Three Antiquing Getaways: Harbor Springs, Traverse City & Ludington

Uncover old-fashioned finds by day, cuddle up in classic digs at night in three harbor towns: Harbor Springs, Traverse City and Ludington.

Mar 4, 2008 Emily Betz Tyra

 

Harbor Springs

 

Where to Stay

When you wake up, you'll find yourself enveloped in luxurious linens and surrounded by museum-quality antiques at the Veranda in Harbor Springs. It may be tempting to lounge in bed and daydream about the day nearly a century ago when this gorgeous place was pulled across the ice from Petoskey by horses, but please, rise for the gourmet breakfast. Go again for afternoon tea and fresh-baked cookies. And once more for evening appetizers and wine. You'll need all the fuel you can get if you're spending the moments between hitting all the antique shops around Little Traverse Bay. 231-526-0202 or harborspringsveranda.com

Where to Browse

Pooter Olooms Antiques
339 State Street
Harbor Springs
231-526-6101

L'Esprit Antiques, Inc.
195 West Main Street and
220 State Street
Harbor Springs
231-526-9888 & 231-526-9644

Joie de Vie Antiques
1901 M-119
Harbor Springs
231-347-1400
joiedevieantiques.com
 

Traverse City

Where to Stay

Spend a night at the Warwickshire Inn, and you won't have to go far to feed your fine antiques cravings. The 1902 farmhouse is not only loaded with its own classic furnishings, it sits next door to the former dairy barn that's home to Rolling Hills Antiques (231-947-1063), a veritable showplace of Early American pieces. You can easily spend a full day inside, mentally filling the armoires, running your hand over mahogany pedestal tables and imagining that Victorian carved-walnut bed in your own house, so consider making it a weekend at Warwickshire. That way you can spend Day 2 wandering downtown Traverse City's other antique gems: the four-story Wilson Antiques (231-946-4177) and shamelessly fair-priced Bay West Antiques (231-947-3211). Room rates at the Warwickshire Inn start at $85 nightly. 231-946-7176, warwickinn.net

 

Where to Browse

Bishop Antiques
378 East Third Street
Traverse City
231-526-8075
 

Ludington

Where to Stay

Here's an antique jewel box you can spend the night in. Ludington's Cartier Mansion is a stunning neoclassical mansion built by Ludington lumber magnate Warren Cartier in 1903. Featured on A&E's Historic Homes of America and Grand Homes of the Midwest, this B&B boasts a nearly 1,000-book library lined with black walnut cabinetry, five fireplaces, gorgeous geometric parquet floors and guest rooms that'll leave you awestruck. Rates start at $125 nightly, 877-843-0101.

Where to Browse

Always Antique Mall
2144 Johnson Road
Ludington
231-843-8781

Cole's Antiques Villa
322 West Ludington Avenue
Ludington
231-845-7414

Sunset Bay Antiques
404 South James Street
Ludington
231-843-1559

The Antique Store
127 South James Street
Ludington
231-845-5888

Emily Betz Tyra is associate editor at Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
etyra@traversemagazine.com

Note: This article was first published in August 2006 and was updated for the web February 2008.

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