This AAA Three Diamond inn overlooks Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay (above), and its colonnaded white façade and red roof contrasts with the deep blue of the water and sky. The resort was built in the style of turn-of-the-century inns, with spacious lakeside balconies and a broad lawn.

In warm weather, the Inn at Bay Harbor is famous for its golf courses (above). Bay Harbor Golf Club sits along five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with 27 holes and three distinct combinations of play. Crooked Tree Golf Club is home to an 18-hole championship layout and sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Also popular in summer is the beach at the inn, where you can relax in a red-and-white-striped beach cabana, doze in a hammock by the shore, or go swimming and Petoskey stone hunting.

In winter, guests often opt to dine in, indulging on premium steaks and a 115-bottle wine list at the elegant Vintage Chophouse and Wine Bar (above). The restaurant’s dining room is adorned with rich polished wood and warmed by a fireplace, while large windows overlook the resort’s snow-covered beach. When you’re ready to head out, whether to catch a show at Bay Harbor’s Great Lakes Center for the Arts or to the shops in Petoskey’s downtown, take advantage of the resort shuttle, which travels to several local destinations. Or rely on the free valet service at the inn, which includes warming up your car and ridding it of snow and ice.

No matter the season, The Spa at the inn is a popular spot to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy a romantic experience. Sip a cup of hot tea while wrapped in a thick robe in the spa’s Relaxation Lounge before indulging in a lavender blossom massage or lemon verbena body treatment; a facial cleanse; or nail, foot and hand treatments scented with pumpkin spice, cinnamon or lemon, depending on the season.

Whenever you visit the Inn at Bay Harbor, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to gaze out over the Lake Michigan sky, which takes on brilliant shades of red and orange with the sunset and sparkles with a million stars after dark.

AAA Inspector’s Notes:

“Located on Little Traverse Bay, this resort includes village shops, a marina and a yacht club. Well-designed guest rooms feature soothing gray accents and modern furnishings; many include balconies.”