Located in northern Michigan, Traverse City may seem remote, but it's quickly becoming one of the most popular inland tourist destinations in the USA. The reasons aren't hard to find. From high-quality food and drink to fine scenery, sailing opportunities, golf courses and comfortable resorts, Traverse City is an easy destination to love.
For one thing, Traverse City is great for gourmet food and drink fans. Join tour parties with By the Bay Transportation to explore the region's burgeoning wine scene. Gorge yourself on the freshest, most delicious cherry pie imaginable at the Grand Traverse Pie Company and relax in luxury spas at resorts like the Inn at Bay Harbor.
On the other hand, it's also a wonderful place for active vacationers. Sail on the bay, shoulder your golf bag at a Jack Nicklaus-designed course, hike in the coves and inlets, parasail, swim or go horse-riding - all of this can be enjoyed in Traverse City, so make it your next getaway destination.
Traverse City may not be Napa Valley, but it's starting to get pretty close. Visitors will find one of America's up and coming wine regions, with world-class wineries like Bowers Harbor and Grand Chateau.
Traverse City isn't called the "cherry capital of the world" for nothing. In fact, it grows most of America's cherry harvest. Dine on superb cherry pies all year-round at the Grand Traverse Pie Company or head there for the National Cherry Festival in July for pie tasting, stone spitting contests and much more.
The bay region around Traverse City is made for golf - at least from late spring to early fall. Golfers can spend days hopping between high-quality courses designed by some of the game's greats, with highlights including the Bear at Grand Traverse and the Gary Player-designed Wolverine course.
Traverse City lies on an inlet off of Lake Michigan. If you want to head out fishing in deeper water, you can rent boats and enlist local experts to venture onto the lake itself. But if you just want to sail in placid inland waters, the bay is the ideal place to do so. So there are options for novices and advanced sailors alike.
Above all else, Traverse City is beautiful. That's why hundreds of thousands of people visit every year and major resorts dot the shores of the lake. Hike on Old Mission Peninsula, saddle up at Ranch Rudolph or soar over the city with a glass of champagne by flying with Grand Traverse Balloons.
Traverse City might celebrate its cherry production, but it's becoming more famous for the quality of its wine. Visitors can join organized tours from local companies like By the Bay Transportation of arrange their own trips to favorites like Chateau Grand Traverse.
Traverse City is also fortunate to have some exceptional golf courses in the area, many of which are attached to hotel resorts. If you are up for a golfing challenge in sublime scenery, don't miss courses like the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear at Grand Traverse or Cedar River, designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Cherry pie is one of America's classic dishes, and the area around Traverse City produces over 75 percent of the nation's cherries. So why not head to local eateries like the Grand Traverse Pie Company to taste the freshest cherry pie anywhere in the country?
Traverse City is a fantastic destination for sailing fans. You can easily rent different sizes of sailing craft at locations like American Boat Rentals or Dewitt Marine and be on the lake in no time, swimming, water-skiing or just relaxing with your family and friends.
Alternatively, why not book some time with a professional fisherman and land some of the area's salmon or trout? You can arrange full or half day trips from companies like Daydreamer Fishing Charters and take your friends out on the lake for a magical experience. Who knows? You might even catch dinner.
The majority of visitors to Traverse City head there during the summer months, which is when the charter boats are busiest, and the shore is teeming with families looking for space to relax. If you can handle the crowds, July and August are the best times to go. You won't just get the best weather, you can also attend major events like the National Cherry Festival. For those wanting a more private trip, try April and May, or September and October.
If you intend to fly into Traverse City, the closest airport is Cherry Capital Airport, which is served by major airlines like American and United and is a couple of miles southeast of the city center. You can take flights from nearby cities like Minneapolis or Chicago at any time of year, but during the summer season, tourist charters from cities across the USA fly into Traverse City, so check the seasonal schedules. After you touch down, there are two major ground transportation options. You can either rent a car from outlets like Avis or Budget, or enlist local cab firms like Chippewa Cab or Designated Rides.
Those driving from Detroit can simply take I-75 and then switch to local route 72 via Kalkaska. If you are driving from Chicago, take I-94 to Kalamazoo, then switch to Route 131 to Traverse City. I-80 is the best road to take from cities on the Eastern Seaboard. Anyone coming from the west has a choice of routes. I-80 is best from San Francisco, while anyone driving from Los Angeles should take I-40 then change onto I-65 at Nashville.
Traverse City is served by Indian Trails, which connects the resort to nearby cities like Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids. In turn, these cities are stops on the Greyhound network, so it shouldn't be hard to organize a bus route from most midwestern and eastern cities. Traverse City bus station is located at 115 Hall St.
Most of the best places to stay in Traverse City are located along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay. If you require luxury accommodation, the Inn at Bay Harbor is hard to beat, with a beautiful shoreside location and on-site championship standard golf course. However, families might feel more at home at Cedar Lake Lodge, which offers standalone cabins and plenty of activities. If you are on a budget, have a look at "motel mile" on US-31 or city center options like the Days Inn or the Heritage Inn.
Traverse City – The heart of the Traverse City tourist region is the city itself, and it's one of America's most charming shoreline resorts. In Evergreen Market it hosts the best place to shop for fresh groceries (including cherries), along with the Turtle Creek Casino and theaters like the Old Town Playhouse. It's also just a great base from which to explore the wineries and shores of the area.
Old Mission Peninsula – To the north of Traverse City, a long sliver of land juts out into Lake Michigan. Old Mission Peninsula is a great place to stay, with great wineries like Bonobo and Old Mission and secluded bays like Haserot Beach. If you want to get away from it all with a fine vintage, it's a great place to be.
Greilickville – Greilickville is a few miles northwest of Traverse City, and it's one of Michigan's sailing and fishing capitals. Rent craft for leisure cruises from outfits like Two Brothers or stay on dry land and learn about the natural history of the area at the Great Lakes Children's Museum. There are also great places to eat like Tuscan Bistro, so it's an excellent vacation base.
The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) operates a limited public transit system from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday across the Traverse City area. Schedules include a number of "village loops", which can be really handy for traveling between wineries and beaches, so get hold of a map when you arrive. Basic fares start at $1.
Taxis are a very useful way to get around Traverse City and the surrounding wine country, and rates tend to be reasonably low. Typical rates will be about $2.40 as a meter drop for the first mile, then $2.80 for every subsequent mile. Most cab companies also charge more for extra passengers and items like bicycles. Uber are also active in the city, and may well be a good way to save money on local journeys.
Five major car rental outlets have a presence at Cherry Capital Airport, and driving is a popular option for tourists, particularly watersports lovers and wine fans. Expect to pay around $30-40 per day for a standard vehicle rental.
Traverse City is one of the best places in the USA to shop for fresh fruit and related products. For example, there are few better places to stock up on artisan preserves, cordials and fruit wines than the Cherry Stop on E Front Street. However, there are also conventional shopping opportunities as well. Grand Traverse Mall is definitely the best place for shoppers to visit, with major names like TK Maxx, JC Penney and Target.
Self-catering is a popular way to stay in Traverse City, and if you have access to your own kitchen there are plenty of places to shop. Supermarkets on the outskirts of town like Tom's Food Market and Oleson's offer the best deals, but Sara Hardy Farmers Market offers plenty of fresh fruit and other produce if you want to splash out. Food and drink isn't that cheap, with a gallon of milk costing around $2.80 and a pound of apples $2.30, but you can buy local produce cheaply when fruit and vegetables are in season. And the wine is always in season.
Home cooking is a big deal in Traverse City and there are a number of great places to dine on traditional dishes. Everyone should try the cherry pie at Grand Traverse Pie Company (after all, you are traveling to the "cherry capital of the world"). If you want a full meal, head to fine Italian restaurants like Trattoria Stella or Tuscan Bistro, seafood and meat joints like Scott's Harbor Grill or upmarket Mexican options like Red Mesa Grill. Expect to pay $20 for a midrange meal and over $30 at higher end restaurants.