Traverse City, Michigan – Big beauty and culture with a small-town feel

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Rows of grapevines at a Traverse Wine Coast vineyard at dusk

Traverse City

Huge culture and beauty combined with a small-town charm
One of the most visited places in the USA’s Great Lakes region is lovely Traverse City, a quaint “real American small town” that acts as the social and cultural center of northern Michigan. It is tucked away along the deep blue waters of Grand Traverse Bay.

Lighthouses, beaches, and outdoor exploration
The 376 kilometers of uninterrupted Lake Michigan shoreline in the Traverse City area, surrounded by a landscape of deep freshwater lakes and rolling hills sculpted by glaciers, is a popular destination for kayakers, swimmers, sailors, boaters, and beachcombers. Explore the 100-kilometer loop of beaches, coves, islands, and hills known as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Viewers of the TV program “Good Morning America” chose this area as the “Most Beautiful Place in America.” At the point of picturesque peninsulas, three lighthouses—Mission Point, Frankfort, and Grand Traverse—draw tourists with a tranquil portrayal of the past. Fishtown, a historic fishing village in Leland, is a fun place for anglers to explore before putting their own lines into some of the best trout streams in the nation.

 

Beverages, Food, and Retail Stores
Traverse City is a well-known wine and craft beer destination in addition to being a fruit-growing region and the top producer of tart cherries in the USA. There are more over fifty vineyards and wineries scattered along the Traverse Wine Coast, which includes the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Explore the vineyard-rich landscapes by following the wine paths located on both peninsulas. In addition to microbreweries and microdistilleries, the city is becoming more well-known for its regional cuisine, which is a result of a new wave of skilled chefs using fresh ingredients from the nearby farms, woodlands, and seas. Traverse City was listed as one of the “Five Top Foodie Towns” in America by Bon Appetit. Bike the 161-kilometer TART path, which consists of eight paved sections, and take the picturesque route to eateries or picnic areas. The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a former state hospital that was transformed into a neighborhood of stores, eateries, and studios in 1884, is a great place to indulge in retail therapy. Alternatively, visit the stunning Frankfort downtown and see a movie at the iconic Garden Theater.

 

Traverse City downtown
From a sleepy vacation town, Traverse City has grown into a quaint, sophisticated small city whose streets, parks, and public areas blend seamlessly with the natural environment. With its tree-shaded Victorian walkways filled with eateries, boutiques, and coffee shops, downtown is no exception. There are many galleries, studios, museums, and performing artists in the community, which also boasts a lively cultural life due to its big population of artists, craftsmen, and musicians. Visit the State Theater, a historic movie theater, or Bijou by the Bay, its sister cinema, to see both current and vintage films.