Indoor things to do in Petoskey, Michigan

There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click on any of these links, we might earn a small commission at no extra charge to you (which we very much appreciate, thank you!) The full disclosure policy can be found here.

Table of Contents

Indoor things to do in Petoskey, Michigan

Rainy day on a downtown street in Petoskey, Michigan with wet pavement and reflections

For Rainy Days, Snowy Days, or Just “We Need a Break” Days

Michigan weather doesn’t care about your vacation plans. One minute it’s sunny, the next you’re watching rain streak down the hotel window while the kids ask “what are we gonna do NOW?” for the fourteenth time.

Good news: you’re not stuck. Petoskey and the surrounding area have plenty of indoor options to keep everyone entertained – whether it’s a summer storm or a January freeze. Here’s what you need to know.

One Stop, Whole Day

Don’t want to piece together an itinerary? Just need ONE answer? These places have enough going on that you won’t need to leave.

Northern Lights Recreation – Petoskey

Bowling, laser tag, arcade, pool tables, food, live music, karaoke, and Rocky’s Beer Garden & Mini Golf. You could walk in when it starts raining and not leave until dinner. This place is basically a rainy day in one building.

Boyne Mountain – Boyne Falls

More than just a water park. Avalanche Bay keeps the kids busy, they’ve got an arcade, multiple dining options, and a spa if the adults need a break. The family can split up – kids to the waterpark, parents to the spa – and everyone’s happy. Worth the drive if you’re staring down an all-day rain situation.

In Petoskey

Petoskey Field House – rock climbing, bounce houses, indoor soccer, retro arcade, and a parents lounge. Northern Michigan’s go-to for birthday parties and wearing kids out.

Cowabunga Ninja Sports Parkour Gym – for kids with energy to burn. Call ahead to check for openings.

Know Way Out Escape Room – work together to solve puzzles and escape. Better for older kids and teens.

Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen – heads up: the back-end tours are gone, but you can still watch them make fudge, caramel apples, and chocolates right through the windows. Kids love it. Good luck leaving without buying something. (The caramel apples are dangerous. You’ve been warned.)

Petoskey Cinema – catch a movie.

Crooked Tree Art Center – art gallery in a beautiful historic church building with rotating exhibits. They also offer classes if you want to get hands-on.

McLean & Eakin Booksellers – great kids section, and The Archives used bookstore is tucked in the back.

Petoskey Library basement bookstore – used books, free to browse, and the kids can grab something to read on the drive home.

Little Traverse History Museum – local history, good for a quick stop. $5 admission, kids are free.

Gypsy Vodka Distillery – for the parents.

John M Hall Auditorium – Bayview (tucked inside Petoskey) – summer venue for live music, concerts, and operas. Check their schedule if you’re visiting during the season.

Downtown shops – wander and window shop. Sometimes just walking around and poking into stores is enough to kill a rainy hour or two.

Sturgeon River Pottery – two miles west of town near Bay Harbor. Huge selection of pottery, garden decor, Petoskey stones, and handmade gifts from over 200 Michigan artists. Family-owned for 40+ years. You can lose some serious time in here.

Worth the Short Drive

Lyric Theatre – Harbor Springs

A cozy non-profit theater showing first-run movies, art films, and live broadcasts. Two screening rooms (200 seats and 40 seats) with real small-town charm.

Charlevoix Area Community Pool – Charlevoix

Public pool, great option if the kids need to burn energy.

Great Lakes Center for the Arts – Bay Harbor

Check their event calendar for shows and performances. Worth planning around if something good is playing.

Pond Hill Farms – Harbor Springs

Hang out under the canopy, do some wine tasting, browse the farm market. Parents get to feel like adults for a minute.

Castle Farms – Charlevoix

Castle tours, gardens, and rotating exhibits. Yes, it’s an actual castle.

Raven Hill Discovery Center – East Jordan

Hands-on science and nature museum. Great for curious kids who want to touch everything.

Worth the Longer Drive (Make a Day of It)

Call of the Wild – Gaylord

Don’t let the drive scare you off – this place is worth it. Wildlife museum with beautifully done taxidermy dioramas showcasing Michigan animals, scavenger hunts to keep kids engaged, and audio exhibits where you can hear the animal sounds. Big gift shop and homemade fudge that reviews say is better than the bigger tourist towns. Kids from toddlers to 10+ love it. If the weather clears up, they have mini golf and go karts outside too.

Odawa Casino – slots, table games, dining, entertainment. A solid option when you’re in the mood for something adults-only.

Escape the Weather Entirely

Sometimes the rain just isn’t letting up and you want to make an adventure out of it. These towns are all within day-trip distance if you’re up for a drive:

Traverse City
Mackinaw City / Mackinac Island (check the forecast – if it’s not raining there, the island is worth it)
Gaylord
Charlevoix
Boyne City
Indian River

Local Hack

Here’s something most visitors don’t know: Petoskey stone hunting is actually easier in the rain.

Wet stones reveal their coral pattern – you can spot them way easier than when everything’s dry. So grab your rain boots and hit the beach. A “ruined” beach day might turn into your best finds.

When All Else Fails

Hotel pool – if you’re staying somewhere with a pool, don’t forget about it. Some hotels also offer day passes if you ask.

Thrift store treasure hunt – Might find something weird and great.

Scenic drive – the Tunnel of Trees in the fog or rain is moody and gorgeous. You’re in the car anyway, might as well make it pretty.

Board games – feels like giving up, but here’s the thing: these are the moments that become the stories. Ten years from now nobody’s going to remember the third winery you visited, but they’ll definitely remember the rainy afternoon everyone got way too competitive over Uno in the hotel room.