Looking for lake views, wineries, and charming small-town vibes? Head to Traverse City! Located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, this northern Michigan gem offers beaches, vineyards, festivals, and access to one of the most beautiful shorelines in the country.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Traverse City is from late spring through early fall (May to October). Enjoy beach days, cherry orchards, wine tastings, and fall color tours. July is especially popular for the National Cherry Festival.
How to Get There
- By Car: Traverse City is about 4 hours from Detroit and 2.5 hours from Grand Rapids via US-131 and M-72.
- By Air: Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) offers direct flights from major Midwest and East Coast cities.
- By Bus: Indian Trails offers intercity bus service connecting Traverse City with other Michigan towns.
Where to Stay
- Hotel Indigo Traverse City – Stylish boutique hotel near downtown with rooftop views of West Bay.
- Grand Traverse Resort and Spa – Full-service resort with golf, spa, restaurants, and Lake Michigan access.
- Bayshore Resort – Waterfront hotel with beach access and cozy rooms just minutes from downtown.
Top Attractions
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Hike, climb, and take in stunning views of Lake Michigan’s coastline.
- Old Mission Peninsula – Scenic wine country drive with tasting rooms and a historic lighthouse.
- Downtown Traverse City – Explore boutique shops, local cafés, and waterfront parks along the bay.
- Traverse City State Park – Beach access, picnic areas, and trails on East Grand Traverse Bay.
Attractions for Couples
1. Shop, Sip, and Stroll Along Front Street and Feel the Pulse of Downtown Traverse City
Rating: ★★★★★
Traverse City has transformed itself into the cultural, business, and educational center of Northwest Michigan. Its downtown core has been loving refurbished, its historical buildings brought to a fresh sheen, making it both a spectacle and a place to shop, dine, and attend cultural events. Residents and out-of-towners love the performances by the symphony orchestra, by its opera guild, and by its actors in the Old Town Playhouse.
Traverse City has a vibrant annual film festival centered around Front Street’s two historic movie houses, a National Cherry Festival every July, and a Winter Comedy Festival that draws talent from all over the United States. With a thriving farmer’s market, antiques, art galleries, and so many places to dine, Front Street is at the forefront of Traverse City life. Traverse Center Downtown Development Authority:
Address: 303 E. State Street, Suite C, Traverse City, MI 49685, Phone: 231-922-2050
2. Explore History and Artisan Finds at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is a historical preservation site that, instead of demolishing buildings, has chosen to re-purpose them into eclectic shopping and dining locations. Once the Traverse City State Hospital and the Northern Michigan Asylum, these beautiful Victorian buildings are now a family destination for shopping, dining out, and for enjoying the sixty-three acres of surrounding property.
With pedestrian walkways, broad lawns, and historic arboretum, the Village is a popular picnicking site, and the hiking and biking trails in the 480 acre preserve around the property are in frequent use by those wishing to exercise along the banks of Kid’s Creek. Guided tours of the historical buildings are available.
Address: 830 Cottageview Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: 231-941-1900
Recommended Activities for Families
3. Breathe Deep in Suttons Bay and Savor the Slower Side of the Peninsula
Suttons Bay is a coastal community on the shores of Sutton Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan. On the M-22, Sutton Bay is only twenty minutes north of Traverse City, and has delightful ways to spend a day with family or friends. Marina Park has a lovely beach on the turquoise waters of the bay.
The town has several art galleries, an historical museum, a casino offering games and entertainment, and there are dining options for everyone’s taste. The majority of the restaurants and cafes serve locally-grown food, and many have patios for those who like al fresco dining. Kids will love the ice cream shop and the candy store which has forty different flavors of award-winning fudge.
Address: Sutton Bay Visitor Center: 100 Dame Street, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Phone: 231-271-3077
4. Climb Mission Point Lighthouse and Gaze Out Where the Bays Divide
A beautiful nineteen-mile drive up the Old Mission Peninsula, through cherry orchards and vineyards, is Mission Point Lighthouse. It was in use from 1870-1933, and now is open to tourists who come to climb to its top and look out at Lake Michigan and its shores. The lighthouse has a small gift shop, and is surrounded by miles of trails that run through the park.
On the same property can be found the Hessler Log Cabin, home of Joseph and Mary Hessler, who built the cabin in 1854. The pioneering Hesslers crafted their cabin out of white pine and hemlock trees, and cleared sixteen acres of land to grow corn and wheat. Every third Sunday of the month the cabin is open for visitors, who will be greeted by home-cooked goodies made over the Hessler’s stove.
Address: Mission Point Lighthouse, 20500 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686, Phone: 231-645-0759
5. Experience Global Art and Innovation at The Dennos Museum Center
The The Dennos Museum Center is an art gallery affiliated with Northwestern Michigan College. It has an enormous collection of Inuit art from the Baffin Island area of Nunavut in northern Canada; there are prints, drawings, sculptures, and textiles by Inuit artists.
The second largest of the museum’s collections is of Canadian Woodland Indian art. Beyond that, there are a significant amount of woodcuts by Hungarian-American artist Jozsef Domjan, 19th and 20th century American and European graphic art, and 18th and 19th century Japanese prints. The gallery has a shop, is open for school visits, has a concert series, and provides adult, youth, and family programming.
Address: The Dennos Museum Center, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686, Phone: 231-995-1055
6. Spark Young Minds at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum With Hands-On Discovery
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is a hands-on, interactive educational museum designed for children between the ages of 1-10. Open since 1988, the museum has engaging exhibits that teach children about gravity, the water cycle, the Great Lakes watershed, allows children to play on a Great Lakes freighter, and gives them opportunities to test out a water table, to build bridges, and to use a periscope.
There is a puppet theater which encourages children to use their imaginations, and a room designed to help youngsters develop their fine and gross motor skills. The museum has a gift shop with carefully-selected products, are open for field trips and birthday parties, and have science and nature programming, along with story time and craft classes.
Address: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, 13240 S. West Bay Shore Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
7. Set Sail With the Traverse Tall Ship Company and Ride the Wind on Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse Tall Ship Company offers sailing experiences on Grand Traverse Bay on their replica tall ship or on their yacht. The Manitou is a replica of a 19th century cargo schooner, 114’ long, and capable of carrying 59 passengers. The Scout is a 38’ foot sailing yacht designed for small groups. Aboard the Manitou, sailors can take two hour cruises, overnight bed & breakfast sailings, and in fall, can join 4-6 day cruises in the waters of Lake Michigan.
The Manitou has regular entertainment nights, ice cream sailings, and wine tasting cruises with catered Mediterranean-style cuisine. The Scout does private charters that can last as little as two hours, all day long, or overnight. It is a wonderful yacht for watching fireworks, or for sailing to Power Island for its swimming, hiking, and picnicking facilities.
Address: Traverse Tall Ship Company, 13258 S.W. Bay Shore Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: 231-941-2000
8. Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery
The Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery is a family owned and operated business on the Old Mission Peninsula just north of Grand Traverse. Its ideal location grants it warm sunlight, a temperate climate, verdant soil, and soft bay breezes from Grand Traverse Bay. The vineyard and winery are situated on an 1890s homestead; its owners have transformed old farm buildings and built a beautiful brick and mahogany tasting room.
Upstairs from the tasting room is an Upper Deck, which overlooks the vineyard and Grand Traverse Bay, and where guests can purchase wine by the glass, in addition to trays of cheese or charcuterie. A walkway leads to a lookout point where guests may overlook the growing grape vines, a feature unique amongst Michigan wineries.
Address: Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, 3309 Blue Water Road, Traverse City, MI 49686, Phone: 231-223-9303
9. Sunbathe, Paddle, or Picnic at Clinch Park and Dive Into Lake Michigan Life
Clinch Park enjoys a waterfront location, giving residents and travelers to Traverse City a beautiful beach to enjoy only steps from Front Street’s shopping and dining. The water is crystal clear, the beach is 1500’ long, and its picnic tables and benches make it an excellent location for al fresco dining.
This popular beach has lifeguards from June until August, a splash pad, kayak rentals, a snack bar, and clean restrooms. The beach has access to bike trails and bike racks for those who wish to rest at the beach after pedalling hard. Open air music is performed on summer nights. Clinch Park is a terrific location for relaxing for watching either the boats in Grand Traverse Bay, or viewing the spectacular sunsets.
Address: Clinch Park, 161 E. Grandview Parkway, Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: 231-922-4903
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