Traverse City Places To Visit – One of Traverse City’s great draws is its many beaches, which are of course a summer treat — but they’re beautiful any time of year. Here are some of the best, listed by reasons you can choose to search for each one.
This sweet sand on West Grand Traverse Bay is just minutes from the shops and dining of downtown Traverse City. New amenities here include a picnic pavilion, clean restrooms, a children’s splash pad, and nearby rentals of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. There is no parking on the beach itself, but you can get there via the pedestrian underpass on Cass Street. Located on the north side of West Grandview Parkway at the foot of Cass Street.
Traverse City Places To Visit
Bryant Park is on West Grand Traverse Bay at the base of the Old Mission Peninsula, just a few minutes’ drive from downtown T.C. The wide, sandy beach faces west (hello, sunset), and also has a children’s playscape, picnic tables, restrooms, grills, and a shaded area under the tall pine trees to escape the sun. Bonus: After your swim, you can walk across the street for an ice cream cone at the mid-century-adorable Bardon’s Wonder Freeze.
Indoor Waterpark Resort
This pristine park on the Old Mission Peninsula is rarely busy, as it’s a short drive from downtown. Its location in Old Mission Harbor protects it from the wind, and amenities include a playground, picnic area, restrooms and boat launch. Located about 18 miles north of downtown Traverse City via M-37; on Swaney Road.
The water is warm and shallow at this beach at the base of East Grand Traverse Bay, making it ideal for splashing around with small children. There are also restrooms, a playground, and lifeguards during the summer months. Located about 10 minutes east of downtown Traverse City; just follow Front Street east until it ends.
Sure, it’s a 40-minute drive from Traverse City, but it’s on the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and it’s pure magic. The sandy-bottomed North Bar Lake is located on the side of Lake Michigan, so you have the choice of swimming in either — but North Bar is located behind some tall dunes, sheltering the beach of it and makes it a good choice on windy days. Located about 30 miles west of downtown Traverse City via M-72; a park permit is required for entry (although you can pay for the day only onsite). Full directions here.
At the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula, in the shadow of the historic Mission Point Lighthouse, this dog-friendly beach offers warm, shallow waters ideal for snorkeling and rock picking. (However, note that this beach is more rocky than sandy.) This park consists of more than 40 acres of woods and abandoned orchards, with an extensive trail system to walk your pooch . Located at the terminus of M-37, about 20 miles north of downtown Traverse City.
Your Guide To The Ultimate Summer Vacation In Traverse City
This 202-acre island in West Grand Traverse Bay is like a sampler platter of the best of the north: sandy beaches, wooded hikes, rustic camping, and some cool history (Henry Ford is the tag -owned the island from 1917 to 1944). Since it is an island, naturally the beaches here are secluded and majestic. Get there by power boat or kayak/paddleboard (note: the trip is only for experienced paddlers); the island is 3.5 miles from the nearest boat launch at Bowers Harbor on the Old Mission Peninsula.
If you’re looking for a view, here it is: dozens of sand volleyball courts packed on warm nights, people lounging on a beautiful mile-long beach, and boats anchored nearby beach for summer mix. This area is close to Open Space, a vast grassy park where you can spread out for lawn games or to play catch; you are also literally across the street from downtown shops and restaurants. Located on the north side of Grandview Parkway west of Division Street.
Any west-facing beach will provide a beautiful sunset, of course, but for a truly spectacular view, head west in Leelanau County to Good Harbor Beach: a secluded sand with views of the Manitou Islands, Pyramid Point, and the wooded hillside. ridge known as Whaleback. The sunsets here are perfect. Located about 20 miles from downtown Traverse City, via M-72 and County Road 651 North.
Two miles west of downtown Traverse, this state park has a quarter-mile of pristine sand on Grand Traverse Bay. The pedestrian bridge allows you to safely cross US-31 to reach the campground, which has more than 300 modern sites in a wooded setting. Located at 1132 US-31 N. Explore the must-see, must-do activities on the full content page below or explore other things to do in Traverse City:
Traverse City, Michigan
Vacations should be relaxing. Exploration should be a joy. And nothing kills the joy of discovery or the joy of teasing as completely as trying to cram as many experiences and as many sights into your precious vacation time as possible.
However, I know what it’s like to arrive in a strange place without a clear idea of where things are or what things are important, and I really don’t like to lose one. That’s really cool stuff and I only found out about it after I got home. And you can’t always trust your local relatives to tell you, either — I know people who have lived here 10 years who have never been to the Mission Point Lighthouse.
So here’s my short list of things to do in Traverse City for people who don’t really have time for a long, leisurely sightseeing tour. Instead of a formal itinerary — which completely ignores things like the weather or the fact that your significant other has no interest in shopping/sightseeing/history/wildlife/food — I try to gather nearby attractions and activities around each entry in a kind of “as long as you’re in the neighborhood” way. Continue for a local’s guide to what to do in Traverse City.
To the west and north of Traverse City proper is the beautiful Leelanau Peninsula, home to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Part of the national park system since 1972, Sleeping Bear is one of America’s most beautiful landscapes: a 64-mile curve of beaches, bays, islands, and hills along the Lake Michigan Shore. (In 2011, Good Morning America viewers named it the Most Beautiful Spot in America.)
Pabst Is ‘the Place’…in Traverse City
Most people who visit Sleeping Bear simply wind their way from lookout to lookout on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Do yourself a favor and take the time to experience this place on its own terms. Walk along the beach, swim or explore Glen Haven’s “ghost port” for a while.
In the neighborhood: The Leelanau Peninsula has long been a leading fruit producer, and now it’s also the most active wine-producing area in the region, with 26 wineries and counting. It’s also home to charming little communities like Glen Arbor (stop by the original Cherry Republic store) and Leland (check out the quaint Fishtown district, where centuries-old fishing shanties have become unique shops and restaurants). Northport is home to the impressive Grand Traverse Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in the Great Lakes, and Suttons Bay is a bustling beach town on Grand Traverse Bay. A good way to explore the coast of the peninsula is along the highway M-22, one of the most beautiful drives in the region, passing through beautiful villages, orchards, and vineyards.
Find a place to stay nearby: Find a place to stay nearby: Cabins and Cottages perfect for every adventurer are nearby.
Traverse City’s tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly downtown is often cited as an example of thoughtful restoration and restrained renovation. With many interesting boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries, and many places to sit and relax, it is the perfect destination for an unforgettable shopping excursion. At night, shopping gives way to nightlife as the focus shifts to restaurants and watering holes on Front and Union streets.
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Here again, the idea is not to zoom all the way to the next attraction. It’s a different kind of shopping district, a place where you’re expected to wander around and chat with people in the shops, relax with a latte or a glass of cider, do a little shopping -browse, see the amazing City Opera House and the State Theater, have lunch and just watch the people go by, or check out any number of amazing events in Traverse City.
In the neighborhood: One of the best things about TC is how close it is to everything. When you’ve had enough of downtown retail therapy, you can wander a block north and cross the city’s beautiful Clinch Park. Stroll through the marina, stroll along the paved TART trail overlooking our beautiful West Bay coastline, or rent bikes and have a little beach adventure. And if you’re interested in seeing some beautiful Victorian architecture, head south of downtown and take a leisurely stroll through the shady streets of the Central Neighborhood, where umber barons and nabobs built their stately homes a centuries ago.
Find a place to stay nearby: From budget-friendly to luxury accommodation, there are many options in the city center.
Speaking of architecture, this hidden gem west of Division Avenue is the city’s most spectacular attraction. Here, the castle-like buildings
Best Things To Do In Traverse City
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