Traverse City, Michigan Travel Guide
Introducing Traverse City, Michigan! Traverse City is located in the northern section of the lower peninsula on the banks of Lake Michigan. Home to around 15,000 residents, Traverse City is a popular destination for visitors due to its proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Traverse City is known as the Cherry Capitol of the World due to the large number of nearby Cherry farms, which are celebrated with the National Cherry Festival. Visitors can expect to spend time on the beautiful beaches, eat cherries, try several breweries, and indulge in shopping. Traverse City is located near several major cities including Grand Rapids, Michigan (2hr 15min, 140 miles), Detroit, Michigan (3hr 55min, 255 miles), and Chicago, Illinois (4hr 50min, 320 miles). Traverse City truly has a little something for everyone.
Traverse City is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Visitors can spend time at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and enjoy the beach, kayak, hike, camp, and even ski in the winter. Clinch Park in downtown Traverse City has a popular public beach visitors can use too. For an adventure, drive to Mission Point Lighthouse to explore the lighthouse and surrounding buildings and beaches.
Traverse City has other outdoor activities other than relaxing on the beach. Head to several nearby cherry farms for some U-Pick, or try Iris Farms to enjoy their blooms. Take a walk on the Boardman Lake Trail along the lake, or even go on the Kayak, Bike & Brew tour! Maybe even take the family to Great Wolf Lodge.
Speaking of brews, Traverse City is home to many great microbreweries. For beer, head to The Jolly Pumpkin, Right Brain Brewery, Loco Boys Brewing Company, The Filling Station Microbrewery, and Silver Spruce Brewing. If beer isn’t your thing, try Brengman Family Wines or Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Traverse City is the perfect spot to shop till you drop. Start at The Village, a shopping center built in an old hospital. The Village has boutique shops, dining options, and even overnight accommodation. Downtown, head to the Cheese Lady for a tasting, Cherry Republic for all things cherry-themed, My Secret Stash for gifts, plants, and art, and Great Lakes Chocolate & Dessert Co for sweets.
Traverse City had great places to fill up! Start your day at Good Harbor Coffee & Bakery for caffeine and breakfast. For lunch, try The Little Fleet for their foot truck ensemble, Farm Club for farm-to-table, or Reflect Bistro for eclectic options. For a nice dinner, head to Trattoria Stella for a romantic Italian meal, Modern Bird for fine dining, and The Burrow TC for surf and turf. Finish off the night with an ice cream flight from Moomers Ice Cream.
With so much to do in Traverse City, you may need a place to stay! Book a room at Hotel Indigo, Park Place Hotel, Best Western, Comfort Inn, or the Sierra Motel. Need a whole place to yourself? Consider getting a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Downtown Apartment for 4, City Cottage for 6, and Waterfront Home for 6.
Want to visit Traverse City but not sure when? Consider coming during cherry season in the summer. Many visitors (over half a million!) come for the National Cherry Festival each year, so don’t plan on being in town during that time if you are not a fan of crowds. Whatever you’re into, Traverse City, Michigan has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Traverse City that can inspire a future visit.
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
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