Outdoor Activities & Entertainment

Paddle river country, discover dunes, fall in love with lighthouses, dine at local restaurants and taste the craft libations scene. 

Retail/Restaurants/Entertainment 

Frankfort – Ten minutes from Benzonia

  • Villa Marine Bar – Located in Betise Bay, Bar and Grill  
  • Dinghy’s Restaurant & Bar – Smoked Meats & Friday Fish Fries 
  • Stormcloud Brewing – 13,000 sqft Production Brewery, 12 taps, indoor/outdoor seating, beer gardens, space to host food trucks  

Benzie County Must-Visits 

  • Leland – Village Cheese Shanty  
  • Specialty cheese shop – local cherries, sandwiches, 60+ imported cheeses 

Glen Arbor – The Cherry Republic – 30 mins from Benzonia 

  • World’s largest exclusive retailer of cherry products 
  • Old Fashioned Soda Fountain  
  • 150 gourmet cherry products 
  • Cherry wine  

Downtown Traverse City – 50 mins from Benzonia 

  • Grand Traverse Pie Co / The Cheese Lady /Amical / Red Ginger 
  • Don’s Drive In – Established in 1958 
  • Oakwood Proper Burgers 
  • Shopping 
  • Brilliant Books 
  • The Haberdashery 
  • Sports  
  • Traverse City Pit Spitters at the Turtle Creek Stadium  
  • Casinos 
  • The Brew Bus 
  • Traverse Wine Coast 
  • Sutton’s Bay – Self guided Wine Tour 
Outdoor Recreation 

Downhill enthusiasts love the gentle glacier-carved terrain of Northwest Michigan. Skiing in the Traverse City area is some of the best you’ll find in this part of the country. Our premier full-service winter destination Crystal Mountain Resort, the smaller ski areas include Mt. Holiday and Hickory Hills. Hearty bike enthusiasts will also find winter sporting options on a Fat Bike. Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of the America’s most profoundly beautiful landscapes, a 64-mile curve of sweeping vistas, miles of perfect freshwater beaches, forested wilderness islands, miles of hiking trails and the paved sleeping bear heritage trail, is a multi-use pathway that runs from the northern end of the park to a point just south of Empire. Waterfront dining, microbreweries and farm-to-table eateries. 

Academy Park – located in Benzonia 

  • Academy Ice Rink – as weather permits, outdoor ice-skating rink at Academy Park open free of charge to the public 
  • Pickle Ball Court, open to public 
  • Tennis Courts – Recently refinished, open to the public.  
  • Baseball Fields 
  • Picnic Pavilion 

Over Ten Golf Courses in surrounding Area!
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (30 minutes from Benzonia)

Leelanau State Park 

  • Extensive Bike Trails 
  • Leelanau Trail / TART Trail / Boardman Lake Trail / Bestie Valley Trail / Buffalo Ridge / Sleeping bear Heritage Trail  
  • All Trails for Benzonia

Other Outdoor Activities

  • Skiing 
  • Cross Country Ski Headquarters 
  • Boardman Valley Stables 
  • Climb a Tree  
  • Sailing

Indoor Recreation

  • Elev8 Climbing and Fitness Center 
  • Excursions/Theme Parks/Sports Parks 
  • Traverse City Balloon Tours 
  • Pirates Cove Adventure 
  • Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide 
  • Great Wolf Lodge  
  • Mt. Holiday Zipline 
  • Kayak, Bike, & Brew 
  • Cotton Creek Farms 
  • Lake Ann Camp 
  • Fishing 
  • Grand Traverse Bay 
Ice skating
sleeping bear dunes michigan
Ski lift

Benzonia Overview

Explore what Benzonia has to offer.
Crystal Lake, MI
Community Overview

The village is located within Benzonia Township at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-115 west. 

Lake house
Cost Of Living & Real Estate

Benzonia housing is 33% lower than the national average. 

Sunset crosses
Cultural Amenities & Places Of Worship

The Village of Benzonia is quaint, friendly and walkable. Close to Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, it is home to delicious restaurants, shops, parks, and grocery stores plus a library and museum. 

graduation
Education

Benzie proper has 4 public schools and 0 private schools. However, Benzie County has 2 Boarding Schools, 14 Parochial Schools, and 4 Charter Schools. 

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