Unearth The Voyage
A lavender farm near Petoskey and Charlevoix has become one of Northern Michigan’s most popular summer destinations, drawing visitors with nearly 33 acres of blooming lavender and more than 30 different varieties that peak each July. What surprises many first-time guests is how much more the farm offers beyond the fields themselves.
Visitors can take golf cart tours through the property, cut their own lavender bundles, attend concerts inside a restored century-old barn, and browse a shop filled with lavender-based foods, beauty products, and locally made gifts. The combination of large-scale gardens, seasonal events, and hands-on experiences has helped turn the farm into a regular stop on Northern Michigan travel itineraries.
Where the Purple Fields Begin: Address, Location, and How to Find It
Few things prepare you for that first glimpse of Lavender Hill Farm at 7354 Horton Bay Rd N, Boyne City, MI 49712, where rows of purple stretch further than your eyes expect on a quiet Northern Michigan road.
The farm sits in Charlevoix County, just a short drive from both Petoskey and Charlevoix, making it an easy addition to any Northern Michigan road trip itinerary. The surrounding countryside is peaceful, with open sky and rolling terrain that gives the whole property a wide-open, unhurried feel.
The farm is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM during the summer season, running from mid-May through late October, while the Farmhouse Boutique stays open year-round. You can reach the farm by phone at 231-582-3784 or explore their full event calendar at lavenderhillfarm.com before you visit.
Parking is available on-site, with an overflow lot roughly 100 meters away for busier summer days when the crowds really show up.
Michigan’s Largest Commercial Lavender Farm and Its Fascinating Origin Story
Back in 2003, someone looked at a former dairy farm in Northern Michigan and thought, why not plant lavender? That bold decision gave birth to what is now the largest commercial lavender farm in the entire state of Michigan.
The farm was purchased in 2015 by Bill and Erin Mansfield and Rita Robbins, who dramatically expanded the number of lavender plants and transformed the property into the thriving destination it is today. The fact that this land once supported cattle and now hosts over a million honeybees every summer says a lot about how completely the place has been reimagined.
Spanning 33 acres and growing more than 30 distinct lavender varieties, the farm has become a serious agricultural operation as much as a tourist attraction. The history of the land adds an extra layer of meaning to every visit, and the staff are genuinely enthusiastic about sharing that story with curious guests who ask the right questions.
Peak Bloom Season: When the Fields Turn Impossibly Purple
July is the magic month at this farm, when the lavender reaches its peak bloom and the entire property transforms into something that feels almost too colorful to be real. The scent alone hits you the moment you step out of your car, sweet and herbal and unmistakably lavender drifting on every passing breeze.
Bloom can extend from late June through August depending on the weather, so the window for seeing the fields at their best is actually more generous than most people realize. The farm recommends checking their social media pages for the most current bloom updates before planning your trip, which is genuinely useful advice.
Visiting on a weekday tends to mean smaller crowds and a more relaxed pace, though weekends bring a livelier energy that many guests actually enjoy. Whatever day you choose, arriving closer to opening at 10 AM gives you the best light for photography and the freshest air before the summer heat settles in.
The Golf Cart Tour That Makes the Whole Farm Make Sense
At just eight dollars per person, the golf cart tour at this farm is one of the best-value experiences in Northern Michigan, full stop. A knowledgeable guide drives you through the rows and rows of lavender, explaining the differences between varieties, how the plants are cared for across the seasons, and the many practical uses of lavender beyond the obvious.
The guides are consistently described as passionate, enthusiastic, and deeply informed, which makes a huge difference when you are learning about something as specific as lavender cultivation. Some visitors come back just to take the tour again with a different guide, because each one brings their own personality and focus to the experience.
The cart gives you a perspective on the farm’s scale that you simply cannot get on foot, especially when you realize just how many plants are out there across those 33 acres. By the time the tour wraps up, most visitors head straight to the boutique with a much deeper appreciation for everything on the shelves.
U-Pick Lavender: Taking a Little Purple Paradise Home With You
There is something genuinely satisfying about cutting your own lavender bundle straight from the field, and the U-Pick experience at this farm makes that possible during the peak bloom period. Guests wander through the rows, snipping stems and building their own fragrant bundles to take home as a living souvenir of the visit.
The cut flower plot also features a variety of vibrant blooms beyond lavender, including sunflowers, which adds a cheerful splash of color to the picking experience and gives families with kids an extra reason to linger. The whole area is photogenic in a way that requires almost no effort on your part.
Fresh lavender bundles dry beautifully at home, holding their scent for months and serving as a constant reminder of a really good summer day. The farm staff are happy to offer tips on drying and displaying your bundle, so do not hesitate to ask before you head back to your car with your harvest.
The Farmhouse Boutique: A Shop That Smells Better Than Any Mall
The Farmhouse Boutique at this farm is the kind of shop that makes you forget you had a budget. Every shelf is stocked with lavender-infused products ranging from shortbread cookies and honey to bath salts, candles, essential oils, and culinary seasonings, many sourced from local artisans.
The lavender shortbread cookies in particular have developed a loyal following among visitors, with some people making a second trip just to restock. The lavender lemonade spritz and iced lavender latte from the cafe cart are equally popular and worth every penny on a warm summer afternoon.
Even the bathroom floor has become a talking point among visitors, tiled entirely with coins in a quirky and delightful design detail that nobody expects. The boutique stays open year-round even after the fields go quiet, which means you can grab lavender gifts for the holidays without waiting for summer to come back around.
Live Music in a Century-Old Barn: Summer Concerts Done Right
Not many farms can say their event barn doubles as a legitimate concert hall, but this one absolutely can. The historic 1920s barn has been outfitted with theatre seats salvaged from another venue, solid acoustics, and enough charm to make any live music performance feel like a special occasion.
The summer concert series has hosted a range of artists, with events like the Lavender Goes Pink concert drawing enthusiastic crowds who make a full evening out of the experience. Golf cart shuttles help move guests around the property, and the staff work hard to make sure everyone has a smooth and enjoyable time.
The combination of open lavender fields outside and warm barn ambiance inside creates an atmosphere that is genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else in Michigan. If you can time your visit to coincide with a concert night, the whole experience shifts from a daytime farm visit to something that feels much more like a true summer event.
Yoga, Bingo, Movie Nights, and the 5K Run: More Than Just a Pretty Farm
Morning yoga in a lavender field sounds like something from a wellness retreat brochure, but at this farm it is a real, bookable experience that regular visitors genuinely look forward to each season. The scent, the open sky, and the soft ground between the rows make for a surprisingly grounding way to start a summer morning.
Beyond yoga, the farm hosts bingo nights in the barn, outdoor movie screenings, Lavender Fest Fridays, catered lunches, and the Lavender Hill Run, a 5K race that winds through the property during the busy season. There is also a scavenger hunt designed for younger visitors, complete with a paper map and small prizes like stickers and temporary tattoos.
The sheer variety of programming means that no two visits to this farm need to feel the same, which is part of why so many guests come back multiple times throughout the summer. Checking the events calendar before your trip is always a good idea.
Honeybees and the Lavender Honey They Produce
By mid-summer, the honeybees are all drawn to and sustained by the enormous lavender fields surrounding them. These bees are not just good for the lavender crop; they produce a distinctly floral honey that the farm sells as one of its most sought-after products.
Lavender honey has a lighter, more aromatic flavor than standard clover honey, and tasting it for the first time tends to be a genuine surprise for visitors who did not realize how much the bees’ diet influences the final product. A jar of it makes one of the most locally authentic souvenirs you can take home from Northern Michigan.
The presence of so many bees across the fields also adds an unexpected layer of life and sound to the experience of walking the rows, with a soft, steady hum filling the air around the blooms. It is one of those details that makes the farm feel genuinely alive rather than simply scenic.
Walking Trails, a Labyrinth, and Gardens Worth Wandering Through
Beyond the main lavender rows, the farm offers a network of walking trails, ornamental gardens, and a labyrinth that invites visitors to slow down and explore at their own pace. The labyrinth in particular is a quiet and contemplative feature that feels completely at home in the middle of a working lavender farm.
The fairy garden area near the farmhouse is a favorite spot for families, with small whimsical details tucked among the plantings that children tend to discover with genuine delight. Sitting there with a lavender lemonade while the kids wander around is a genuinely pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon.
The terrain across the property is natural and uneven in places, so comfortable footwear is a practical must rather than just a suggestion. The barn, farmhouse, and restroom facilities are all ADA compliant, which makes the core visitor experience accessible even for guests with mobility considerations who want to enjoy the boutique and main gathering areas.
Weddings and Private Events: A Venue That Needs No Decoration
When you have 33 acres of blooming lavender, a century-old barn, and a farmhouse surrounded by gardens, you do not need much else to host a beautiful wedding. Lavender Hill Farm has become a sought-after event venue in Northern Michigan for exactly that reason, offering a natural backdrop that most purpose-built wedding venues spend years trying to recreate artificially.
The farm’s event coordinator, Maria, is frequently praised for her attentiveness, clear communication, and genuine commitment to making each event feel personalized and carefully planned. Couples and event organizers consistently note that the process of working with the team feels collaborative rather than transactional.
Private events beyond weddings are also accommodated, and the combination of indoor and outdoor spaces gives organizers real flexibility depending on the season and group size. For anyone planning a celebration in Northern Michigan, booking a visit to the farm first is a smart way to understand the full scope of what the venue can offer.
Planning Your Visit: Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Farm
General admission to the farm is free during the operating season, which runs daily from mid-May through late October with hours from 10 AM to 5 PM. Some tours and special events carry a small fee, and the golf cart tour at eight dollars per person is widely considered worth every cent by the visitors who take it.
Plan to spend at least 45 minutes on-site for a relaxed visit, though bringing a picnic lunch and settling in for two or three hours is a perfectly reasonable approach, especially on a beautiful summer day. The porch overlooking the lavender fields is an ideal lunch spot that most visitors discover by happy accident.
Following the farm on social media before your trip is the most reliable way to track peak bloom timing and check the current event schedule. The farm’s website at lavenderhillfarm.com also carries full details on tours, workshops, dining events, and seasonal programming that can help you plan a visit tailored to exactly what you are hoping to experience.
