Petoskey, Michigan

Horticulture is obviously important to this small town – Petoskey has an abundance of well-landscaped parks. A flower box appears to be an obligatory addition for many windows in the downtown area. In 2007, this small town was ranked 2nd in the list of 100 Best Small Town Getaways by Midwest Living Magazine. Those publishers know a nice small town when they see one. Petoskey is the county seat of Emmet County.
Petoskey is famous for having a high concentration of Petoskey stones and, according to the town’s Visitors Bureau, hunting for these stones is a fun activity for all ages. These chunks of fossilized coral are thought to be 350 million years old and are commonly found on surrounding beaches, including those at Petoskey State Park.
The name "Petoskey" is said to mean "where the light shines through the clouds" in the language of the Odawa Indians, who are the area’s original inhabitants. The Odawa Casino Resort is approximately 2 miles south of Petoskey.