THINGS TO DO

Antiquing

Harbor Beach and the surrounding communities are home to numerous small antique shops and dealers. Take a walk down the main street of almost any local town and you will encounter a storefront filled with treasures of the past for your browsing pleasure. Take your time - you might find your family inheritance!

Historical Touring

Harbor Beach has a couple of important museums and several historic landmarks to explore. You'll find the Murphy House Museum at the southern end of the downtown district. This small building was the original Murphy family home, law office and is in the National Register of Historic Buildings. The Grice House Museum is on the north end of the city, near the Harbor Beach Marina. This building and the accompanying pole barn and relocated School House house a huge collection of items from previous eras. These buildings and their content tell the story of Harbor Beach and the various enterprises that led the community to the present day. The Grice House is also on the National Register of Historic Buildings. While you're touring the town, don't forget to go into the Harbor Beach Community House on the corner of State Street and North Huron Avenue. This historic structure is home to the Public Library, Harbor Beach Theatre, community gym and numerous public rooms and has been a central anchor to the community for almost a century.

Swimming

Bathing Beach Park, at the east end of Trescott Street, has almost 500 feet of sandy beach. The beach is perfect for sunbathing and swimming, has a lifeguard on duty during the summer season, and also houses picnic, restroom, and playground facilities.

Boating

The municipal marina, located on the north end of the city, and Off-shore marina, offer ample boat launching and docking options for the marine enthusiast. Get more information here.

Please take boating safety, and boating regulations, seriously...your life could depend on it!

Fishing

The water's off of Harbor Beach offer some of the best fishing in all of Michigan and you have a number of options on how to go about catching them; your own boat, off the breakwall, or by charter. At various times through the year, you can catch brown trout, lake trout, steelhead, walleye and chinook salmon.

Charter a fishing trip with a Michigan Charter Boat Association member.

Remember to be ecologically responsible, check out the Michigan fishing guide for state fishing regulations.

Hunting

Hunting in the Harbor Beach area is a time-honored tradition, part of our state's heritage and culture. It's also an important part of our state's wildlife management activities. Hunting in Michigan is seasonal and includes the following species, among others: white-tailed deer, rabbits, waterfowl, pheasant, wild turkey, and quail.

Check with the Department of Natural Resources to verify seasonal information and licensing procedures.

Camping

Harbor Beach has one large campground,North Park, located near the municipal marina, on the north side of the city, and a county park located approximately four miles south of the city. Brush up on camping procedures and safety here.

Hiking

North Park campground and Wagener Park have numerous trails that wind trough their surrounding woods and which are perfect for day-hiking.

Bicycling

Harbor Beach has a pedestrian/bicycle trail which leads from North Park campground/marina area all the way to the downtown business district, ending at Memorial Park. The trail itself is about 8/10 of a mile.

Or enjoy creating your own route along the quiet, tree-lined residential streets in town, or along country roads lined with woods and farms.

Check out the League of Michigan Bicyclists' website, or read about bicycling safety.