Thanks to its many skiing areas during the wintertime and idyllic springtime cherry blossoms, Traverse City, Michigan, offers reasons to visit all year long.
The calendar year is dotted with big events (like the National Cherry Festival in early July and the Traverse City Film Festival later in the same month), but there’s never a bad time to visit the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail, which takes you to 10 regional wineries.
And that’s only one of the area’s attractions. Beaches, breweries and hiking trails round out your list of things to do in this lively lakefront city.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip
Friday: Hit the Beach, Explore NoBo and Catch a Show
Start your weekend trip off strong with the energetic crowds at West End Beach. Located on the north side of Grandview Parkway, you’re close enough to the downtown area to grab some coffee and a pastry before you settle into your sandy spot (we recommend Good Harbor Coffee & Bakery).
This beach fills up fast once the midmorning sun heats things up — and the volleyball courts will be busy with locals getting in a game.
Peel yourself off the sand and get yourself to Taqueria TC Latino for lunch, run by husband-wife duo Adolfo Mendez and Sandra Rios. The tacos are traditional and lack frills, but they’ll rival the best you’ve had.
Next, hop in the car and drive 13 minutes to Boardman Lake to take advantage of its many walking and biking trails. Don’t miss the shorter (and paved) BLT path, which clocks in at 4 miles, or the long TART Trail that weaves cyclists through 10 miles of nature.
There are three places to rent a bike in the area: City Bike Shop, Brick Wheels and McLain Cycle & Fitness.
Grab a table at the Filling Station in the same neighborhood, a quirky microbrewery housed in a vintage train depot. It’s known for its flatbread pizza (if you like heat, check out the Firebox pizza). Then head to Silver Spruce Brewing Company (it’s only a six-minute walk away), where the best place to enjoy your beer or cider of choice is on the patio, with stellar sunset views.
Saturday: Drink in the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail
Take a little vacation from your vacation destination on your second day in Traverse City. Known as northern Michigan’s wine country, Old Mission Peninsula is an area of land that juts out into the Grand Traverse Bay.
As you can imagine, the surrounding scenery sets an idyllic backdrop for a day spent tasting the region’s best grapes.
Start by grabbing breakfast at Traverse Bay Café, which is famous for its Cuban-bread breakfast sandwiches
From there, pick and choose from the list of wineries (read up on each one here). There are 10 on this small peninsula, so pick a handful and make a day of it. A few recommendations: Bowers Harbor Vineyards, 2 Lads Winery, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery and Black Star Farms.
Michigan is also known for its ice wine, a sweet wine made from grapes that are still frozen on the vine while harvested. Not all wineries have it, but there are a few places to find it on the nearby Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail.
Once you’ve had your fill of grapes, head to the Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery for friendly service and stick-to-your-ribs pub food. For something a bit quieter, get a table at the Peninsula Grill, which serves great seafood and pasta.
Sunday: Browse the Boutiques Downtown
After a day of drinking, sleep in. Breakfast (or brunch) will be waiting at Hexenbelle, a bakery and coffee shop with global offerings like shakshuka, an eggs-and-tomato dish from North Africa. Place your order “for here” and grab a table on the patio.
Once you’re finished, head downtown for some window (and actual) shopping at the many boutiques and galleries around town. My Secret Stash has a great variety of Michigan-made crafts.
Discover how many different foods can incorporate the city’s favorite fruit (cherries!) at Cherry Republic Traverse City. Introduce yourself to new local artists at Art & Soul Gallery. Don’t miss Nifty Things for stylish souvenirs.
For lunch, make a stop at the Little Fleet, a collection of food trucks located off of East Front Street. This is an especially great dining venue if you’re traveling with a group of people with varied tastes. Everyone gets what they want, everyone’s happy.
A couple of recommendations: Happy’s Taco Shop for smoked-potato tacos or pulled pork from Cordwood BBQ.
After lunch, peruse the art at the Dennos Museum Center or the Crooked Tree Arts Center. Both feature rotating exhibits within their galleries as well as permanent collections.
Your dinner stop is Wren, a restaurant focused on locally sourced ingredients located in the historic Hose House Building (once upon a time, edible lilac blossoms made an appearance on its menu).
For a scene with good vibes — and pool tables — end your trip at the Union Street Station, where you might also hear some live music.
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