Are you looking for things to do in Traverse City, Michigan?
Traverse City is on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and gets its name from Grand Traverse Bay, a bay on Lake Michigan.
The city is perched at the base of the enormous bay and is surrounded by water, forests, and beaches.
It really is a beautiful city and a great place for a getaway.
Here you will find 14 of the best things to do in Traverse City.
14 Best Things To Do In Traverse City
Stroll Around Traverse City Downtown
The downtown area is small, but it packs a punch.
It is a vibrant, happening place with lots of food, shopping, culture, and history.
Sample some of the amazing food in the restaurants, and beer in one of the pubs.
Visit one of the historic neighborhoods, and the beach is within easy reach.
6th Street is a great place to see some of the beautiful mansion houses.
Perry House is well worth a visit and is a great example of Queen Anne-style architecture.
Front Street is the place to go shopping and is at the heart of the city.
It’s a testament to how a historic area can be given new life. It’s a mix of galleries, markets, antique shops and has a real atmosphere.
Visiting downtown definitely needs to be on your things to do list in Traverse City.
Relax On The Beach
Traverse City has freshwater, pristine sandy beaches.
Depending on what you like to do at the beach will depend on which is best for you.
You will find typical beaches like Vans Beach, some surrounded by greenery, some secluded, and others bustling.
Clinch Park Beach, Sunset Park Beach, West End Beach, and Volleyball Beach are all in the downtown area, so easy to get to.
There are also 9 other beaches within easy driving distance.
Climb A Dune At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
400 feet above Lake Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Good Morning America named it the Most Beautiful Place in America.
At the top of the Dune, you have the most amazing view of Glen Lake.
Pyramid Point offers an incredible view of Lake Michigan and nearby Manitou Island
And if you have time, check out Glen Haven, an adorable village just north of the Dune Climb.
Go Wine Tasting – Traverse City Style!
Traverse City shares the same latitude as Italy’s Piedmont region and France’s Beaujolais region, so the wine here is good, to say the least.
There are over 40 different wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms.
The wines range from crisp whites to deep reds.
The region was included in the Travel Channel’s Top 10 Cities for Wine Snobs.
The wineries are well worth a visit, and there is a winery to suit every taste, from modern to ones that would not look out of place in the Italian or French hillsides.
Visit A Microbrewery In One Of America’s Best Beer Towns!
Just as this area is known for its wine, it is also known for its microbreweries.
Listed among America’s Best Beer Towns, each of the breweries has its own personality.
There is a beer to go with every food, and you can learn this by visiting one of the breweries in this area.
Try The Local Produce
Bon Appetit named Traverse City one of America’s top five foodie towns in 2010.
This state is also one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country, and the restaurants have a wide range of local produce.
For a small town, Traverse really does over-deliver on the food and drink options.
Places well worth checking out are the Taproot Cider House, which does an amazing cherry cider.
And for that all-American cherry pie, visit the Grand Traverse Pie Company.
Enjoy The Outdoor Space
It would be a shame to come to this city and not enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces both within and outside of the city.
Whatever your outdoor recreation, you can do it here.
Hike, bike, fish, golf, swim, and sail are all popular,
with cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating during winters in Michigan.
With rolling hills, towering dunes, beautiful water, there is a lot to do here.
Take A Tour – Beer, Wine, Or Ghost!
The beer and wine tours are pretty unique and interesting
Locals say this area is super haunted, and there is an abandoned asylum, and we all know what that means.
The ghost tours also include real ghost hunting equipment, which makes them extra spooky.
Things To Do In Traverse City: Get Bookish
What you might not know about Traverse City is that it is known as Michigan Book City.
There are five great book shops within a few blocks, so you do not have to walk very far to have a real bookish experience.
Some options for you include: Horizon Books. The High Shelf Bookstore, Bookie Joint, Brilliant Books, and Wild Pages.
If you are after your next read, put some of these bookstores on your things to do in Traverse City list.
Visit The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
The Village is an area of old buildings that have been turned into modern amenities and locations.
The site of an 1800’s asylum now houses restaurants, boutique shops, and other buildings.
The 63-acre complex is beautiful with Victorian-Italianate style architecture.
It was built to be an environment that would help patients recover quicker
under the belief that a beautiful location aids healing.
You can have a walking tour around the grounds to learn about the history of the palace.
Admire The View At Mission Point Lighthouse
If you are looking for some epic Michigan lighthouses, this one deserves to be on your bucket list.
It is 19 miles from the city but well worth a visit.
It’s a beautiful lighthouse used between 1870 and 1933 and is surrounded by nature, vineyards, and orchards.
The view is beautiful from the top, and the lighthouse is on the National and State Historic Register.
The lighthouse and its surroundings are stunning, and I really advise a trip if you have the time.
It’s open between May and September.
Take In The Atmosphere At Clinch Park
Clinch Park is a great park to visit for a bit of relaxing.
The park is close to Front Street and has its own beach.
You will find a snack bar, bike trails, kayak rentals, and picnic tables.
In the evening, it takes on a whole different feel with a lovely atmosphere.
Marvel At The City Opera House
Located in the downtown area, it was built in 1892 and is architecturally beautiful.
There is a regal air about this building, and it has been restored to its former magnificence.
With vaulted ceilings, frescoes, and gold leaf accents, it really is a luxurious building.
If you want to enjoy it more, book to see one of the performances and enjoy this beautiful building the way it was supposed to be.
Riding A Bike Is A Great Thing To Do In Traverse City
Getting on your bike might not be the first thing you think of when vacationing, but it is a great way to see this city.
TART Trails preserves and maintains open spaces and bike corridors and has 8 multi-use trails covering over sixty miles.
The longest is a 27-mile-long trail called the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, which connects parks and local communities.
There is also a 17-mile trail to the beautiful Sutton Bay along a former railway corridor.
And the Vasa Pathway runs through state forest land and is a great mountain bike trail. .
Things To Do In Traverse City: Essentials Packing List
Here are my tips on how to pack lightly. using a carry-on when traveling. And WHY it is almost a necessity!
This unisex RFID-blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight and comes in several colors.
These RFID sleeves are another solution.
This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry on all my trips.
Don’t forget Apple AirTags to track your luggage. (Whether you fly or drive.)
My daughter gifted me this FugeTek selfie stick and tripod setup for my birthday.
It is made of lightweight aluminum and is so easy to use.
I never leave home on a trip without a non-disposable water bottle.
Then this collapsible silicone foldable water bottle would work well for you as well.
This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great for a daily go-pack.
These quick-dry slip-on Aqua shoes will be useful at pools or spas you happen to visit along the way.
These men’s quick-dry trunks are essential.
For women, this one-strap one-piece bathing suit is amazing.
Consider bringing along quick-dry super-absorbent microfiber towels.
This wet-dry bag with handles is a good option.
These unisex polarized sunglasses come in many lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable, too.
If you like aviator-style sunglasses, these polarized aviators may interest you.
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