What to Do in Traverse City, MI

Although Traverse City doesn’t feel huge, there is more to do here than can be done in a day. One of the major cities on the Great Lakes Circle Tour, Traverse City is a great vacation destination to spend a week.

Grand Traverse Bay

The biggest attraction in Traverse City is the bay itself. Popular for a variety of water activities, it is usually teeming with activity during the late spring, summer and early fall. Charter boats are available for those without their own, including charter boat fishing for salmon and trout on Lake Michigan. There is a large beach area for swimming as well.

Downtown Shopping

Traverse City boasts a thriving downtown shopping area. Almost all of the shops are locally owned and unique. They include clothing, home décor and sundries, shoes, gifts, a large independent bookstore, food stuffs, and a large multi-level antique shop.

Galleries

Traverse City is an artsy town. There are almost fifty art galleries in Traverse City and the surrounding communities. These encompass everything from trendy art to locally painted pastorals.

Farm Markets

The Traverse City area is one of the biggest producers of cherries in the country. Orchards are abundant throughout the area and during the peak season there are farm stands everywhere. There are also pick-your-own opportunities offered at different farms.

Golf

Northern Michigan is home to a few dozen golf courses, many of which offer spectacular views. A favorite with many is Jack Nickalus’ The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

Eating

For breakfast, check out The Omelette Shop. There are two locations, one downtown (South Cass Street and East State Street) and the other on the north end of town (1209 East Front Street). As one might guess, they specialize in omelettes with just about every kind of filling one can imagine. They also offer an excellent variety of other breakfast options as well as a wide assortment of baked goods they make themselves.

For lunch, head to Cousin Jenny’s downtown (129 South Union Street). Although they offer excellent salads, they are especially known for their pasties. Pasties are a northern Michigan specialty introduced by the Upper Peninsula miners of days gone by. Meat and vegetables are wrapped in a pastry and then baked. Pasties can be eaten plain or with gravy and/or sour cream. Fridays feature Chili Supreme – always a treat along with a small pasty.

Apache Trout Grill is an excellent choice for dinner. If the weather is nice, there is a large porch area overlooking the bay. The Western BBQ Shrimp is an excellent choice as either an appetizer or main dish. They offer a good selection of meals with a strong emphasis on local ingredients such as fish and cherries. They are located at 13671 S West Bay Shore Drive.

For dessert, consider a slice of pie at the Grand Traverse Pie Company (525 W Front St # 1). This locally owned eatery offers over two dozen different kinds of pies each day. There are many varieties of berry and cherry related pies as a nod to the local fruit growers. They also offer light meals, but by far their best asset is their pies.

Boy Playing in the Water

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