motel, 4646 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI 49749 (231) 238-7371

Hey Kids, you may have noticed the Johnathan Rand books we have on offer in the camp store (they sell out quick!). If you’re a Chiller fan, you definitely need to go a couple of miles down the road and meet Johnathan himself! Yes, really. The author and his wife have the best store ever (with ALL of his books), and they love to chat with readers of all ages. 🧛🏻Plan to visit Chillermania book store (1651 S. Straits Hwy, Indian River, MI, open 7 days a week during the summer, from 10 to 4, Sundays 12 to 4. Call (231) 238-0338 or visit AmericanChillers.com for more information). Wanna know a super cool *bonus* for when you’re in town, staying at Indian River RV Resort? Johnathan Rand also hosts writing classes for kids who want to author their own adventures!