We took a trip to Traverse City, Michigan this past September, and I was blown away as to how much there was to do and see in this area. Michigan was one of those states I overlooked, and it was never high on my list in terms of domestic travels. After visiting over Labor Day, I realized just how wrong I was about this beautiful state.
Traverse City is a great destination for anyone and everyone due to the wide variety of activities in the area. You’ll find tons of amazing hikes, wineries, breweries, restaurants, shops and so much more. Even though we visited for 4 days, it wasn’t enough time. You could spend weeks in Traverse City experiencing everything this town has to offer.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know when planning a trip to Traverse City. I’ve included restaurant recommendations, things to do, places to stay and so much more. Cheers!
Table of Contents
Overview
Traverse City is a beautiful city to visit in Michigan almost any time of year. This city has so much to offer, and it’s a great destination for families, couples and young adults. It’s very lively and there’s so much to do. As you plan your trip, you’ll come to find that could spend weeks here and still not see everything.
Not only is Traverse City an amazing place to visit, but there are also several surrounding towns that are just as incredible. If you have time during your stay, be sure to hop over to some of these nearby towns:
All of these towns are so cute and offer plenty of shopping and dining options.
How To Get There
Believe it or not, Traverse City does have a small, regional airport. We flew into this airport (Cherry Capital Airport), and it was SO convenient! I’d highly recommend this option if you can find a flight that works for you.
If that isn’t an option, you could fly into Grand Rapids (2.5 hour drive) or Detroit (4 hour drive).
Where to Stay
We stayed at Hotel Indigo in Traverse City, and it was in the perfect location for everything we wanted to do. You can walk to all of the shops, bars and restaurants in Downtown Traverse City, and the hotel is right across the street from Grand Traverse Bay. This hotel has one of the only rooftop bars in Traverse City. It’s the perfect place to unwind, grab a drink and soak in the beautiful views!
If this hotel doesn’t work out for you, I’d check out one of these other options listed below:
Where to Eat
There are some incredible restaurants in Traverse City, and you can find almost any time of food in this city. Since Traverse City is located right near the water, I’d recommend seafood, but there are plenty of other options if that isn’t your thing.
Recommended Restaurants:
- Boathouse Restaurant (Seafood)
- Poppycocks (American/Variety)
- Red Ginger Sushi (Sushi)
- Amical (European)
- Trattoria Stella (Italian)
- Sorellina (Italian)
- Mama Lu’s Taco Shop (Mexican)
- The Filling Station (Flatbreads/Microbrewery)
There is also an amazing food truck park in Traverse City called The Little Fleet. They have several different vendors, and they have a bar where you can get alcoholic beverages. It’s a great spot to hang out with friends or family.
If you’re hungry for a little sweet treat, Traverse City has several incredible ice cream shops. One of the ice cream shops, Moomers, one the award for the best ice cream parlor in the USA!
Ice Cream:
What To Do
Cherry Festival
If you happen to be visiting Traverse City in July, you will definitely want to check out the annual Cherry Festival. Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the USA, and this is a big event they hold each summer. There are tons of events including parades, concerts, air shows, etc.
This would be a great option if you’re traveling to Traverse City with little kids or family.
Hiking
There are several incredible hiking trails all around Traverse City. If you like to get outside and be adventurous, this would be a great option.
We drove to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and hiked the Dune Climb. This hike is very hilly and is about 3.5 miles total. It took us a couple of hours to complete, but it could take as long as 4 hours depending on your level of physical fitness. I’d highly recommend this if you’re looking for a challenge.
If you’re looking for some other hiking options, here’s a few others we had on our list:
- Old Mission State Park Trail (4.9 miles)
- Pyramid Point (2.8 mile loop)
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (7.2 miles)
- You can drive this and get out at different stops along the way.
Sailing
Since Traverse City is located right on the Grand Traverse Bay, you might want to book a sailing experience. The water is extremely clear and blue, so it’s a great place to do something on the water.
We booked a private sailing experience via Tall Ship Sailing. They have a couple different sailboats for booking: one that is for private parties (Scout) and one that is for larger groups (Manitou). Either option would be an incredible experience.
They offer sailing at different times throughout the day or sunset. It’s nice because you can really customize your own experience!
Shopping
There are TONS of cute shops and boutiques in Traverse City located on Front Street. You’ll find everything from trendy clothing shops to gift stores to speciality food shops. There really is something for everyone! Here are a few shops I’d recommend checking out:
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is something we didn’t get to do on our trip, but we heard a lot about from locals. This used to be the Traverse City State Hospital and an old insane asylum.
Located just a few minutes from Downtown Traverse City, there’s plenty to do here including shopping, dining, and historical tours. The “Asylum After Dark” tour is a popular experience that takes you through the old buildings at nighttime.
If you don’t care about the history of these buildings, you can simply visit during the day and walk around at your own pace. There are TONS of cute shops, breweries, cocktail bars and restaurants in these buildings. You could probably spend an entire day here if you wanted!
Wine Tasting
Traverse City is home to several amazing wineries. I’d highly recommend visiting a few while you’re in the area. I wrote an entire blog post on this topic, so be sure to check out my Traverse City Wine Guide for more information!
Breweries
Traverse City is home to several amazing craft breweries. There are probably more breweries here than most cities across the country! Below are a few Traverse City Breweries to check out:
- Right Brain Brewery
- Workshop Brewing
- The Filling Station
- MiddleCoast Brewing Company
- Mackinaw Brewing
- 7 Monks Taproom
Something good to know is that most breweries in Traverse City offer food in addition to drinks. Consider combining a brewery and dinner stop if you are short on time!
Cocktail Bars
There are so many incredible bars and distilleries to visit in Traverse City. Here’s a few to check out:
- Rooftop Bar at Hotel Indigo
- Mammoth Distilling
- The Little Fleet
- The Parlor
- Low Bar
- Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Map
Itinerary
Looking to save a little time when planning your trip to Traverse City? Our FULL Four Day Itinerary is available for purchase via the PayPal link below.
What’s Inside?
This comprehensive guide features a FOUR DAY itinerary for visiting the Traverse City area. Each day is broken down by the hour and includes hyperlinks to each place visited. This PDF will give you everything you need to know in order to plan the best trip ever!
- Price: $5
- Format: PDF
THIS E-BOOK WAS CREATED IN SEPTEMBER 2020. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
Other Resources
- Traverse City Wine Guide
- Traverse City Website
- Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail
- Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail
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Great post! I was in TC a few years ago and loved it. Grand Traverse is a wonderful property.
Yes – it’s a beautiful area and I would love to go back someday. I was very impressed.