Traverse Bay Territory Treasures

When the lumber boom ended in the late 1800s, vacationers began flocking to the Lake Michigan shore around Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bays. Some visitors first glimpsed this paradise as they arrived aboard the same trains and Great Lakes ships that hauled logs south to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.

The region's landscape looks much as it did when the first backroads cut across the dense timber. Farms dot the hills, and mountainous sand dunes rise along the Lake Michigan shore.

Residents whose families have lived here for generations call this "the land of little bays." At its heart, Grand Traverse Bay enfolds one hilly peninsula and laps at the shore of another. Farther northeast, Little Traverse Bay opens into Lake Michigan and forms the region's northern boundary.

On this 210-mile tour, you travel byways that often skirt the shore. Nostalgic villages such as Leland and Harbor Springs welcome visitors with shops selling antiques, crafts and local wines.

Modern resorts thrive next door to old-time cottage colonies along clear, cobalt-blue inland lakes. Golfers head to challenging courses in woodland settings, often with views of glistening lakes. The two largest towns, Traverse City and Petoskey, teem with trendy shops, and established restaurants for fine dining with Lake Michigan views.

Despite the crowds of vacationers who visit each year, you still can find solitude. Stroll deserted stretches of beach to Great Lakes lighthouses. Shed your shoes on the sugar-fine sand and wade into the massive lake, which defines this region. Like the wooded scenery along the shore, the lake's beauty remains as pristine as ever.

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