Traverse City is a beautiful town in Michigan that sits along the coast of one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan. It has become a popular destination, since it boasts beautiful beaches, wineries, and boutiques. The town is known for their local cherries and delicious wine. If you are visiting for the first time or you are going back to enjoy the town yet again, here are some of my favorite things that I did on my last trip to Traverse City.

Walk Downtown Traverse City

The downtown area in Traverse City is filled with quaint boutiques and numerous restaurants. Grab a coffee, go shopping, grab some food, and definitely head to Cherry Republic for all the free samples! If you have never heard of Cherry Republic, it is a store that sells all cherry-flavored products. You can find chocolate-covered cherries, cherry salsas, cherry gummy candies, cherry pop, cherry wine, and cherry trail mix to name a few things.

Go Wine Tasting

Traverse City is filled with beautiful vineyards. A couple of the vineyards overlook the bay as well. Consider reserving a vineyard tour or sample some delicious local wine. The gorgeous spot I visited was called Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery. The wine was delicious, the service was great, and they have a spacious outdoor patio where you can overlook the vineyard. On their property, they have a gift shop and a lavender field where you can handpick lavender too!

Get in the Water

The water is so clear in Traverse City! There are many beautiful beaches along the coast to spend some time at and go for a swim. You could also book a boat cruise, rent kayaks, or go parasailing here. I went parasailing in Traverse City years ago, and the views were spectacular!

Go Camping in Traverse City

There is something special about camping in Michigan! Traverse City State Park Campground is a clean and spacious campground that is just steps away from a beach. I definitely recommend staying here! If you don’t enjoy camping, you could still enjoy camping activities like having a bonfire and making smores at an Airbnb rental or wherever you may be staying.

Head to The Little Fleet

If you’re looking for something unique for lunch or dinner one day, The Little Fleet is a vibrant patio space where there are plenty of food trucks to choose from. When I visited, there were between 8 and 10 food trucks. You can also order handcrafted drinks or local beer and wine. They occasionally host events or live music as well. Check out their website for their hours and event schedule.

Conclusion

Traverse City is the perfect Michigan town to visit where you can enjoy time outside, relax in the slow-paced town, and indulge in the cherry-flavored treats. There is plenty to do here, but if you want to explore other cities near here, Suttons Bay, Leland, and Glen Arbor are some other towns that show off that “Pure Michigan” beauty.

I hope your time in Traverse City is relaxing and rejuvenating! Thanks for stopping by! To find my other blog posts, head to the destinations tab on my website. Cheers to exploring cute towns and making connections around the world!