Suttons Bay, Michigan

Fifteen miles up the coast from Traverse City, a tidy marina of white boats sets the tone for the small town of Suttons Bay. The harbor has been a haven for boaters since the 19th century; today, families still picnic on the shore or walk the boardwalk around the marina. They also hit the historic Bay Theatre for independent, classic, and foreign films, and browse through the town's two dozen shops, where the goods are as whimsical as the brightly painted storefronts.