What to Do in Indian River, Michigan Near Mullett Lake and Burt Lake
For 29 years, Katelyn has been spending nearly two weeks every July in Northern Michigan on Mullett Lake with a group of family friends that has grown to 32 people as everyone has gotten married and started having kids. We all stay together on one property… but that’s another story for another time.
The closest city their end of Mullett Lake (closest to Scott’s Bay) is Indian River. Over the years the city surely has changed, even in the seven years that Marc has been coming up. Indian River has everything you could need in Northern Michigan for some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The city is quaint but it really has something for everyone:
1. Start your day off with some coffee
There are two really great places to get coffee in Indian River. There is Cuppa Life Espresso Cafe, which is a smaller cafe that specializes in small-batch roasted coffee and made-from-scratch baked goods. However our personal favorite is North Star Cafe. Located inside North Start Gardens, a garden center and gift shop, the cafe serves Starbucks and has a drive thru, however that’s not why it is our favorite. The cafe has a really nice lounge area inside and a beautifully landscape outdoor area. The cafe also has good WIFI which makes it an ideal location when we have to jump online and take care of some work before heading back to the lake!
2. Eat breakfast among the largest collection of teapots you’ll ever see
Located just off of Exit 310 from i-75, sits Paula’s Cafe. It’s a tiny building in the middle of a large gravel parking lot but they really pack in the customers. The breakfast is typical, small town diner style but the real interest is the hundreds, maybe thousands, of teapots that surround you. From floor to ceiling you’ll find the most eclectic gathering of seasonal, cartoon, traditional teapots. It’s a must see.
3. Enjoy the sandy shores of Burt Lake
Whether you access Burt Lake from the State Park or from the water, you’ll instantly notice and appreciate the beautiful sandy beaches and shallow water. At the state park you can walk out for hundreds of feet from shore and enjoy rock-free, shallow water that is perfect for family and friends to gather and spend the day. We typically take the boat from Mullett Lake, down the Indian River, and into Burt. We’ll park the boat just out front of the park and boat tailgate for the afternoon with coolers of food and some of our favorite water games.
4. Fish and enjoy water sports on Mullett Lake
We are a bit biased but Mullett Lake is definitely our favorite thing about Indian River. Mullett Lake is pretty large is is pretty well-known for the fishing and it also makes for a great all-sport lake. Our group can often be found fishing for walleye and perch or cruising the shoreline admiring the beautiful comes and cottages that line the water.
5. Cruise the Indian River
The Indian River traverses between Mullett Lake and Burt Lake through the town of Indian RIver. The 3.9 mile waterway is part of the Inland Waterway. It takes just over an hour to move through the no-wake river where your are surrounded by cute cottages, marinas, and a couple restaurants. It’s a peaceful, slow cruise that makes for a nice afternoon, especially if the weather isn’t warm enough to actually be in the water.
6. Golf in Indian River
Regardless of your skill level, there is something for you. Indian River is home to the Indian River Golf Club, an 18-hole course called “the best kept secret in the north” by the Detroit Free Press. However it’s Big Bear Adventures that is more our speed! In addition to river trips and excursions, Big Bear Adventures’ family fun center has am 18-hole mini golf course plus a ropes course and bumper boats. Every summer we go head to head to see who is the best mini golfer in the family.
7. Bike the rail trail
Of course leave it up to Marc to find the best way to get on his bike while staying in the area. The northern half of the North Central State Trail stretches 33.8 miles from Indian River to Mackinaw City, passing through Cheboygan within 16 miles. It is rated as an easy crusted limestone trail, with flat to rolling terrain. It was once a rail road line but was decommissioned and reclaimed as this wonderful pathway.
8. Pick up some local cherries
Littred all over northern Michigan you will find roadside cherry stands in the summer. Make sure you stop! The one in Indian River is located in front of Ken’s grocery story, next to North Star Gardens. They’re washed, fresh and locally grown. A summer “up north” isn’t complete without some delicious cherries.
9. Enjoy some ice cream after a long day
It seems like everyone in the Indian River area has the same idea after dinner—ice cream! We all head into town to the Dairy Mart, which pretty much has anything you can ever want such as soft and hard serve, slushes, floats, sundaes, and even hot dogs. The best part is that they serve Michigan-made Hudsonville ice cream, including their dairy-free options (perfect for Marc).
10. Shop for your summer essentials
There is a one-stop-shop for all your summer essentials in Indian River called The Summer Store. This place has everything from locally themed clothing to sunglasses and large water rafts to other beach essentials. They have everything! We often stop in to see what exciting new things they have and always end up leaving with something that will make our time on the lake a lot more fun and enjoyable.
As you can probably tell, Indian River and Mullett Lake is our favorite place in northern Michigan! If you find yourself in the area and have questions or need a recommendation, feel free to reach out!