This blog post contains affiliate links which may reward me in the event of a sale. I use these funds to reinvest in my blog and to create more great content like this Getaway to Harrison to share with you! My Airbnb stay is sponsored by Twenty Lakes Cottage, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. Disclaimer here.
Looking to get away this fall? Consider planning a fall or winter getaway to Harrison, Michigan. This cute, small town is an outdoor enthusiasts wonderland! Known as the town with “twenty lakes within twenty minutes,” it is a great destination for fishing, hiking, and exploring a ton of unique attractions in the mid-Michigan area. And I know the cutest cottage to stay at. Read on to discover more things to do during a getaway to Harrison.
~ History of Harrison ~
In the 1880s, this region of Michigan started off as a lumber town with a sawmill located along Budd Lake. But by 1891, the population grew large enough that the town became incorporated as the City of Harrison. After the lumber boom ended, local lumber company W.H. & F.A. Wilson, donated the property on Budd Lake. This later became Wilson State Park in the heart of Harrison.
~ Getaway to Harrison Map ~
~ Getaway to Harrison Summary ~
When: 3 days, 2 nights during the fall
Why: When researching beautiful, scenic places in Michigan to take in fall colors, I came across the small town of Harrison. This town and Twenty Lakes Cottage are centrally located to many unique hidden gems in mid Michigan.
Time Traveled (one way): 2 hours from Grand Rapids, 2.5 hours from Detroit, 2.5 hours from Kalamazoo, 1.5 hours from Lansing, 1.5 hours from Traverse City, 4.5 hours from Chicago, 5.5 hours from Indianapolis
Time Spent at Destination: 2 nights and 3 days
Budget: $$
Where We Stayed – Twenty Lakes Cottage
We stayed at the cutest, most cozy cottage located within walking distance to Budd and Little Long Lake’s – Twenty Lakes Cottage during our getaway to Harrison. This red, wood paneled, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, knotty pine cottage is extremely welcoming right when you arrive. When we visited during the fall, the front porch was decorated with pumpkins, mums and other gourds. And that was just the front porch… let’s step inside now, shall we?
Inside Twenty Lakes Cottage
After entering into the cottage, you will instantly notice an enclosed patio with a huge dining table. There’s also a lovely entryway with signboard welcoming you to the cottage. Souvenirs to enjoy beyond your stay like socks, Michigan shaped air fresheners, Twenty Lakes Cottage stickers, and Budd Lake postcards are also located here. Finally, a guestbook to leave a note behind is is also located at the entryway.
The next room is the kitchen and living room. The freshly painted green kitchen cabinets are charming! And the sink is everything! There’s an oven, microwave, refrigerator and all kinds of coffee supplies! As a huge coffee fanatic, I love staying at vacation rentals that offer a wide variety of coffee bean flavors, creamers, and methods of prep. At Twenty Lakes Cottage, there is a traditional drip coffee machine, French press, and tea kettle. There’s also a coffee bean grinder and milk frother. Beside the kitchen is the living room with a large couch, coffee table, and Smart TV with DVD player.
From the living room, you can climb the ladder up to access the cozy loft. Up here there is a double bed with a heater for chilly nights. While we didn’t spend any nights up here, we imagine this being a fun place for kids to sleep.
Behind the kitchen/living room is the entrance to the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom has a comfortable queen sized bed in it. There’s also an essential oil diffuser and a selection of oils available to use.
Finally there is a spacious bathroom! There’s only a shower, no bathtub, but plenty of towels and other toiletries available for your use.
Outside Twenty Lakes Cottage
All around the exterior of the cottage are plenty of options of places to relax at. In the front of the cottage are two rocking chairs. The road the cottage is on is quiet and tree lined. So if you wish to relax and take a breather outdoors while enjoying your coffee, this is a great place to do so. Across the street is a wildlife preserve so you may notice a critter wandering nearby. While there are neighbors, with the trees all around, there is a ton of privacy.
To the side and behind the cottage is a wrap around porch. There are lots of table and chair sets, a grill, and bonfire pit to help make your getaway to Harrison extra enjoyable. In the backyard there is an outdoor storage box with all kinds of yard games, grilling equipment, and bonfire tools.
Entertainment and Recreation at Twenty Lakes Cottage
If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway where you can enjoy time somewhere beyond your home, Twenty Lakes Cottage provides plenty of entertainment. Feel free to unplug if you wish, otherwise, it’s a great spot to work from ‘home’ at as there is wifi. The Smart TV comes with Netflix provided, but there are also DVD’s in the TV stand. The kitchen comes fully stocked with cooking supplies and utensils. And there are games, puzzles, and card games of all sorts stored behind the bar counter.
The cottage is also wellness focused. In the hallway to the bathroom is a ledge with a yoga/meditation mat and yoga block you may use.
If you feel like checking out the local coffee scene, Up North Coffee is only a couple miles from the cottage. Bring one of the branded tumbler mugs located in the cupboard to Up North Coffee to receive $1 drop coffee’s. There are also lattes, espressos, Frappuccino’s, and baked goods sold there.
Another cool feature at the cottage is the flight board. Pick up some local craft beer or cider to take back to the cottage to enjoy safely during your vacation.
Other Things to Do in Harrison
- Events – Plan your stay to coincide with the Clare County Fair (end of July) or Frostbite Open Golf Tournament (usually held in spring).
- Wilson State Park – If staying at Twenty Lakes Cottage, there’s a State Park Pass at the cottage to use. This state park is open seasonally for camping, water activities, picnics, and during winter, cross country skiing.
- Saxton Park – Located on Budd Lake, this city park has a dock for lake access and bathrooms.
- City Park offers a playground, picnic facilities, and ball fields.
- 4X Adventureland – Open during the summer, there is mini golf, go-karts, an escape room, laser tag, and batting cages.
- Snow Snake Ski & Golf – If you’re visiting during the winter, go snow tubing or skiing! Visiting outside of winter? Go ziplining, golfing, or even, off roading!
- There are plenty of dining options available such as Up North Coffee, Budd Lake Bar & Restaurant, Jackpine, and Airport Restaurant.
- If you’re a golfer, there are a couple of nearby courses such as the Tamaracks and Devil’s Knob Golf Course
- Canoeing and Kayaking are available as well. Check out Duggan’s Canoe Livery – please note payment is cash only. If you bring your own boat, there are public boat launches available at Budd Lake and Little Long Lake.
- There are several bait and tackle shops in the area if you’ve come to go fishing. Local shops to pick up supplies at include The Party Dock, Ken’s Landing, and K-D Quik Stop.
~ Getaway to Harrison Details ~
~Day One: Exploring Clare & Relaxing at the Cottage~
Downtown Clare
As we traveled up to Harrison, we stopped to explore the town of Clare first. This small town took us by surprise! I had a couple places noted down to check out, but once we arrived, we spotted many great things to do! In Clare there are a variety of great restaurants, boutiques, and even a colorful, artistic alleyway.
First we stopped into the Mulberry Cafe for lunch. This is a great spot for families to dine at. While you wait for food, there’s a boutique on one end, and there’s even a small play nook for little ones to take advantage of. The food was healthy and delicious too!
After we filled up, we headed to McEwan Street in downtown Clare. There we checked out a couple boutiques like Almost Up North and MI Rock Shop. We loved Almost Up North – they design some of their own clothes but also stock a number of cute accessories, clothes and home goods.
Behind the storefronts on the west side of McEwan is the Art Alley, which started up a decade ago by the former 515 Gallery. Through the years, it expanded through community support. Other businesses that border the alley donated space to create art or expanded their presence into the alley to allow patrons to enjoy the art. It’s a great spot to wander through and take photos.
We then made our way to the Cops and Doughnuts HQ to pick up an afternoon snack. This pastry shop is more than just treats – it’s a destination and experience! If visiting during the weekend, expect to find a line to buy donuts, a shop to pick out merchandise, cut outs to get your picture with, and other historic memorabilia around the shop.
Clare Union Depot Museum
Following our snack, we headed over to the Clare Union Depot Museum, which is the town’s history museum and art center. The museum is housed in Clare’s former passenger train depot which ended service in the mid 20th century. It sat empty, facing the possibility of demolition for decades before land and repairs were donated to save it. In the museum, you can find all kinds of information and historic relics. There is also a store located in the rotunda part of the building. Next to the museum are two old caboose’s in their original condition. These can be toured when volunteer’s are present at the museum. The volunteers at the museum are knowledgeable and passionate about the area so are a great resource when asking about area attractions!
Before heading out to check into Twenty Lakes Cottage, we stopped by Four Leaf Brewing to pick up some craft beer to enjoy later at the cottage. This brewery is female owned and sells their beer to go in cans, which is perfect for families like mine!
Relaxing Evening in Harrison
After we checked into Twenty Lakes Cottage and unpacked, we drove around Harrison to get acquainted with the town. First, we stopped into Walraven’s Country Gardens to pick up some snacks and supplies to make breakfast. Then we grabbed a pizza for dinner from Momma Cillie’s Pizzaria.
After dinner, we all settled down to watch a movie at the cottage (complete with our beer from Four Leaf Brewing!). There are extra blankets stored in the stand under the TV, which helped us get extra cozy!
~Day Two: Adventures in Gladwin & Jackpine for Dinner~
Fruitful Orchard & Merry Hearted Cidery
Once we finished breakfast at the cottage, we headed out to Gladwin to explore. Gladwin is only a 20 minute drive from Harrison. Our first stop was the Fruitful Orchard/Merry Hearted Cidery – which are one and the same. On one side of the property is a small building housing the cidery, with another building selling baked goods, regular cider, and home décor. In the fall, the Fruitful Orchard does hayrides, U-pick apples, backyard games, and invites food trucks. The Orchard’s fall season runs from the end of August through November 24th.
At Merry Hearted Cidery, there are over 20 varieties of cider to choose from. Try out a flight of 4 samples for $8, a whole glass, or buy a bottle to go. Branded merchandise is also available for sale. I enjoyed the four samples I tried which included Heart of Cin (semi-dry cinnamon apple), Strawberry Fields Forever (strawberry apple), Out of the Blue (blueberry apple), and Coco-Hearted (coconut apple). Of all of these, the Heart of Cin is my favorite. Hours of operation at Merry Hearted vary depending on the season so check out their website here to find out when they’re open when you visit.
Stone Cottage Garden
After the orchard and cidery, we visited the Stone Cottage Garden, which is a wonderful hidden gem in mid-Michigan. Founded by David and Mary Moore a couple decades ago, it was originally created as a gardening business selling a variety of plants, natural, and organic gardening products, and garden art and tools.
Since then, the couple expanded into growing vegetables and herbs. The produce is sold at the Gladwin Farmers Market and Riverwalk Grill in Gladwin.
In addition to their business, they planted 14 flower gardens around their property to show customers how the plants are naturally and to provide inspiration. During fall, the gardens bloom with mums, asters, toad lilies, sedums and more. It’s a tranquil environment to walk through.
Downtown Gladwin
Then we moved onto downtown Gladwin where we parked near the Farmers Market to explore the outdoor historic village. When we visited, the historic village wasn’t open so we checked out the outside of each of the buildings. There is an old train depot, church, school, homes, blacksmith shops and more located here.
Across from the historic village is the Country Corner Bulk Food Store. This store sells bulk dry goods, nuts, mixes, seeds, coffee, chocolate, and candies, and was an amazing place to buy snacks! I purchased the most amazing Mackinac Island fudge coffee here – it tasted so rich and chocolatey! A perk of picking up some goodies here is that they do accept credit/debit card payments and the prices are very low!
Jackpine + Final Night
Before calling it a night and going back to the cottage to relax, we enjoyed a mini fall color tour on the drive back to Harrison. For dinner, we stopped at Jackpine Restaurant, a little local diner with exceptional meals at great prices! We highly recommend saving room for dessert as they handmake their desserts. And I forgot to take a picture of the peanut butter pie I ordered! I scarfed it down as soon as I got it – it was so good!
After a full day of exploring and enjoying the local sights, all three of us called it a night early when we got back to the cottage.
~Day Three: Packing Up & Alpaca Acres~
After taking in the fresh air and fall colors from the deck in the backyard, my family packed up and headed out. The check out instructions left by Twenty Lakes Cottage were easy to follow – put all used linens on the bed or in the laundry hamper, put all dirty dishes in the sink, turn off the lights, take out the trash and lock up. In total, we loved our stay at Twenty Lakes Cottage. It was the perfect location for exploring a number of amazing, underrated small towns in mid-central Michigan.
A final stop we made in Harrison before heading back home was to ‘Living the Good Life Alpaca Acres‘ – a ranch selling accessories and other goods made from mostly alpaca fiber. Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm, Alpaca Acres welcomes visitors to learn and meet their herd of 41 alpacas!
Alpaca fiber is extremely durable, hypoallergenic, and clothing made from alpaca fiber can be enjoyed in the summer or winter. Many of the products Alpaca Acres sells on their farms is also available for sale on their Etsy sales page so be sure to check them out!
While we visited Alpaca Acres, we were given a tour of the barn where the alpaca’s stay, met up with the herd, and learned about the farms history. If you’re searching for a unique experience in Michigan, we recommend visiting Alpaca Acres!
~~~
This area of Michigan took me by surprise with all the great sights and activities it offers! I recommend booking a getaway to Harrison if you’re looking for a great experience no matter the time of year!
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
