2026 Best of Blue Awards

The results of our readers’ favorites poll transport us to places and activities all over the state.
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The best Town for Dining in the Upper Peninsula is Mackinac Island, according to Blue readers. A handmade poppie and a cool beverage at the island’s Watercolor Cafe create quite a stir.

The results of our readers’ favorites poll transport us to places and activities all over the state, from tasting fudge to perching atop a lighthouse to sipping wine in a vineyard. On the following pages, we reveal our online survey picks. Congratulations to the winners!

BEST

Town with Unique Shops Town for Dining
and Entertainment		 Beach Town
Southeast, Marine City Southeast, Detroit Southeast, Luna Pier
Southwest, Saugatuck/Douglas Southwest, Saugatuck/Douglas Southwest, South Haven
North, Petoskey North, Traverse City North, Harbor Springs
Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Les Cheneaux Islands

 

Roast & Toast coffee shop, in Petoskey, is one of several unique stops in this northwest Michigan mecca. Michigan Blue readers named the town the best Town with Unique Shops in the north.

BEST

Boating Town Hotel with
a Water View		 Campgrounds
Southeast, Port Huron Southeast, St. Clair Inn Southeast, Algonac State Park
Southwest, Saugatuck/Douglas Southwest, Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids Southwest, Holland State Park
North, Harbor Springs North, Inn at Bay Harbor North, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington
Upper Peninsula, Les Cheneaux Islands Upper Peninsula, Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula
Big Bay Point Lighthouse, Big Bay de Noc

“The Pointe Aux Barques lighthouse (Lighthouse/Southeast) brings back great memories for me. As a cottage owner in Caseville, we’d take our kids there often. The keeper’s house and tower are restored and you can observe how life was in the lighthouse. Plus, there’s a wonderful view of Lake Huron from the lighthouse.”
— Lucy Simone, Troy and Caseville

BEST

Vacation Rental Agency Spot to View a Great Lake Lighthouse
Southeast, MiCasa Stays, Port Sanilac Southeast, Port Huron, Lake Huron Southeast, Pointe Aux Barques, Port Hope
Southwest, Bluewater Vacation Rentals, South Haven Southwest, Pere Marquette Beach, Lake Michigan Southwest, Big Red, Holland
North, Wander North Rentals, northern Michigan North, Traverse City, Lake Michigan North, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington
Upper Peninsula, Freshwater Vacation Rentals, Upper Peninsula Upper Peninsula, Whitefish Point, Lake Superior Upper Peninsula, Big Bay Point Lighthouse, Big Bay de Noc

 

The 100-year-old National Cherry Festival, in Traverse City, won top honors in the Festival/North category. The DTE Energy Foundation Cherry Royale Parade, the final major event of the festival, features the first official public appearance of the newly crowned National Cherry Queen. Here, Magdalen Kleinrichert waves to the crowd.

BEST

Festival Scenic Road/Highway Sunrise Location
Southeast, Maritime Days, Marine City Southeast, M-29, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River Southeast, Albert E. Sleeper State Park, Caseville
Southwest, The Tulip Festival, Holland Southwest, Blue Star Highway, Lake Michigan Southwest, Silver Beach County Park, St. Joseph
North, National Cherry Festival, Traverse City North, M-119, Lake Michigan North, Three Mile Beach, Oscoda
Upper Peninsula, State Fair, Escanaba Upper Peninsula, M-185, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island

 

BEST

Sunset Location State Park Swimming Beach
Southeast, Harsens Island Southeast, Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin Southeast, Marine City Beach, Marine City
Southwest, South Haven Southwest, Holland State Park, Holland Southwest, Oval Beach, Saugatuck/Douglas
North, Petoskey North, Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas North, Empire Beach Village Park, Empire
Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw Peninsula Upper Peninsula, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, Copper Harbor Upper Peninsula, Miners Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

 

BEST

Dog-Friendly Beach Hidden Gem Beach Boating Race/Regatta
Statewide, Buttersville Beach, Ludington Statewide, Champagne Hill Sand Dune/Au Sable River, Oscoda Southeast, Bayview Mackinac Race, Port Huron

 

The Bayview Mackinac Race is the No. 1 pick for Boating Race/Regatta/Southeast. The Bayview Yacht Club held its inaugural competition in 1925.

 

BEST

Inland Lake River for Fishing Golf Course with a Water View
Southeast, Kent Lake, Kensington Metropark, Milford Southeast, St. Clair River Southeast, Mystic Creek Golf Course & Banquet Center, Milford
Southwest, Gun Lake, Barry County Southwest, Muskegon River Southwest, Gull Lake View Golf Resort, Augusta
North, Petoskey North, Au Sable River North, Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor
North, Torch Lake, Antrim County Upper Peninsula, Two-Hearted River Upper Peninsula, Wild Bluff Golf Course, Brimley

 

BEST

Hiking Trail Bike Trail Place to Buy a Boat
Southeast, Bald Mountain, Lake Orion Southeast, Bridge to Bay Trail,
St. Clair County 		Southeast, Rose Marine Services, Algonac
Southwest, Kal Haven Trail, South Haven to Kalamazoo Southwest, Kal Haven Trail, South Haven to Kalamazoo Southwest, Gull Lake Marine, South Haven
North, Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Maple City North, Little Traverse Wheelway, Charlevoix to
Harbor Springs 		North, Irish Boat Shop, Traverse City, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix
Upper Peninsula, The Escarpment Trail, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Upper Peninsula, Iron Belle Trail
 		Upper Peninsula, R&R Marine Supply, Sault Ste. Marie

 

“My dad encouraged my husband to join the Mackinac Island Yacht Club (Yacht Club/Upper Peninsula) as a way to connect with the island community, and that’s now carried through generations. We love the club’s Thursday night dinner tradition!”
— Leslie Benser Luciani, Birmingham and Mackinac Island

The Mackinac Island Yacht Club won first place in the Yacht Club/Upper Peninsula category. It’s housed in a 1901 cottage across from the original members’ dock.

BEST

Yacht Club Vacation Town Waterfront Restaurant
Southeast, Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit Southeast, Marine City  Southeast, Mike’s on the Water, St. Clair Shores
Southwest, Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, Holland Southwest, Saugatuck/Douglas Southwest, Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant, Holland
North, Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Maple City North, Traverse City North, Boathouse Restaurant, Traverse City
Upper Peninsula, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Bay Harbor Upper Peninsula, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Harbor Haus,
Copper Harbor

“Mike’s on the Water (Waterfront Restaurant/Southeast) is a popular hangout spot. If you’re craving a lobster roll or coconut shrimp, with a view, this is the spot. Regarding those lobster rolls, it must be the way they cook the lobster; they’re just fantastic.”
— Skip Starr, Grosse Pointe Park

BEST

Paddle Sports River Outfitter Fishing Charter
Statewide, Au Sable River Statewide, True North Trout, East Jordan Southeast, Plumber’s Helper Charter Service, Petoskey

BEST

Beachtown Bar Coffee Shop Burger
Southeast, Gord’s Bar, Marine City Southeast, Mad Hatter Coffee, Marine City Southeast, Mike’s on the Water, St. Clair Shores
Southwest, The Deck, Muskegon Southwest, Infusco, Sawyer Southwest, Sandy Point Beach House, West Olive
North, Brandy’s, Bay Harbor North, Crooked River Coffee Shop, Alanson North, Breakers, Topinabee
Upper Peninsula, Pink Pony, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Provisions MQT, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Horn’s Gaslight Bar & Restaurant,
Mackinac Island

BEST

Brewery Winery Distillery
Statewide, Shorts Brewing Co., Bellaire Statewide, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay and
Traverse City 		Statewide,Gypsy Distillery, Petoskey
What’s a beach town without a good waterfront bar? The Deck, in Muskegon, took first place in the Beachtown Bar/Southwest category. Whether you’re there for the barbecue or the beautiful Lake Michigan views, this is one happening destination, with lots of unique seating options.

BEST

Coffee Shop Bakery Breakfast Spot
Southeast, Mad Hatter Coffee, Marine City Southeast, La Crème Pastry, Wyandotte Southeast, M-29 Diner, Ira Township
Southwest, Infusco, Sawyer Southwest, Retro Bakery, Saugatuck Southwest, Happystance Dinette, Douglas
North, Crooked River Coffee Shop, Alanson North, Gildas’ Lake Street Bakery, Boyne City North, Alice’s Restaurant, Cheboygan
Upper Peninsula, Provisions MQT, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Ramonas Bakery, Calumet Upper Peninsula, Slim’s Café, Mohawk

BEST

Happy Hour Outdoor Dining Pizza
Southeast, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House’s Continental Restaurant,
Grosse Pointe Shores 		Southeast, WaterMark Bar and Grille, St. Clair Shores Southeast, Detroit Beach Pizzeria, Monroe
Southwest, Liquid Assets, Muskegon Southwest, Captain Lou’s, South Haven Southwest, Silver Beach Pizza, St. Joseph
North, Provisions Lounge, Boyne City North, Weathervane Restaurant, Charlevoix North, Vivio’s, Indian River
Upper Peninsula, Mary’s Bistro Draught House, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Fitzgerald’s Restaurant, Eagle River Upper Peninsula, Loading Zone II, Lake Linden

“We absolutely love Monroe’s 60-plus-year-old, family-owned Detroit Beach Pizza (Pizza/Southeast) for its delicious pizza and pasta. It’s a place most would probably drive by, but their hand-tossed dough is one of our favorite pizza doughs — not too thin, not too thick, and just the right amount of cornmeal on the bottom. The baked mostaccioli is smothered in a cheese that’s baked to perfection.”
— Lori Goins, Monroe

BEST

Pasty
Statewide, Cousin Jenny’s Cornish Pasties, Traverse City 

BEST

Fudge Place to Buy Furniture Cottage Décor Shop
Southeast, The Sweet Tooth, Marine City and St. Clair Southeast, GW Home, Detroit Southeast, Yellow Dog Marketplace, Clarkston
Southwest, Sweet Temptations, Grand Haven Southwest, Talsma, several locations Southwest, The Porch & Co., Muskegon
North, Kilwins, Petoskey, Ludington, Boyne City North, Quiet Moose, Petoskey North, Cutler’s, Petoskey
Upper Peninsula, Original Murdick’s Fudge, Mackinac Island Upper Peninsula, Shunk Furniture, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Little Luxuries, Mackinac Island

 

Cutler’s, in downtown Petoskey, won top honors in the Cottage Decor Shop/North category. We can see why: It’s a long-standing, family-owned specialty gift and kitchen store that’s been operating since 1965. Shoppers will find a curated selection of upscale cookware, kitchen gadgets, home decor, tabletop accessories, and more.

BEST

Builder Art Gallery Interior Design
Southeast, Kelly Building and Development Co., Birmingham Southeast, David Klein Gallery, Ferndale Southeast, Jones-Keena & Co
Southwest, North Cove Builders, Hudsonville Southwest, J. Petter Galleries, Douglas Southwest, Jami Eldean at Shippers Construction, Holland
North, The Cottage Company, Harbor Springs North, Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids North, Cottage Company Interiors, Harbor Springs
Upper Peninsula, Dickinson Homes, Iron Mountain Upper Peninsula, Zero Degrees Gallery, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Mae Proper Interiors, Iron Mountain

 

The Twisted Fish (Art Gallery/North) is an art lover’s paradise.

 

BEST

Landscaping Architect Interior Design
Southeast, Mosher Design, Royal Oak Southeast, Sears Architects, Grand Rapids Southeast, Jones-Keena & Co
Southwest, Alfresco Landscapes, Grand Rapids Southwest, Sears Architects, Grand Rapids Southwest, Jami Eldean at Shippers Construction, Holland
North, Drost Landscape, Petoskey North, White & Liebler Architects, Petoskey North, Cottage Company Interiors, Harbor Springs
Upper Peninsula, Northern Landscapes, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Barry J. Polzin Architects, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Mae Proper Interiors, Iron Mountain

 

This sunroom, in a home with interiors by Cottage Company Interiors of Harbor Springs, showcases why the firm is the top pick of Blue readers in the Interior Design/North category. Classic, creative, and cozy are the company’s designers’ goals time and time again.

BEST

Architect Dock Company Realty Company
Southeast, Kevin Hart & Associates, Birmingham Southeast, American Marine, White Lake Southeast, Kathy Broock – Kathy Broock & Co., Birmingham
Southwest, Sears Architects, Grand Rapids Southwest, Tucker Marine Construction, Saugatuck Southwest, The Sandi Gentry Team, Grand Haven
North, White & Liebler Architects, Petoskey North, Dock & Hoist Services, Traverse City North, Kidd & Leavy Real Estate, Petoskey, Boyne City
Upper Peninsula, Barry J. Polzin Architects, Marquette Upper Peninsula, Feighner Boat Lifts & Docks, Gwinn Upper Peninsula, Gina Feltner Bouws – Re/Max 1st Realty, Marquette

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