Top Things to Do in the Traverse City, Michigan, Area
Do
Beaches
Spend a day in the sun at one of the city's six public sandy spots, like popular Clinch Park, with picnic tables and a snack bar. traversecity.com
Crystal River Outfitters
Rent a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard and explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore via the meandering Crystal River. crystalriveroutfitters.com
Dennos Museum Center
On the Northwestern Michigan College campus, the center's collection includes 1,000 pieces of Inuit art. dennosmuseum.org
Fishtown
The working waterfront-one of the few unmodernized fishing villages on the Great Lakes-also houses galleries, cafes and boutiques in Leland, about 25 miles northwest of Traverse City. fishtownmi.org
Grand Traverse Bike Tours
Join bike, e-bike and paddle tours leading to area wineries and breweries. grandtraversebiketours.com
M-22 Drive
One of Michigan's epic highways, the M-22 runs 116 scenic miles from Traverse City up the Leelanau Peninsula and then south along Lake Michigan to Manistee. Stop at wineries, roadside fruit stands, beach towns and hiking trails. m22michigan.com
Michigan Legacy Art Park
Follow four trails to discover 50 sculptures on the grounds of Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville (32 miles southwest of Traverse City). michiganlegacyartpark.org
National Cherry Festival
"Eat, drink and be cherry" at events like pie-eating contests, farm tours, a cherry farmers market and parade (July 2–9, 2022). cherryfestival.org
The River
The outfitter rents gear (bicycles, stand-up paddleboards, tubes and kayaks) for guided or self-guided exploration. therivertc.com
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Lake Michigan sparkles below sand dunes and bluffs in this 35-mile-long park (26 miles northwest of Traverse City). Drive, hike, bike or paddle to take in some of the area's most beautiful vistas. nps.gov
Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak
Rent boards, kayaks or bikes in Empire. Aspiring surfers can take 11/2-hour lessons at Empire's beach. sbsurfandkayak.com
Traverse Tall Ship Company
Crew members invite passengers to try hoisting the sails on the Manitou, a 114-foot replica schooner. But there's plenty of time to relax over snacks and drinks during the two-hour cruise. tallshipsailing.com
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
Restaurants, an art gallery, boutique shops and wine tasting rooms fill what was originally built as a state hospital in 1885. thevillagetc.com
Warehouse MRKT
Boutiques share the renovated warehouse space with a coffee shop, restaurant and fitness studio. At Darling Botanical, shop for innovative container plants, or build your own terrarium. warehousemrkt.com
Wineries
Wine trails on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas connect nearly 40 wineries. We especially love Chateau Chantal and 2 Lads Winery, both with great views out over the bay. lpwines.com, ompwinetrail.com
Eat and Drink
Aerie Restaurant and Lounge
On the 16th floor, a wall of windows overlooks Grand Traverse Bay. The food (such as salmon with poached apples) matches the quality of the Grand Traverse Resort. grandtraverseresort.com
Amical
The menu at this Traverse City bistro changes seasonally, but savory tomato soup served under a puff pastry shell is always available. amical.com
The Cooks' House
Chefs work with Michigan farmers and producers to procure ingredients for meals in a simple wood-frame house. The Cooks' House on Facebook
Grand Traverse Pie Company
Pie Company Michigan Montmorency cherries fill the top-selling cherry crumb pie. gtpie.com
Higher Grounds Coffee Bar and Roastery
Sip on organic, fair-trade coffee on the patio or buy a sampler pack of beans. highergroundstrading.com
The Little Fleet
Food trucks surround an open-air beer garden and bar along East Front Street. thelittlefleet.com
Mama Lu's
Modern takes on tacos cost just $4.25; try a couple with a mango margarita or beer cocktail. mamalustc.com
Martha's Leelanau Table
Everything on the menu at this Suttons Bay (15 miles north of Traverse City) cafe is made from scratch. Try the Leelanau raclette, which you can order as a fondue. marthasleelanautable.com
Moomers Homemade Ice Cream
Next to a dairy farm, Moomers makes more than 100 varieties of premium ice cream every season. moomers.com
Morsels Espresso and Edibles
Smooth coffee (Intelligentsia), $1 bite-size tastes (cakes, cookies, brownies and scones) and river views start the day. morselsbakery.com
Slabtown Burgers
Picnic on a lunch in a paper sack, or stay inside for burgers, wraps and shakes. slabtownburgers.weebly.com
Spanglish
Even the basics—chips, salsa, guacamole—win raves at this colorful cafe. On nice days, eat at one of the picnic tables outside. spanglishtc.com
Trattoria Stella
Stone arches shelter diners enjoying traditional Italian cuisine in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Trattoria Stella on Facebook
Stay
Boyne Mountain
This sprawling resort in Boyne Falls (58 miles northeast of Traverse City) offers a variety of lodging and recreation options, including ziplines and an indoor water park. boynemountainresort.com
Chateau Chantal
Eleven rooms and suites look out on East and West Grand Traverse bays or vineyards producing the wines served in the tasting room on the Old Mission Peninsula. chateauchantal.com
Crystal Mountain
Active families come to the Thompsonville resort (37 miles southwest of Traverse City) to ski, hike, bike and golf—then recover at the spa. Lodging includes cottages, condos and inn rooms. crystalmountain.com
The Homestead
This laid-back retreat with spa in Glen Arbor (26 miles west of Traverse City) makes an ideal base for exploring neighboring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. thehomesteadresort.com
Hotel Indigo
Unwind on a rooftop patio, then retire to a room where accents such as sawtooth-shape mirrors reflect local logging heritage. ihg.com
Tamarack Lodge
Guests staying in these 29 luxury condos along East Grand Traverse Bay participate in beach bonfires, movie nights and wine tastings. tamaracklodgetc.com
For more information: traversecity.com