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Named one of America’s Top 10 Beach Towns by Fodor’s Travel Guides, Traverse City is Michigan’s favorite northern travel destination. Miles and miles of sugar sand beaches along Lake Michigan, numerous outdoor activities, an energetic downtown and award-winning wineries make Traverse City the place to be!
At just over 15,000 people, Traverse City has a small town feel with large town advantages. In fact, the food scene in Traverse City is gaining national attention, with recognition by Bon Appetit magazine and Chef Mario Batali, who has a summer home in Traverse City.
The largest, most developed and diverse downtown in Northern Michigan, Front Street in Traverse City is an experience unlike any other. With so many nooks and crannies in the downtown area, each time you visit you are sure to find something new. The shopping is superb: fine apparel, handcrafted jewelry, art galleries, home furnishings, gourmet Michigan foods, electronics, music and so many specialty stores to leave you speechless. With events and attractions happening all year long, downtown Traverse City is always an adventure.
If you like to hit the links, Traverse City golf championship courses will become your favorite places to play. With designs by such famous players as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Weiskopf, you’ll find these courses both beautiful and challenging. Pamper yourself with a visit to one of Traverse City’s premier spas, visit a museum or lighthouse or try your luck at a local casino. Kids will love the waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge. Not too far away is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and you won’t want to miss climbing the high dunes and enjoying breathtaking vistas of Lake Michigan.
During the winter, Traverse City is still a great place to enjoy the outdoors! Engage in snowshoe races, go cross country and downhill skiing, explore the county by snowmobile or ice skate on the lakes. There’s no better way to survive the cold than to immerse yourself in it and have fun!
Over 180 miles of shoreline await you on Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Traverse City locals and visitors enjoy water that is clear blue, clean and FRESH! None of that pesky salt water to dry out your skin. You’ll feel refreshed and relaxed after your swim. With all this space, you’ll avoid the crowds and have your own special spot on the beach. Build a sand castle, soak up some sun and feel the stress leave your body.
The Traverse City and Leelanau Peninsula area is home to 34 wineries, many of which offer tours and wine tasting, and they’re all within miles of each other. The steep slopes hold moisture, and the climate unique to this region is perfect for producing some of the best wines in the country.
When it’s time to retire for the evening, Traverse City has the most wonderful variety of accommodations. Hotels and motels, bed & breakfasts, cabins and resorts, condominiums and vacation rentals are available in all styles and price ranges. And you certainly won’t go hungry in Traverse City — their distinctive cuisine will both surprise and delight you. Fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables are showcased in delicious entrees and desserts. New restaurants are always popping up. Tantalize your taste buds with a glass of wine produced from area vineyards. Whether you stop into a cafe, bistro or elegant restaurant, you will not be disappointed.
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is situated at the end of the Leelanau Peninsula within, about eight miles north of the town of Northport.
The Traverse City Opera House has a 700-seat theater which offers a place for quality arts and cultural entertainment.
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes has miles of sand trails and hills, where hikers are rewarded at the end with spectacular views of Lake Michigan.
Located along the Lake Michigan, Leland is the site of an area nicknamed “Fishtown” for its charming historical preservation.
Glen Arbor, home of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, is a beautiful small town nestled between Sleeping Bear Bay and Glen Lake.
Along M-22, across Betsie Lake from Frankfort, the small Village of Elberta is a pleasant destination to visit with so much to do.