Top Things To Do in Traverse City
Traverse City is a northern Michigan city home to the ultimate trifecta of Noms, Brews, & Views. With delicious wineries & breweries, breathtaking peninsulas, tropical waters, and magnificent beaches, this Midwest city has much to offer for any vacation. Below outlines eight of the top things to do in Traverse City Michigan.
Also Read: Sleeping Bear Dunes Complete Guide
1. Taste the foods of Traverse City
Every good trip includes tasting great foods and Traverse City has a variety of mouth-watering options! From ice cream flights to buffalo burgers and everything in between, Traverse City is a foodies paradise!
Also Read: Top 8 Restaurants of Traverse City
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2. Discover Traverse's Craft Breweries
In addition to month-watering foods, every good trip also includes tasty craft brews! From breweries located in the north woods with bonfires to warm you up on a brisk evening to cherry-flavored craft beers with Olympic sized pit spitting areas, Traverse City certainly has some unique breweries to add to your list!
Also Read: Top 6 Craft Breweries of Traverse City
3. Take a dip in Michigan's Caribbean
Known as "Michigan's Caribbean" due to its white sand and crystal clear waters, many people gather at Torch Lake's two-miles sandbar to dock their boats, float, relax, and catch some rays. Access to the sandbar can be found at our map below. If visiting for the day, most people park alongside Crystal Beach Rd NW (not in front of any private residences) and access via a small public section of beach near the southern-most tip of the lake. Please be respectful when parking on Crystal Beach Rd, as well as, entering via this small section of beach as many private residents surround this area.
From this access point, swim, kayak, or float the short distance out to the sandbar and enjoy one of Michigan's most beautiful lakes! Please keep this lake clean by packing in & out all items, including recycling & waste.
Tip: Grab your inflatable kayak and join the party!
Every year around the 4th of July weekend, Traverse City, the cherry capital of the world, hosts the National Cherry Festival! There is nothing more #PureMichigan than this festival of delicious foods, competitions, parades, and of course, cherries! This festival has been an ongoing tradition since 1926 and brings in over 500,000 visitors over the course of 8 days. With over 150 events and 85% of them being absolutely free, the National Cherry Festival should be on your Michigan bucket list.
J&L Recommended: A Michigan bucket list item!
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Old Mission peninsula is a breathtaking 19-mile drive with rolling hills, beautiful vistas, tasty wineries, and delicious eateries. Spend the day or plan a weekend getaway at this Napa & Sonoma of the Midwest. Old Mission offers a very tourist-friendly wine trail to aid in your travels and make trip planning easier.
At the tip of the island you will find Mission Point Lighthouse, a historic 1870's lighthouse leading down to a picturesque beach. Be sure to stop at Jolly Pumpkin Brewery while on Old Mission. This brewery was rated the 4th best brewery in the nation in USA Today's 2018 brewpub rankings! We would have to say this award is well-deserved. Charming location, outdoor dining, amazing foods, and delicious brews to end your day on Old Mission.
Tip: Check out the historic 1870's lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula!
Leelanau and Old Mission are known as the Napa & Sonoma of the Midwest. Competing vineyard peninsulas, both offering some of the most delicious wine in the nation. When on Leelanau peninsula, we recommend taking the Northern Wine Trail, featuring incredible wineries such as Leelanau Cellars, and 45 North, but also cideries such as Tandem Ciders & Suttons Bay. There is so much beauty in northern Michigan, from the rolling hills to the vibrant blue waters. Add some incredible wines and a group of friends and you have yourself the recipe for an amazing weekend.
There is so much beauty in northern Michigan, from the rolling hills to the vibrant blue waters. Add some incredible wines and a group of friends and you have yourself the recipe for an amazing weekend.
Our Top 3 Favorite Leelanau Wineries/Cideries:
Leelanau Cellars - Try warm witches brew in the fall!
Mawby Vineyards & Winery - Try their sparkling wine!
Sutton's Bay Ciders - Breathtaking view of the Grand Traverse Bay!
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7. Take a Bike Ride
The Leelanau Trail goes from Traverse City to Suttons Bay. The trail is 17 miles one-way and takes you through the beautiful Leelanau countryside and vineyards. We parked at the parking lot on 4th street in Suttons Bay and biked 6 miles to Shady Lane Cellars.
There are 7 wineries/breweries you can visit throughout this stretch, however, all require a short distance of biking off of the trail in order to add these stops to your route. We have made a map below of all of the possible stops you can make along the way, as well as, directions to get to the wineries/breweries from the bike trail. Enjoy and bike/drive responsibly!
Tip: click the star on the map below to save to your Google Maps account!
If you like biking, you have to check out the Sleeping Bear Heritage Biking Trail! The bike path is 20-miles one-way and paved with 10 feet wide asphalt paths throughout 17 miles (3 miles through the Oneida Historical District has packed stone instead of paved asphalt trail). A great place to start this bike trial is in the parking lot of the Dune Climb.
Heading north and this will give you 12.3 miles of gorgeous biking through Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, Glen Haven, Glen Arbor, as well as, the scenic and famous M-22. It should take roughly an hour (without stopping at vistas) to get to the northern end of this trail at S Bohemian Rd. Plan for a 2-3 hour round trip bike ride from the Dune Climb parking lot if intending to complete the full 24.6 miles (highly recommended!).
Tip: If you do not have a bike of your own or do not have the space to bring it on your trip, rent one from Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor for a very affordable price!
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8. Day Trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes
Discover the very best of Pure Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With incredible hikes, dune climbs, beaches, camping, and outdoor activities, the perfect day trip awaits!
Also Read: Sleeping Bear Dunes Complete Guide
Enjoy our Traverse City tips and tricks? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
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