We're not heading there until the second weekend of September but I'm looking to book a room for my wife and I. Our kids are attending a Buck Brannaman horse clinic and will be staying in the living quarters of our horse trailer. My wife is a good sport but she doesn't camp so I'm looking for recommendations. There's plenty of chain hotels but I'd prefer to stay in something with a bit more character.
Is the event at the Equestrian Center of Bay Harbor?
The Marriott at Bay Harbor is wonderful high end.
A personal favorite is Stafford's Perry Hotel. A historic hotel with a great Sunday Brunch and neat Irish pub in the lowest level.
The hotel sits in the super quaint historic downtown district. Just walk out the door of the hotel and you are surrounded by shops and art galleries that my wife loves.
American Spoon Cafe for a unique (but not cheap) breakfast.
There's a shoe store there that my wife loves.
Whitecap is a high end restaurant.
Also Roast and Toast coffee shop and Kilwinns Fudge and Ice Cream. All within walking distance.
Well, The Legs Inn is a must since you have to drive up the tunnel of trees at least once or twice
Can't help with lodging since we camp at the KOA when we go up there, but it's a truly beautiful area. Second on the tunnel of trees, just don't try it with an RV. My FIL did a couple thousand dollars worth of damage to his fifth wheel on that road a couple of years ago. They aren't kidding when they call it a "tunnel". 
I should still be in jail for how many times I've been through the tunnel of trees at warp speed. Mostly back before it was lined with houses, would not recommend it today.
Had a wonderful portabella wellington at the Douglas lake Inn. My wife had a almost as good venison dish.
We stayed in an old mansion of a B&B, right in Petoskey walking distance to coffee and a health food store.
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