Kresge Auditorium in Interlochen. Picture taken from our boat on Green Lake
Interlochen is quite the hidden Gem, and most definitely worth a trip. It may be a small town, but has a lot to offer, especially in the Summer. It sits about 20 minutes outside of Traverse city and offers several beautiful lakes, a large State Park, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where they host some pretty amazing concerts at Kresge Hall; A covered, outdoor auditorium right on the water of Green Lake.
Camping at Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park
The campground is directly across the road on Duck Lake.
We camped several times this year at the Interlochen State Park. It is one of our favorite campgrounds. It is very spacious, has an immense sandy beach/play area, covered pavilions, a large store where you can grab just about anything you would need, plus some yummy food options. There is always something to do, with basketball courts, volleyball courts, a kickball field, and many paths to enjoy a walk.
We usually book sites on the water side, and anchor a mooring point in the water, so we can bring our boat and jet ski. It is an all-sports lake of about 3 square miles, hence a good amount of room to play.
Concerts on the Water
This Summer we attended so many concerts at the Arts Academy… Train, Journey, the Temptations, and the Four Tops, Big and Rich, Five for Fighting, the Beach boys, and one of our favorites, Lindsey Stirling… And we never bought a single ticket!
We launched our boat on the Green Lake public launch, and the venue allows you to anchor right outside the auditorium. Let me tell you, the music sounds really awesome on the water!
Waiting for concerts to start at Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen. Picture taken from our boat on Green Lake
The concerts start around 7 p.m., so we would try to get there around 6, to enjoy some swimming and fishing. I would usually pack some easy dinners, sandwiches, walking tacos, etc., or we would make all the other boaters jealous, by smelling our food grilling, haha!
Dining in Interlochen
Interlochen boasts some of the best restaurants in all of Grand Traverse County. There is the Hofbrau steak house which offers Sunday brunch, Oakey’s, where there is an impressively large outdoor dining area with cornhole and live music, and Dilbert’s, a delicious little breakfast/lunch diner.
However, personally, my most favorite place to eat is Bradley’s, which is located at the Interlochen golf course. I spend a lot of time there as we are a family of golfers! They too have outdoor dining and live music. I definitely recommend the Birdie Wings, Bluegill Po Boy, Salmon Bites, or the Pork Mac. Seriously, they are all so good!
Before leaving Interlochen do not forget to grab a sweet treat at one of the two ice cream shops. One even has a putt-putt course for the whole family to enjoy.
Watch all the videos we took this summer of playing on the lakes and the concerts at Interlochen Arts Academy on our YouTube channel and watch the firework, drone, and other videos!
International Firework Show at Turtle Creek Stadium. First show Germany
International Firework Show at Turtle Creek Stadium. Germany’s Grand Finale
International Firework Show at Turtle Creek Stadium, Traverse City, MI. Second show – France
Arianna lives in Interlochen with her husband and 3 teenage children. They lead pretty busy lives, but golf is one of their favorite past times as well as spending time on their boat on the many lakes in Northern Michigan. Arianna has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet to show her craft. You can read her articles in