Traverse City holds a special place in our hearts and has endless adventures within an hour in each direction. We highly encourage you to get up here early and explore all of what Northern Michigan has to offer. Summertime in Northern Michigan is the best!
Traverse city is located on two large Lake Michigan bays. Downtown is located at the bottom of West Bay, and East Bay is home to the second busiest area, and where most of our hotel blocks are located (see lodging details for more info). Old Mission Peninsula divides the two bays and is known for its incredible wineries, views farm stands and adventures. Some of our favorite days are spent on Old Mission.
Leelanau Peninsula to the west is home to several small coastal towns we love to adventure to: Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland and Glen Arbor, to name a few. Our wedding venue is located just Northwest of Traverse city at the base of the Leelanau Peninsula in Cedar, Michigan.
We highly recommend getting out of the city to explore the peninsulas, including taking a visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes if you've never been.
RESTAURANTS
COFFEE & QUICK BITES
DOWNTOWN TC & WESTSIDE:
EAST BAY:
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
DOWNTOWN:
The Towne Plaza (good brunch)
Crepes&Co (located in MiddleCoast Brewing Co.)
The Omelette Shoppe Downtown (solid b-fast)
J&S Downtown (a TC staple)
EAST BAY:
The Omelette Shoppe East Bay (solid b-fast)
The Cottage (everyday breakfast menu)
Randy's Diner (all-day diner vibes)
J&S Hamburg South (all-day diner vibes)
LUNCH & DINNER
Best Sandwiches around:
Folgarelli's (Matt's favorite place)
Chef's Inn (Carly's favorite place)
DOWNTOWN:
The Little Fleet (outdoor bar with food trucks)
The Flying Noodle (modern Italian eatery)
Mama Lu's (good tacos & vibes)
Pangea's Pizza (rooftop seating with views)
Firefly (modern Asian-American)
Rare Bird (classic brewery vibe, good eats)
Archie's Social House (good brunch & dinner)
Sorellina (Italian in the heart of downtown)
Slate (steakhouse next to Sorellina)
Blue Tractor BBQ (best BBQ in town)
The Burrow (unreal food, just west of downtown)
Modern Bird (modern eatery)
EAST BAY:
Smoke & Porter (bbq/american cuisine)
Hopscotch (pizza/bbq with outdoor patio)
LEELANAU:
Farm Club (outdoor farm-to-table restaurant)
Hop Lot Brewing (outdoor beer garden, small eats)
9 Bean Rows (farm-to-table baked goods & eats)
OLD MISSION:
Jolly Pumpkin (cozy rustic brewpub)
Boathouse (upscale lakeside dining)
Mission Proper (coffee, brunch, drinks, dinner)
SWEETS & TREATS
Moomer's Ice Cream (homemade ice cream on a dairy farm)
Milk & Honey (downtown ice cream shop)
Bardon's Wonder Freeze (a TC staple)
Buchan's West Bay (just great ice cream)
Cherry Republic (downtown shop for everything cherry)
BARS & BREWERIES
BARS
DOWNTOWN:
H&L Social @ Hotel Indigo (rooftop hotel bar)
North Bar (rooftop bar with live music)
The Pub (pub below North Bar)
The Little Fleet (outdoor bar with food trucks)
The Coin Slot (live music & arcade bar w/ 'za & food trucks)
Low Bar (cocktail bar with speakeasy vibe)
Kilkenny's Irish Public House (late-night bar with live music)
Union Street Station (late-night bar with live DJ)
Artisan @ Delamar Hotel (hotel bar with good cocktails)
BREWERIES
DOWNTOWN:
EAST BAY:
Short's Brewing Company (Elk Rapids)
OLD MISSION:
LEELANAU:
GOLF
Bahle Farms (30 min NW)
Grand Traverse Resort (10-12 min NE)
Manitou Passage (30 min NW)
A Ga Ming (35 min NE)
Shanty Creek (50 min NE)
Arcadia Bluffs (1 hr SW)
Forest Dunes (1hr E)
Fun, local gems include Elmbrook, The Crown, Interlochen & Mistwood.
VINEYARDS & WINERIES
Leelanau Peninsula (West) and Old Mission Peninsula (East) are home to dozens of beautiful vineyards and wineries.
OLD MISSION PENINSULA:
Check out the entire Old Mission Wine Trail.
LEELANAU PENINSULA:
Check out the entire Leelanau Wine Trail here .
WINE TOUR TRANSPORTATION:
Traverse City Wine & Beer Tours
HIKING & NATURE TRAILS
SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE
Glen Arbor, MI (40 minutes from hotels)
Empire Bluffs is our favorite trail. It takes about a mile or so of a hike to get to the bluffs. You will be blown away. The Dune Climb Trail is a unique and popular trail scaling the dunes to beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Pyramid Point is also a great one. Head to Glen Arbor after for a bite to eat at Cherry Republic!
Old Mission Peninsula (30 minutes from hotels)
Visit this small state park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, pop by the Mission Point Lighthouse, and stroll along the nearby trails for easy and accessible hikes.
Downtown (15 minute walk from Park Place)
Easily accessible from downtown Traverse City, the 4-mile walk around the Boardman Lake is a great way to get out and active without going too far from the city.