Hotel at a Glance: Weathervane Terrace Inn

Whimsical architect Earl Young is famous for building the fairy-tale mushroom houses of Charlevoix, Michigan. He had an equally fanciful plan when he designed the Weathervane Terrace Inn in 1960. Located along Lake Michigan, the hotel resembles a European castle, with turreted towers, a stone façade, and leaded windows ordered from a Polish estate. Inside the lobby, the quirky designer constructed a boulder fireplace that artistically illustrates the surrounding area’s natural attractions.

• Where’s the beach? Only 300 feet away, well within walking distance.
• Make a friend in the indoor, eight-person hot tub.
• Start the day right with a complimentary continental breakfast by the pool.
• Views of the lake and jetted tubs in select rooms

Charlevoix, Michigan: Quaint Town Surrounded by Three Lakes

Located in the northern half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the small town of Charlevoix is a popular Lake Michigan resort town. Starting in May, petunias line the town’s 5-mile stretch of US 31. In the summer, guests browse the quaint shopping district that surrounds Charlevoix’s Round Lake, and often visit for its art fairs and seasonal festivals. In the winter, you can snow shoe along Lake Michigan in Fisherman’s Island State Park, ski at Mount McSauba, or go ice fishing on Lake Charlevoix.

To learn more about Weathervane Terrace Inn architect Earl Young and his whimsical designs, take a walking tour through his mushroom houses. Stonework façades and frosted stone chimneys characterize the pintsize dwellings, which have been described as “hobbit houses” and “elf cottages.”