Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Frankfort & Benzie County, Michigan

The lavender farms

• Cherry Hill Lavender FarmLavender farm · Frankfort

  Fall 2026: Wednesdays 12–4 PM, October 7–December 16, other days by appointment. Free garden visits; photo sessions and distillation classes booked ahead; special event days announced on their social pages.

Best time to visit

July is the month to come. Cherry Hill's u-pick starts in July and runs about two weeks, with harvest beginning in mid-July; the farm posts open days on its social pages. North Star Organics opens its organic orchard for cherry picking in July (in 2026 the sweet cherry window closed early, on July 21). Point Betsie Lighthouse gives tours from May 16 to October 11, 2026, plus October 16–18 and 23–25, and the Benzie museum's 1891 Drake School opens on weekend afternoons in July and August. From October into mid-December, Cherry Hill's Wednesday afternoon hours make a quiet off-season visit, paired with beach walks at Frankfort and Elberta.

Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks

• Point Betsie Lighthouse🗼 Lighthouse · Frankfort · about 9 mi, 16 min drive

  Tours take in the 1858 keeper's house, a 34-step tower, the boathouse museum and the fog signal building. The beach beside the light is open to the public.

  May 16–October 11, 2026, plus October 16–18 and 23–25; closed Tuesdays; 10–5, Sundays 12–5

  $5 adults, $2 ages 6–11, free under 6 (2026)

• Frankfort Beach & North Breakwater Light🏖️ Beach · Frankfort · about 5 mi, 10 min drive

  Public Lake Michigan beach at the west end of Main Street, where twin piers and the breakwater light frame the harbor; there are restrooms and accessible walkways onto the sand.

• Elberta Beach🏖️ Beach · Elberta · about 4 mi, 9 min drive

  An undeveloped beach that runs about half a mile south from the Elberta pier and is usually quieter than Frankfort's. Park in the lot at the foot of Bye Road; no fires, camping or driving on the dunes.

• Betsie Valley Trail🥾 Trail · Frankfort to Beulah · about 5 mi, 10 min drive

  A 22-mile rail trail from Frankfort toward Mesick. The first six miles, to Crystal Lake, are paved, with trailheads in Frankfort, Elberta and at the Beulah visitor center; past that the surface is crushed gravel.

• Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve🌲 Preserve · Arcadia · about 9 mi, 15 min drive

  A 3,927-acre conservancy preserve south of Elberta. The Overlook Trail from the Baldy parking lot climbs to a Lake Michigan view, and leashed dogs are welcome.

  Dawn to dusk

• Benzie Area Historical Museum🏛️ Museum · Benzonia · about 8 mi, 14 min drive

  Books, maps, photographs and objects on Benzie County history, one block west of US-31 in Benzonia. The society also owns the 1891 Drake School, used as a school until 1943.

  Wednesday–Saturday 11–4; Drake School Saturday–Sunday 1–4 in July and August

  By donation

• Platte River Point🏖️ Beach · Lake Township (near Honor) · about 15 mi, 25 min drive

  Where the Platte River meets Lake Michigan inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; kids play in the shallow current where river and lake meet. Pets are not allowed on this beach, and parts of the shore can close in spring for nesting piping plovers.

  Sleeping Bear Dunes entrance pass required: $25 per vehicle for 7 days or $45 annual; no cash

• Empire Bluff Trail🥾 Trail · Empire · about 25 mi, 35 min drive

  A hilly 1.5-mile round trip to a bluff about 400 feet above Lake Michigan, looking out to Point Betsie, South Manitou Island and the Sleeping Bear plateau. Leashed pets are allowed.

  Sleeping Bear Dunes entrance pass required: $25 per vehicle for 7 days or $45 annual; no cash

Where to stop: farms, food and stays

• North Star OrganicsCherry orchard · Frankfort

  Certified organic orchard where you pick your own sweet and tart cherries in July and meet the farm animals.

• Birch & MapleRestaurant · Frankfort

  Frankfort restaurant and bar with brunch, creative cocktails and a patio overlooking Betsie Bay.

• Mayfair Burger BarRestaurant · Elberta

  Casual Elberta burger spot from the Birch & Maple team, known for creative burgers and seasoned fries.

• The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & GrillRestaurant · Benzonia

  Fajitas, fruit margaritas and a backyard cantina patio in Benzonia.

• The ThistleRestaurant · Thompsonville

  Relaxed Scottish-themed dinner spot near Crystal Mountain with crab cakes, Scottish salmon and cocktails.

A one-day plan

1. 10:00 AM
   Point Betsie Lighthouse

   Take an early tour (they leave every 20 minutes) and walk the beach, about an hour.

2. 11:15 AM
   Frankfort Beach & North Breakwater Light · about 12 min drive

   Walk the pier toward the light, about 45 minutes.

3. 12:15 PM
   Mayfair Burger Bar · about 5 min drive

   Lunch across the bay in Elberta, about an hour.

4. 1:30 PM
   Cherry Hill Lavender Farm · about 10 min drive

   Pick a bundle during the July u-pick window and browse the cottage store, about an hour. Check the farm's social pages for open days before you go.

5. 2:45 PM
   North Star Organics · about 10 min drive

   Pick sweet or tart cherries if the July season is open, about 45 minutes.

6. 4:00 PM
   Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve · about 20 min drive

   Hike the Overlook Trail from the Baldy lot for the Lake Michigan view, about 90 minutes.

7. 6:00 PM
   Elberta Beach · about 15 min drive

   Finish with a quiet walk south from the Elberta pier.

🗺️ Plan this trip in the trip planner

Tips

• Sleeping Bear Dunes passes are paid by card or digitally; the park does not take cash.
• Point Betsie's parking is free but can fill on busy summer days; respect the private homes along the beach.
• Children must be at least 3.5 feet tall to climb Point Betsie's tower, and babies in carriers can't go up.
• Platte River Point's lots fill in summer and the beach is closed to pets.
• Cherry Hill posts event days and hour changes on its social pages; outside its fall Wednesday hours, visits are by appointment.