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Port Austin Mi is the Art and Cultural Center of the region with its galleries, Studio Tour Weekend, Labor Day’s Art in the Park, and yearly Porch Concerts. But there is much more to see and do at the tip of the Thumb. If you need ideas for things to do in Port Austin MI, we have some suggestions for just about every taste.
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#1 Horseback Riding at Knoblock Riding Stable
One of the things to do in Port Austin is to experience a few hours of exploring the country on horseback. This riding stable has been in the area for over 50 years. Highly rated and known for scenic trails and friendly horses. The trail ride is everything you would want it to be; through meadows, across streams, absolutely idyllic. The owner is also your guide and is known to teach proper handling and techniques for a great experience. The farm and stables are located south of Port Austin off of M-53 at 1075 Hunter Road. Visit Knoblock Riding Stable’s Facebook Page for hours and contact information.
#2 Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Tours to Resume Summer 2026
Tours of the historic Port Austin Reef Lighthouse are set to return in the summer of 2026 following extensive restoration efforts. The Port Austin Reef Light Association (PARLA) has been completing both exterior and interior work—thanks to a significant MDOT grant and donations—to ensure the lighthouse meets modern safety and preservation standards. The nonprofit expects to fully restore key elements such as the Fresnel-style lens, lighting fixtures, and solar-powered systems, positioning the structure for safe, public access.
In addition, PARLA recently secured a $22,000 America250MI grant to expand guided tour offerings and launch an immersive Keeper Program that allows visitors to experience life aboard the lighthouse firsthand. Once tours resume in 2026, visitors can look forward to enhanced interpretive signage, historically accurate furnishings, interactive programming, and a well-trained docent corps. These additions aim to enrich the educational experience and underscore the lighthouse’s maritime heritage for guests and school groups alike.
Visit and Climb To the Top of Port Austin Reef Light
While a boat tour is nice, to see this Castle on the Lake, you have to take a tour that will actually allow you to step up into the lighthouse. Only one outfit does that: the Port Austin Reef Light Association, or PARLA for short.
One of PARLA’s authorized pontoon boats departs from the Port Austin State pier, driven by one of their authorized charter captains. When you get to the Reef Light, their docents will welcome you and lead you around all seven stories of this unique marine treasure. Discover the past, the keepers’ daily life, the storms, the shipwrecks, and what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper. Additionally, PARLA will discuss its goals and initiatives for restoring this special building to its former splendor.
The Port Austin Reef Lighthouse is only accessible via the PARLA trip, from the bottom to the top! The cost is $65 per passenger.
#3 Paddle A Kayak to Turnip or Broken Rocks
If it’s a calm day with little or no wave action, rent some kayaks in Port Austin Kayak (referred to by the locals as the “PAK”) and paddle east to Turnip Rock and explore the formations of Broken Rocks west of the harbor. Both water trails are relatively easy to do and offer some incredible scenery. Turnip Rock can only be seen from the water so bring your waterproof camera for some great shots.
If you’re going to venture out to the famous Turnip Rock, read our hints in Paddling to Turnip Rock – 5 Things to Know. If you’re thinking of buying a kayak or paddleboard for your Upper Thumb adventures, check out the product reviews of kayaks, paddleboards, and other outdoor gear at Globo Surf.
#4 Race Go Carts in Port Austin & Caseville
The Upper Thumb now has two full-featured go-kart tracks. In Port Austin, the track is large and ideal for a tasting of real racing. You can take the little ones on a full-throttle ride around a tremendous winding track as an adult. Check out Family Go-Karts in Port Austin, south of town off of M-53. In Caseville, Key North Mini Golf and Family Fun Center claim to be the largest track in mid-Michigan. With 15 new karts and some two-seaters so, mom or dad can drive the youngsters around that are too small to do it themselves.
#5 Walk Through a Butterfly House
If you can see the Port Austin water tower you can walk to the Butterfly House and Gardens. This interesting exhibit allows one to sit and observe these fascinating creatures in a tranquil garden setting. The butterfly house is open on Saturday afternoon
#6 Play Miniature Golf in Port Austin
There is one classic Putt-Putt style and two other fun and family-friendly courses in Port Austin. While the adults may think of these as trite and insignificant, the kids will remember these little family jaunts for a lifetime. Take advantage of these roadside attractions before they disappear to XBox video games.
Sandy Dunes Adventure Golf
The biggest of the miniature golf circuit is Sandy Dunes Adventure Golf. It’s a short drive west of Port Austin. This modern course sports Huron County’s largest (and only) waterfall in the Thumb. Enjoy an ice cream as you strike the various elevated holes on this 18-hole.
Tip of the Thumb Mini Golf
Joyce Pode and Elaine and Tom Moore are new owners of this former Putt-Putt course built in 1961. They totally revamped the classic course for the 2020 season. Located across from the Post Office The Tip of the Thumb Mini Golf is a classic course that is walkable from anywhere in town on the corner of North and Railway streets in Port Austin Mi.
Kooky Golf
Full of wild, challenging holes and splashes of vibrant colors, Kooky Miniature Golf is on M-25, only five blocks west of the main street.
#7 Visit a Working Fish Company in Bay Port
Bayport Fish Company – Visit one of the few remaining operational commercial fish operations on the Great Lakes. Purchase fresh fish on-site and watch the operations. (Hope you like the smell of fish). Bay Port is a half-hour drive east of Port Austin on M-25. It is a pretty drive along the shore. The store is typically open seven days a week during the summer season.
#8 Explore Port Austin’s Outdoor Farmers Market
Port Austin Farmers Market – Open Saturday mornings during the summer season. Crafts, fresh locally produced fruits, fresh and smoked fish, vegetables, craft foods, and flea market items can be found. Considered the largest open-air market in the Thumb. Located right in the center of Port Austin.
#9 Visit a Huge Octagon Barn near Gagetown
Octagon Barn – The Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum is located in Tuscola County approximately 1 mile east of the Village of Gagetown along Bay City Forestville Road 1 mile north on Richie Road, just south of the Huron County border.
#10 Peek at the Past at Nearby Huron City
Huron City Museum – See what a small town looked like in Michigan’s Thumb as it thrived in the late 1800s. The House of Seven Gables, a beautifully preserved Victorian home, sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Huron. The General Store, a Methodist church, an inn, and barns were built during the 1880s. With a post office, general store, a rooming house, and mills, Huron City was well equipped to serve the northern county farmer. Huron City is a 10-minute drive from Port Austin east on M-25.
#11 Advance Token to Boardwalk At The Huron Nature Center
Huron County Nature Center & Wilderness Arboretum – A 280-acre Nature Center established on a tract of untouched land in Hume Township, Michigan, the Huron County Nature Center and Wilderness Arboretum have been under the tender care of the Huron County Women’s Clubs since 1941. Located halfway between Caseville and Port Austin, across from Oak Beach.
#12 Play on the Many Beaches Near Port Austin
Hit the Beach – There are numerous public beaches throughout Huron County in which to cool off, and enjoy a picnic while the kids play in the playground. Most beaches offer ample parking with picnic tables, restrooms, and changing areas, and grills for making your own cheeseburger. One thing to watch while on the beach is for the strange and unusual. There is a local story about an ancient sea monster in Saginaw Bay. While it’s likely a large old sturgeon, it makes for a great story. “Saggy” is the name of one of the three Popular Legends Of Great Lakes Sea Monsters.
The closest beach to Port Austin Mi is Bird Creek Park within the Port Austin harbor. It has an extensive boardwalk and pavilions for picnicking. Veterans Park has a small sandy beach and access to Port Austin’s Harbor Breakwall. From the brake wall’s walkway, you can get great pictures of Lake Huron, Port Austin Reef Lighthouse, and the harbor. If you like a large remote beach, drive west on M-25 to Port Crescent State Park. It has one of the most extensive beaches around.
#13 Hands-on History to Explore in Port Austin and Caseville
The Port Austin Mi History Center offers rich research and exhibits for families to explore and genealogists to savor. Located one mile east of the leading light in Port Austin. The center has a wealth of area resources such as over 70 Years of Local Newspaper Clippings, archive copies of the Port Austin Post 1886-1887 and Huron County News 1870-1872, 1904 Huron County Plat Book, and many other primary sources of information.
Caseville Museum – Located just one block from Main Street in Caseville, you can see artifacts and local treasures from yesteryear. Special events are often held weekly, offering a quick diversion from the crowds. The Historical Society of Caseville was founded in 1993 and opened the museum in the restored Maccabees Hall in 2008.
#14 Enjoy Huge Ice Cream Cones in Grindstone City
One of the best things to do in Michigan’s Thumb is to explore the area. A short drive east of Port Austin lands you in Grindstone City. Here there are two renowned ice cream shops. The Grindstone General Store and Rybak’s Ice Cream Store. The Grindstone General Store is known for its insanely large ice cream cones, while Rybak’s is the place for high-end ice cream and homemade candy. Both are located in historic buildings from the 1800s. Rybak’s large front porch is ideal for chatting with friends and reminiscing about your Cheeseburger day.
#15 Browse an Art Gallery in the Port Austin Mi
The Upper Thumb now has three galleries in Bad Axe; the Lofty Roots Gallery and Studio opened in 2015 with six local artists exhibiting. While in Grindstone City, the White Church Gallery draws in artists from all over Michigan and the United States. Founded by Mike and Carrie Zaitz in a renovated 1800s church. In Port Austin, the Cove Gallery is right off Lake Street, next to the Farmers Market. The Cove Gallery exhibits over 55+ artists in Michigan, mainly from the Thumb region. Each of these is Port Austin, Mi. Galleries are excellent diversions if you have spent too much time on the beach or for those suffering from the Cheeseburger hangover in August.
#16 Play in the Big Splash Pad at Bird Creek
The splash pad at Bird Creek County Park in Port Austin has become a major summer attraction for families visiting Michigan’s Thumb. Located just steps from the sandy beach and boardwalk, the splash pad includes water cannons, misting arcs, umbrella-style sprayers, and a massive tipping bucket that drenches excited kids below. Designed to entertain up to 30 children at a time, it offers a safe, no-standing-water environment ideal for both toddlers and older kids. Motion sensors trigger five- to seven-minute water cycles, keeping the activity fresh while helping manage flow and safety.
Adjacent to the splash pad are restrooms, a shaded pavilion, picnic tables, a modern playground, and a scenic boardwalk with views of the Port Austin Reef Light. Parents can relax nearby or stroll the waterfront while their kids cool off in the spray zone. Open seasonally, the splash pad adds to Bird Creek Park’s full list of family-friendly amenities, making it a popular day-trip destination. Access is free, and concessions are available on weekends, rounding out a budget-friendly stop for summer fun.
This lovely place is situated in the charming alley of Port Austin, where there used to be a paint store and an antique shop. It’s conveniently located just a few steps away from the lively Port Austin Farmers Market and a short stroll from the Cove Art Gallery. What’s more, so make sure to check it out!
#17 Take A Guided Boat Trip To Turnip Rock
With a sparkle in my eye and a skip in my step, I find myself in Port Austin, Michigan, ready to embark on a nautical adventure to the famous Turnip Rock. Now, when it comes to boat tours in this charming lakeside town, a couple of top-notch operators will steer you toward a memorable experience.
Ed Note: Radical Marine is not doing tours in 2025
First off, there’s the Radical Marine, the gold standard of boat tour experiences in Port Austin. They’ll whisk you off on tour around the iconic Turnip Rock, the Port Austin Reef Light, the gorgeous shoreline, and the dramatic Broken Rocks. Moreover, you’ll be cruising aboard a bona fide Navy Motor Whale Boat, a vessel with a history as intriguing as the sights you’ll encounter. This beauty once served on the USS Harry S Truman Aircraft Carrier, and today, it’s here to serve up unforgettable memories for you and your fellow explorers, up to six at a time.
#19 Tour Barn Art in Huron County
Huron County blends rural architecture with public art through two main initiatives: the Thumb Quilt Trail and the Port Austin barn-art installations.
Thumb Quilt Trail
The Thumb Quilt Trail is self-guided tour features more than 91 large, painted quilt?block designs on barns, sheds, homes, and public buildings across the county . Inspired by quilting traditions and community stories, each pattern is visually distinct—some even bear family names or local crests . The trail encourages exploration of Huron’s farmland and small towns, making for an engaging drive-by experience.
Port Austin Barn Art Project
A sister initiative, led by 53North Art and local artists, transforms historic barns into large-scale visual installations . Key works include:
- Hygienic Dress League’s oversized murals: a gas?masked “American Gothic” and colorful pigeon on a field?side structure.
- Scott Hocking’s “Emergency Ark”: a sculptural reworking of an 1890s barn into a sanctuary?like form.
- Catie Newell’s “Secret Sky”: a century?old barn sliced open to let in daylight and guide sightlines through rural landscape.
- Bakpak Durden’s “Confronting Loneliness”: a recent addition portraying vultures and fire, paired with regional poetry.
- “The Deity”: a mythic, therianthropic mural near Bird Creek Farm Restaurant.
These art installations are on private land but prominently visible from roadside vantage points, allowing safe viewing while respecting property boundaries.
Together, the barn quilts and art?barns offer Huron County a distinct visual identity rooted in its agricultural landscape—combining heritage, creativity, and rural storytelling for locals and visitors alike.
#20 Hike the Sand Dunes of a Ghost Town
The Steel Bridge Trail at Port Crescent State Park offers a scenic 2.5-mile hike through dune forests, river bluff overlooks, and wetlands along the Pinnebog River. But what surprises many visitors is that these trails pass directly over the site of the vanished 19th-century lumber town of Port Crescent. Once home to sawmills, a salt block works, and a busy dock, the village was abandoned by the early 1900s after the timber ran out. Today, little remains but foundation stones and the repurposed steel bridge—an early 20th-century truss structure that now serves as a pedestrian crossing.
As hikers wind through sandy ridges and shaded pine groves, interpretive signs mark the ghost town’s former layout. Wildlife is common along the trail, including deer, bald eagles, and foxes, and wild berries can be found in season. In winter, the trail is groomed for cross-country skiing. Trailheads are accessible from both the M-25 bridge and the state park campground. With its blend of nature, history, and quiet ruins, the Steel Bridge Trail offers one of the Thumb’s most compelling hikes.
What to do in Port Austin Mi? FAQs
Where is Port Austin, Michigan?
Port Austin is located at the very tip of Michigan’s Thumb. From Detroit, it’s approximately a two and one half hour drive to the end of M-53. It’s also a stop on the Great Lakes Circle Tour and the biker road trip of the Ribbon Around the Thumb.
What County is Port Austin, Michigan, In?
The city of Port Austin is located in Huron County. This county is the tip of the Thumb of Michigan and is surrounded by the sandy beaches of Saginaw Bay to the west and Lake Huron to the east.
What Hotels Are Available in Port Austin?
There are at least 11 marvelous hotels in Port Austin, Michigan that are overlooked by the big travel sites. From romantic rooming at a bed & breakfast to cozy cottages. See the full list at local Port Austin Hotels
Port Austin, Michigan Weather
Related Reading for Port Austin, Mich.
- 17 Amusing Things to Do In Caseville Besides the Cheeseburger Festival
- 14 of the Best Michigan Tourist Attractions in The Thumb
- Huron County Golf
- Grindstone City – White Church Gallery
- Exploring Port Austin Art: The White Church Gallery
