Visit Grindstone City

Consider taking the road less traveled and visit, play or stay with us in Grindstone City.

No ordinary city, Grindstone City is a quaint village uniquely tucked away on the northeast tip of Michigan’s thumb. Once a bustling hub for a forgotten industry (read more about our unique history here), Grindstone is now a haven for all who are called to the water. Here you can spend a limitless amount of time on the water, fishing, kayaking, boating, or simply relaxing.

Grindstone is an ideal place to vacation or visit, no agenda required.

A place steeped in rich history and known for its incredible fishing, superb outdoor recreation, and casual atmosphere, Grindstone is an ideal place to vacation or visit when an agenda is not required. You will find that life moves at a slower pace when you have your toes in the sand or your oars/lines in the water. Along the way, you may find large, strange stones to greet you. These Grindstones were once a highly sought-after material in the building industry. Now they remain only a remnant of our unique history.

A visit to Grindstone City will remind you of the true meaning of a vacation. Relax, unwind, and spend time with loved ones. Go out for ice cream, browse the local art gallery, or grab a cold drink or a hot meal at one of our local bars/restaurants. If you have a catch from your fishing trip, bring it! They will do the work and cook it up for you. Plan to dock your boat or rent a cottage and turn your visit into a vacation or put down roots to make your vacation indefinite.

See below for resources and links to plan your visit to Grindstone City.

 

Art and Music

 

Beaches & Parks

Grindstone

Port Austin & Nearby

  • Bird Creek Park - a seven-acre day-use park located in Port Austin with large picnic Pavilion adjacent to the playground and a new splash pad

  • McGraw County Park - a very nice and large public beach great for kids and families, has interesting large rock formations.

  • Port Crescent State Park - the beach at Port Crescent State Park is one of the natural jewels of the Thumb with a large sandy beach to enjoy. They also have hiking trails, Dark Sky Preserve, and more!

  • Veteran’s Waterfront Park - located near the Port Austin Marina, includes the Veteran's Memorial, lawns, a lovely sandy beach, multiple sculptures, a new play structure, and a pavilion that can be rented. The scenic walkway offers great views of Lake Huron, Port Austin Reef Lighthouse, and the marina.

 

Outdoor Recreation

  • Huron County Nature Center - 280 acre Nature Center with 1.82 Mile Hiking Trail, located just west of Port Austin on Loosemore Road, approximately a 15-minute drive from Grindstone

  • Port Crescent State Park Day-Use - Three miles of sandy shoreline on Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay. A wooden boardwalk parallels the day-use shoreline offering many scenic vistas. The park also offers fishing, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, birding, and hunting.

  • Port Austin Outdoor Recreation - website with a variety of information about water sports and other outdoor recreation activities nearby, including a paddle trail map to Turnip Rock!

  • Port Austin Kayak - kayak rental and supplies minutes from Grindstone

 

Retail Therapy

  • JJ’s Party Store - food staples, basic supplies, as well as alcohol and beer right in Grindstone City

  • PAK’s Garage - pop-up retail shops and bike shop within a repurposed industrial building

  • Port Austin Farmers Market - one of Michigan’s largest Farmers Markets, every Saturday mid-May through early-October

  • Village Green - outdoor pop-up shops located in downtown Port Austin

 
 

For even more to do and see, check out the Port Austin Area Chamber of Commerce website.