Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District

Kayak the Crystal River
Beautiful Lake Michigan in Glen Arbor
Bike along Lake Michigan
Wine Tasting at M22
Coastal
M22 Wine Patio
M22 Glen Arbor- Work in Retail or Wine Tasting
Shuttle Drivers drive our happy paddlers to the head of the Crystal River!

Immerse Yourself Within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! Seasonal jobs in recreation, retail and wine!

Glen Arbor’s original destination for simple, unforgettable adventures. Nestled in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District has been offering a variety of experiences for the whole family for over 20 years. From kayak trips, SUP and bike rentals to wine tasting and shopping, the district has something for everyone.

Glen Arbor lies in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In 2014, the area was voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America. Hike/Bike/Paddle, take in the scenery.

About Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District

Ever visited the Most Beautiful Place in America? Well not only can you visit, but you can also live, work, and play here all spring, summer, and fall!

In 2014, Good Morning America named Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore the Most Beautiful Place in America, and Glen Arbor (where you'll work) is located right in the heart of the National Lakeshore!

What makes it so beautiful? Crystal clear waters, beautiful hiking trails, rolling vineyards and orchards, and amazing views all around. 

Why would you want to spend summer & fall working in the most beautiful place in America? Well, we pride ourselves on our work hard, play hard attitude! We basically spend our days showcasing all the area has to offer to our hundreds of guests and then going and taking advantage of all there is to do when our workday is over (think- stand up paddle boarding, biking the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a bonfire on the beach, taking in the sunset). 

The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District is made up of our four unique shops that all present a different aspect of "something to do" while in Glen Arbor. 

  • Crystal River Outfitters- Kayak, Canoe, Stand Up Paddleboard + Shop
  • The Cyclery- Bike Rentals, Repairs & Sales
  • M22 Glen Arbor- a lifestyle clothing company + wine tasting room/outdoor lounge
  • Coastal- SHOP: clothing, footwear, accessories

Work in any of these four shops in Spring, Summer, and Fall and have the time of your life offering the Most Beautiful Customer Service in America.

The Employee Experience

Again, it's a work hard, play hard attitude. Our staff loves to interact with our customers and each other. We pride ourselves on our youthful image and that we are a "cool" place to work. 

Love being outside? Crystal River Outfitters and The Cyclery are great for this! 

Love talking up wine and anything about wine? Try M22. 

Interested in clothing? Check out Coastal. 

Just like talking to people? Any of our shops will do the trick. 

We value our people and we strive to make their experience (whether an employee or a customer) the best Northern Michigan experience possible. 

Ideal Candidate

Q.  What is the first question on our Employment Application? 

A. Do you like enthusiastically talking to people? Yes ___ No____ (If you answered "no"  to the above question, we encourage you to seek employment at another business. The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District prides itself on our CUSTOMER SERVICE. Good CUSTOMER SERVICE includes being upbeat, friendly, and providing information at all times).

Room and Board

Our staff house is located approximately 7 miles from work.  If interested and would like more information, please email katy@crystalriveroutfitters.com. Your rent payment is automatically deducted from your bi-weekly paycheck. Feel free to bike to work and also enjoy a dip in Big Glen Lake via public access not too far from the house. 

We do not offer a meal plan. However, we occasionally grill out or order lunch together! On extra hot days, ice cream is often on us!

Employee Perks

We provide competitive wages, plus there are many opportunities for tips when working at Crystal River Outfitters, The Cyclery, or M22. 

We provide generous discounts at all of our shops on retail purchases, plus provide free rentals to staff, plus generous discounts to family members. 

Additionally, one of our fellow businesses in town Cherry Republic offers a generous discount to you as well on food and retail purchases. 

Getting Here and Getting Around

We are about 25 miles west of Traverse City (the nearest airport). 

There is the BATA (Bay Area Transit Authority) which makes stops throughout Leelanau & Grand Traverse Counties. 

Biking is loved in this area and many people can bike to work. 

For Fun

Picture a day off boating on Glen Lake, kayaking the Crystal River, paddle-boarding on the Fisher Lakes, visiting the local wineries, stopping by many of Traverse City's local breweries, exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, biking the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, or just napping on the beach. 

A day at work: talking up all these things to our customers and getting paid for it! Working outside is obviously a perk. Working inside? We've got A/C! 

How to Apply

Click APPLY HERE to complete the Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District employment application.

Apply Now

Contact Info

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