The Manistee center point is around 2 miles southeast of Our Savior's Historical Museum and 2 miles southeast of Manistee Inn and Marina.
The best times to visit Manistee are in the summer, from early June through mid-September when high temperatures range from the upper 60s to the upper 70s, peaking in mid-July. Hotel rates will be at their highest at this time, and outdoor activities will be plentiful. You may get lower rates in late spring and early fall when high temperatures are still relatively comfortable in the 60s. Temperatures from late fall through early spring are cold, with highs below freezing in the heart of winter and lows dropping into the teens and below. If you are traveling to Manistee in these temperatures, you'll get a good deal on a hotel room.
Seniors, AAA members, government employees, and members of the military can enjoy discounts at Super 8 by Wyndham Manistee. You'll be in Manistee's historic district and just a two-minute drive from Orchard Beach State Park. Your spacious room will have a refrigerator, a microwave, a flat-screen television, a coffee and tea maker, and free Wi-Fi. You can upgrade to a suite for amenities such as a sofa bed, hot tub, and a separate seating area. A complimentary casino shuttle takes guests to try their luck. The hotel also offers a free continental breakfast every morning.
Days Inn by Wyndham Manistee offers senior, AARP, and government/military discounts. You'll be near the beach and within 2 miles of WaterWorks Museum. Enjoy watching a favorite TV show or movie on the flat-screen television, and stay connected to friends and family with free Wi-Fi. Take advantage of the indoor pool and spa tub, and have fun in the arcade/game room. The hotel also provides a business center and free continental breakfast.
Portage Lake Motel in Onekama offers rustic beauty and a private beach on Portage Lake. You'll enjoy outdoor seating and recreation areas, barbecue grills, a fire pit with free firewood, and a nice walkway to the lake and dock. The nautically decorated rooms are spacious and pleasant, and you can upgrade to a suite for a more home-like stay. The motel is 7 miles from Douglas Valley Winery and 7.5 miles from the beautiful Huron-Manistee National Forest, but you'll find plenty of beauty right outside your motel room.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ludington, just a few miles from Ludington Waterfront Park, offers spacious rooms with refrigerators, LCD televisions, and free Wi-Fi. You'll also enjoy the large indoor pool and spa tub, fitness facilities, 24-hour business center, convenience store, coffee and tea in common areas, and free newspapers in the lobby. The terrace provides a pleasant place to sit and enjoy your surroundings.
Take in a show at the historic Ramsdell Theater where James Earl Jones got his start. The theater puts on the Metropolitan Opera and hosts other productions as well. The Ramsdell is operated by the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts and houses a number of art programs, classes, exhibits, and community events.
You can't go to Manistee without experiencing the SS City of Milwaukee, a Great Lakes railroad car ferry that sailed Lake Michigan, often making trips between Muskegon, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Built in 1931, it's the only pre-1940s ship of its type still in existence. Today, the SS City of Milwaukee is a museum ship and bed-and-breakfast on Manistee Lake that can also be rented for special events. Tours are held of the impressive ship, which also hosts the Ghostship Haunted House every October.
If you're a movie buff, don't miss the chance to see a film at the historic Vogue Theater, which was constructed in 1938 but closed in 2005. After being rehabilitated, the theater opened again in 2013 with new lights, a beautiful facade, and its original marquee. In addition to first-run movies, the Vogue pays delightful homage to its long-ago roots with a 25-cent family matinee on Saturday mornings and a $2 classic film matinee on Wednesday mornings.
Experience the history of the area at the Manistee County Historical Museum, housed in the former Lyman Building. Some of the many permanent exhibits include a lumberman's business office, an antique dental office, and a Victorian dining room, parlor, kitchen, and bedroom. You can also experience Manistee on the Historic Trolley Tour, which operates from mid-June through Labor Day. Hourly tours begin at the Memorial Drive terminal. You'll view and learn about the historic downtown, see old mansions of millionaire lumbermen, and view beautiful Orchard Beach State Park.
Book your trip now to Manistee, Michigan. From its three beaches to live opera, you'll never run out of experiences.
Below are reviews of the city of Manistee, MI from an actual visitor's perspective.
The restaurants!
The beaches!
Close to state park.
Everything. I was a frequent visitor during my time spent in the Coast Guard aboard the Acacia WLB 406 which now Manistee's Museum piece!
Great little town! Will be back!
Manistee is much like other Michigan cities. Beautiful green and nautical. Good experience.
Cute town.
The downtown, boardwalk, beach and nearby sites.
Nice city. Historic. Seems vibrant and busy. Many restaurants to choose from.
Very quaint!
It is our getaway trip several times a year!
Nice old downtown with lots of antique stores and attractions to see.
Easy access to the lighthouse, stores, shops. The scenery and town is beautiful.
Sightseeing the boats!
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF LAKE MICHIGAN. QUAINT AREA.
What else is there to say. Lake Michigan, beaches, Riverwalk, fishing, good food.
Beaches!
We loved Caberfae Peaks. We will stay here again.
Very nice place to stay.
Easily found, centrally located in Manistee on US31. Close to drive to downtown or casino.
Inn staff was helpful and great!
Beautiful!
Location near Lake Michigan is the best!
Painted Lady Saloon!
Friendly folks in Manistee; a beautiful little town.
People were friendly, pace is slow, food is pricey but good. Simple living it seams.