Michigan Beach Park (Charlevoix)
One of our favorite stops in Charlevoix was Michigan Beach Park, a modest park with a beach, playground, and picnic tables and benches that backed up to the pierhead. It is common to find rockhounds hunting for fossils and other pretty stones on the beach, kids running around the playground, and people enjoying the view of the bay. In the distance to the east rises the St. Mary’s Cement Charlevoix Operation, one of three St. Mary’s facilities in Michigan. The view of the cement plant is honestly, well...ugly. It is a unique view, I suppose, but I sure wish it was not there. Michigan Beach Park has modern restrooms and a little cafe in the warmer months to grab a snack. Even though it was raining a bit when we visited the park, we still enjoyed it for almost an hour before moving on to the lighthouse and pier. It’s a great park to have a picnic, enjoy the water, or just hang out.
