The fall is the best time to go up north, as proven by my trip to Petoskey State Park

The view of Little Traverse Bay from atop Old Baldy in Petoskey State Park. 

Much is made across Michigan of heading "Up North" every summer (where "Up North is, well, that's something every media outlet in Detroit tries to figure out every summer). But once summer's over, the people who live up north breathe a sigh of relief, thinking all those downstate tourists are gone and won't be back for nine months.

My recent weekend up at Petoskey State Park has confirmed my longtime suspicion that the fall truly is my favorite time to pack up the car and head to the woods.

My wife and I headed to the area for a wedding in nearby Charlevoix this past weekend and found ourselves with some time in the morning before the festivities began that afternoon. Our hotel was just miles away from the state park, and we decided to enjoy the natural beauty to start our day.

Little Traverse Bay.

Upon arriving at the beach, I noticed how quiet it was that morning. The first day of fall and there were less than 10 people enjoying the water, walking along the shoreline and watching the waves crash on the sandy beach. While it certainly wasn't great for swimming with it being the first day of fall, the water was a wonderful site to see without all the interruptions. I can just imagine what the beach would typically look like in the summer, and I much preferred the fall.

The shoreline was lined with smooth, flat rocks, perfect for skipping in the choppy waters of Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. It was a wonderful place to start a morning.

After getting a close-up look of the lake, we headed into the woods and decided a short hike was a good use of our time. It was well worth the short drive and walk up the hill to capture an awe-inspiring view.

We headed to the Old Baldy trail, a short (less than 0.5 miles) hike up Old Baldy, which had some stairs constructed for the truly steep parts. The top of the trail was well worth the climb, as the view of Little Traverse Bay framed by the tree branches was an incredible payoff.

The end of the trail up Old Baldy.

A little further down the trail is a picnic area atop the bluff, which is great for admiring the trees and water surrounding the area. A quick walk down the hill made it for a great trip that took less than an hour but provided some amazing views of nature.

It wasn't a long visit to the state park but well worth a morning visit. I was surprised to see such few people enjoying the water on the first day of fall, but I'm sure that beach gets more than its fair share of usage in the summer months. But for me, I'll take a day on the beach with a fleece sweater any day over a swimsuit and towel.