Discover Elk Rapids

06/23/2026

We're three weeks away from a celebratory local summer tradition, the Elk Rapids Garden Club's biennial Elk Rapids Garden Walk! 🌿💦

This is a garden walk on a mission: Attendees will tour seven exceptional gardens across the greater Elk Rapids area whose owners are on a mission to preserve Northern Michigan’s beauty through water and land conservation.

This event helps our community grow: The Elk Rapids Garden Walk is the Garden Club’s sole fundraising event, supporting their work to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the Village of Elk Rapids.

➡️ elkrapidsgardenclub.com/gardenwalk/

Come tour gardens whose owners are on a mission to preserve northern Michigan's beauty through water and land conservation.

06/19/2026

"Not only will you find a gorgeous beach, this spot is also rich in art and nature trails.

The Art Rapids! Walk of Art Sculpture Park is a unique element to the shore where visitors can take in the serenity of nature and admire works of art all the same."

“When you are hiking through here, it's not distracting from the natural environment; it's in addition to the natural environment and something else to be looking for when you're out walking. You could be looking for animals or the birds, but also art pieces.” - Antrim County Parks Department Director Lyndsey Eccles

Thanks to UpNorthLive for spotlighting this beautiful gem in Elk Rapids!

ANTRIM COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A quarter-mile stretch of shoreline on Grand Traverse Bay is drawing visitors with more than just beach access. Elk Rapids

06/11/2026

"Over the last fiscal year, the Elk Rapids District Library saw 40,477 visitors, checking out 33,262 items from a permanent collection of 20,073 total books and materials. (Not including what’s in storage.) All this in a building that has trouble seating a large group comfortably, necessitating that many programs are conducted off-site.

The steady use of the Island House proved two things: that the library is a community treasure and that it was in dire need of expansion.

Several expansion plans were studied over a decade, but they were impractical and sometimes even contentious, given the historical designation, and so focus switched from expanding the space to looking for a new space completely. (The Island House committee meets regularly to help transition the old location into its next iteration as a beloved community asset.)

In 2024, the library purchased the former Traverse Bay Manufacturing building on Cairn Highway.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for June 30, with construction commencing shortly after." 📚

Thanks to Northern Express for highlighting our wonderful Elk Rapids District Library!

After 75-plus years in the charming Island House, and despite a generous lease that stretches out to 2038, the Elk Rapids District Library is planning to …

06/06/2026

Thanks to UpNorthLive for highlighting Paddle Antrim's milestone for accessibility, stewardship, and paddling in Michigan as they officially cut the ribbon at Elk Rapids Rotary Park on June 3! See the mention at 0:28 in the video. 💦

06/01/2026

Join us for a Monday Mindful Moment with Body Wise. 💫

A new month starting on a Monday! The sun is shining bright here in Downtown Elk Rapids, and there is a noticeable shift in excited energy in our village as we celebrate the start of our summer season. In just a few minutes, Judith guides us through an easy way to be mindful of our posture for the benefit of our bodies, whether we're seated at a desk or riding in a vehicle (perhaps on your way to Elk Rapids!)

Judith specializes in supporting clients who are dealing with pain and/or seeking inspired longevity. She knows what it’s like to be in pain, and knows it doesn’t have to be that way! Her approach includes various modalities and an integrative approach, combining techniques she's learned in her training and strategies developed from personal experience.

She loves showing her clients—through yoga, pilates, and fitness classes in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and private nutrition coaching available nationwide from the comfort of your home or office—how to take charge of longevity and reverse the signs of premature aging.

We're so inspired to have Judith's healing services like yoga, pilates, and nutrition coaching right here year-round in Downtown Elk Rapids. And that studio view! 🤩

Come get today—see services, class schedules, and connect with Judith at erbodywise.com.

Come !

05/26/2026

"After extensive renovations, the "reimagined” Dexter Hotel opened its doors Tuesday on Dexter Street in Elk Rapids.

Created by the former creative director of Shinola and built by Shore North Development in collaboration with Kinship Hospitality founders Daniel Caudill and Kamron Bijeh-Apple, the hotel now features 29 rooms with a “modern, sophisticated aesthetic rooted in place through carefully sourced materials, custom fabrication by Michigan makers, and curated vintage furniture that honors the state’s design legacy,” according to a hotel release. The rooms have been designed to feel like “warm, peaceful apartments” with custom furniture, lighting manufactured by Britten, and drapery sewn by a Traverse City seamstress.

"We approached this project by asking whether every element – every piece of furniture, every ceramic, every fixture – could be created by Michigan makers,” says Caudill. Art on the hotel walls comes from Michigan artists including Martyna Alexander, Pier Wright, and Jesse Hickman. Bowls, trays, cups, plates, soap dishes, and lamps were sourced from Traverse City ceramicists. The hotel also features custom millwork on the handcrafted reception desk and in Noble Lounge, Dexter’s restaurant and bar.

The kitchen at Noble Lounge will now be overseen by a new face – though one familiar to many Traverse City and Leelanau foodies. Executive Chef John Korycki, a veteran of Black Star Farms and frequent culinary instructor at NMC’s Extended Education program, will launch a new menu in mid-June featuring 9-12 seasonal small plates. Ingredients will be “sourced from celebrated local farms and artisans, including internationally award-winning cheesemakers from Suttons Bay and Northport,” according to the release. In a Facebook post, Korycki called Noble Lounge a “new creative challenge.”

“Stay tuned for a small plate menu featuring my handmade Italian pastas, Polish-inspired dishes, and seasonal Mediterranean flavors – all to be enjoyed with craft cocktails and great bottles of wine,” he wrote. The bar program will be headed up Anthony “Tony” DiMaria, formerly of Detroit’s Sugar House and Otis Harbor Spring, with a focus on “molecular mixology techniques,” an opening menu of 6-7 cocktails, and a “robust non-alcoholic program,” according to the hotel." via Traverse City Ticker

05/18/2026

"Harbor walks, easy water access, trail-town energy, friendly streets, and low-stress Lake Michigan scenery make this northern village a restorative small-town getaway."

Thanks Explore Michigan for featuring beautiful Elk Rapids!

05/06/2026

"The Northern Michigan gem is one of nine state-designated water trails designated by the Department of Natural Resources."

Paddle Antrim installed the [ new kayak ] rack as part of the larger accessibility improvements coming to Rotary Park, a key trailhead for the water trail.

“By installing these racks, we’re removing a barrier that can limit how people experience both the water trail and the communities along it,” [ Executive Director Deana Jerdee ] said. “It creates a more welcoming and flexible experience for paddlers, whether they are visiting for the first time or live nearby.”

The Chain of Lakes Water Trail is one of nine state-designated water trails in Michigan, spanning more than 100 miles.

05/01/2026

You're invited to a FREE screening of the film, "No Small Matter," hosted by the Great Start Collaborative and Family Coalition of Traverse Bay at the Elk Rapids Cinema on Thursday, May 7, with doors opening at 5:30 pm. The evening will also include an opening by Tilt Think Improv.

This event is focused on raising awareness about the importance of high-quality early learning and care opportunities for all children and families in our local communities.

"Families do better when communities make it easier to access quality early learning and care. But for many parents and caregivers, finding the support they need is still far too difficult — and that challenge affects not only children and families, but employers, schools, and the strength of our whole community.

This event is an opportunity to learn more, start important conversations, and build stronger support around the importance of investing in young children and their caregivers across our region." - Great Start Collaborative and Family Coalition of Traverse Bay

Families do better when communities make it easier to access quality early learning and care.

But for many parents and caregivers, finding the support they need is still far too difficult — and that challenge affects not only children and families, but employers, schools, and the strength of our whole community.

That is why we are inviting you to join us for a free screening of No Small Matter at the Elk Rapids Cinema on May 7, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

This event is an opportunity to learn more, start important conversations, and build stronger support for young children and their caregivers across our region. The evening will also include an opening by Tilt Think Improv.

Hosted by the Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay in partnership with NMC, Northwest Education Services, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, and Do A Little Good.

Please join us, and help spread the word.


Northwestern Michigan College
Northwest Education Services
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
Do a Little Good