Mission Point Lighthouse

At the very tip of the peninsula on the 45th parallel — halfway between the equator and the North Pole. Climb the 1870 tower for a panoramic bay view, poke through the keeper’s museum, and walk over to the historic Hessler Log Cabin. Miles of hiking and biking trails fan out from the point, and the grounds and beach are free, pet-friendly, and great for hunting Petoskey stones (small fee to climb the tower; open seasonally, about May–November). Pair it with a winery loop on the way back.