Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

Living the Dream, One Trip at a Time

Charlevoix, Michigan

5/29/2026

Hanging flower basket with pink, red, and white flowers in front of a store sign for 'Charlevoix Wear.'

Our stop here was to visit our friends and former neighbors, Bob and Gretchen Tambellini. We had the double pleasure of seeing them again after several years and of having a wonderful introduction to their very lovely town of Charlevoix, named for the Jesuit priest and missionary Father Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix.

A group of four smiling friends enjoying a meal at a restaurant with large windows overlooking a scenic outdoor view. They are sitting at a table with drinks in front of them.

We had heard good things about Charlevoix from Bob and Gretchen, but nothing prepared us for how impressed we would be by this beautiful lakeside town. Sitting between Lake Michigan, Round Lake, and Lake Charlevoix, it seems as if water is never more than a few steps away.

Aerial view of a coastal landscape featuring a marina, residential areas, and sandy beaches, with clear blue water and boats in the harbor.

The downtown had attractive shops, restaurants, marinas, and plenty of places to simply sit and watch the boats pass through the drawbridge.

A riverboat passes under a raised drawbridge, with a dining area visible on the left and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
The town is split by a drawbridge over Round Lake, where boats and cars take turns interrupting each other…the bridge opens every 30 minutes when boats are lined up to get through! Took this pic from the table in our restaurant.

Everywhere we looked, the town appeared exceptionally well cared for, and there was obvious civic pride. Flowers lined the streets, parks were immaculate, and the waterfront was inviting from every angle.

An orange Adirondack bench in front of a store with a blue silhouette sign that reads 'Charlevoix IS MY HAPPY PLACE.' The store features various handmade items and decorative pillows in the window.

A highlight…..seeing the famous Mushroom Houses, whose whimsical architecture makes them look as though they belong in a storybook. They add a unique character to a town that already has plenty of charm.

A unique stone cottage with a thatched roof, surrounded by greenery and flowers, viewed from the street.
A charming stone house with a thatched roof, surrounded by greenery and trees, featuring a decorative black gate in the foreground.

Self-taught architect Earl Young began building fairy-tale houses in the town, some shaped like mushrooms and some more like Hobbit houses. The 26 houses are made only of indigenous materials such as fieldstone and limestone.

A charming stone cottage surrounded by lush greenery, featuring a sloped roof and colorful flower beds along the pathway.

Another unexpected highlight was the Charlevoix Public Library. We’ve visited many libraries during our travels, but this one immediately stood out. Its location overlooking the water is spectacular, and the building is bright, modern, and welcoming. It is more than a place to borrow books—it serves as a community gathering place and a destination in its own right. If every town had a library like this, there might be a lot more library cards in use!

A sunny courtyard featuring landscaped greenery, benches, and bicycles in front of a brick building with large windows.

This reminded us of the amazing library we had visited in Helsinki, Finland, a community gathering spot with something for everyone, all year round, especially through the cold, dark winters.

Interior view of a spacious library featuring wooden bookshelves filled with books, cozy seating areas with two patterned chairs, large windows allowing natural light, and decorative pendant lights hanging from a high ceiling.
Large white multi-story house with a spacious lawn and surrounding trees.

Another enjoyable part of our visit to Charlevoix was simply driving through the neighborhoods.

A large white house with a metal roof, featuring a wide front porch and multiple windows, surrounded by greenery and colorful flower pots.

Many of the grand old “cottages” were built by wealthy families from Chicago and St. Louis who discovered this northern Michigan paradise more than a century ago.  Many of these homes remain in the same families today….the tree-lined streets, porches, and lake views make it easy to understand why generations of Midwestern families have returned summer after summer.   This town seems part resort and part time capsule!

After spending time in Charlevoix, I think this may be one of the most attractive small towns we have ever visited! It was a delightful surprise and a place we could happily live if it were not for the climate!!!

Sunset over a lake with a lighthouse in the distance, surrounded by trees and calm waters.
I took this picture after dinner by the drawbridge… it overlooks Lake Michigan.

But more importantly, it was great visiting with these two!

An older couple smiling and leaning closely together while sitting on a couch, with a colorful artwork featuring a girl in the background.
A group selfie of four smiling adults, standing indoors with large windows in the background showing green grass and trees. The scene is bright and cheerful, with modern decor visible in the home.
A modern house with a green roof and white siding, featuring a two-car garage. In the foreground, a person stands outside, while another is getting into a white vehicle. Lush green lawn and decorative shrubs enhance the landscaping.