Art-Filled Weekends

Try one or more of these artful experiences to mark another summer’s finale in Northern Michigan.

- Heather Johnson Durocher

Soak up the scenery (and get your heart pumping) in Benzie County.

Visit the Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 30-acre wooded preserve at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville that offers both an art experience and hiking trail. (open during daylight hours every day year round). The outdoor sculpture park provides a rich cultural experience—as you meander a winding trail through towering hardwoods, you’ll discover 49 sculptures, 31 poetry stones and an abundance of natural beauty. Book Crystal Mountain’s Bed and Breakfast lodging package, which includes access to the Art Park. Day-trip to nearby Oliver Art Center in the coastal village of Frankfort, where September classes include ceramics, watercolor, yoga and Pilates. CRYSTALMOUNTAIN. COM, MICHLEGACYARTPARK.ORG, OLIVERARTCENTERFRANKFORT.ORG.

Be entertained in Manistee.

Catch a flick or live performance on the shores of Lake Michigan in Manistee. The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts plays host to more than 200 events each year. See veteran Broadway stage performer Karen Curlee (she appeared in chorus and feature roles in long-running shows including Cats, A Chorus Line and B