The Betsie River Campground is not far from Crystal Lake and it's along the Betsie bike trail.

We have been vacationing at Crystal Lake for 10 years and every summer, I got swimmer's itch...But not this last summer (2018). The Crystal Lake watershed committee has been aggressively going after the sources of swimmer's itch and for the first time in years, I enjoyed the lake!

I didn't see any public beach where dogs were allowed. I stayed at an Airbnb home which had its own beach so my doggie could be on their beach. Just 8 miles away, the Frankfort public beach allows dogs to the north of the jetty. It's beautiful!

There are at least two public beaches if not more. Beulah on the east end of the lake has a nice large public beach area and you are very near restaurants and stores. On the south shore there is another public beach however much smaller but it does have a boat ramp for smaller boats. There's a small playground on the beach as well. Across South Shore Road from the beach is a park like area which usually has restrooms and open sided shelters, however the park is under renovation and the amenities have been removed. You can access the south shore beach from Frankfort via Bellows Ave. enjoy the lake, it's perfect right now

Hi Lauren -- indeed, a lot to do in the area, regardless of weather. Chances are weather will be sunny and bright but air and water temps a bit chilly for swimming. Sunning will be okay. Frankfort, Beulah and Benzonia are each interesting places to visit with Frankfort, on Lake Michigan, the largest and most prosperous of the three. Little River Casino is in nearby Manistee County and that area is beautiful, too. Traverse City is about a 30-minute drive and Petoskey, about 90 minutes. Both major, major Michigan resort cities with the usual shopping and wonderful dining. Be aware TC is a driver's nightmare -- tons of traffic and b/c the city skirts a bay, the roads are not especially efficient. I highly recommend you take the Pierce Stocking Dune Drive -- a six-mile loop through nearby dunes and world-class (I sound like a travel writer!) views of Lake Michigan. Read up on the legend of the Sleeping Bear to fully appreciate the area. Close by is the Dune Climb, a fun and challenging climb up a 30-degree sand dune. All the dunes are part of the National Park System so there is a small fee. I am not a golfer but there are tons of courses in Benzie and surrounding counties. Beulah and Frankfort ones, I am told, are fun, not too challenging and cheap. There is a pricy one in nearby Arcadia again with L Michigan views. And if there are fishermen in your group, charter fishing is available. Oh, also read up on Leelanau County, NW of TC. Lots of charter fishing there. Towns of Leland, Northport are fun coastal cities. Hope that helps. Ed H