A day on the beach. The sound of waves rolling in off Lake Michigan, the smell of freshwater, the caress of the warm sun and the cool water against your skin. At night, there are sunsets over the glittering horizon and bonfires along the shore. Is this Michigan or is it Malibu? It's Michigan, of course. There's no salt -- and no sharks -- in that water! But everything else about dipping your toes in the sand makes you want to linger for hours to soak it all in. Time for building sandcastles, for making a splash and for watching the dreamy sunsets. Take a look at beach locations around the area!
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the US, and the Traverse City area has several of them! Thanks to its history as a major port and its location on Grand Traverse Bay near the once-bustling Manitou Passage, Traverse City is a convenient base for exploring eight historic lighthouses: Mission Point, Grand Traverse, South Manitou, North Manitou, Fox Island, Robert Manning Memorial, Point Betsie and Frankfort North Breakwater.
Maybe you prefer your wine with a raised pinky, elegant ambiance and killer views. Or maybe you’re just ready to relax and have a good time. Good news is, you can do them both at about 50 different wineries throughout the Traverse City region. Located on the 45th Parallel, we literally line up with the most prestigious wine regions of Europe (think Bordeaux and Piedmont). We attribute our happy grapes to the natural insulation of Lake Michigan, to our fertile soil and to the long hours of sunlight for extended growing seasons…which altogether makes the people pretty happy, too.
Traverse City is a shopper’s paradise. Our pedestrian-friendly downtown has scores of fascinating boutiques, restaurants and galleries, plus lots of places to sit and relax. Nearby are picturesque lakeport towns like Leland, Glen Arbor, Elk Rapids and Northport -- filled with hidden byways, cozy cottages, quaint shops and stunning galleries.
One of the most popular activities in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is hiking the dunes. The park offers numerous trails that range in difficulty from easy to challenging. The most popular trail is the Dune Climb, a 3.5-mile round-trip hike up and down towering dunes. The views from the top of the dunes are spectacular and well worth the effort.
Torch Lake in northwestern Michigan is a natural lake that runs vertically alongside and a few miles east from Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. Torch Lake is an extremely large lake that stretches for 19 miles from south to north and is Michigan's second largest inland lake, but appears tiny compared to Lake Michigan. Torch Lake covers 18,770 acres with 1,683 miles of shoreline, an average depth of 100 feet, and a maximum depth of 285 feet.
Discover Traverse City’s ultimate adventure with Kayak, Bike & Brew (KBB), affectionately known as KaBrew! Join the Brewery Pub Pedal and Paddle through the city’s stunning urban TART bike trails and the Boardman Lake & River spanning approximately 4 hours of pure fun. Meet at the The Lounge at Kayak Bike in downtown Traverse City for check-in and gear up for your bike ride. You’ll pedal and paddle to three fantastic breweries conveniently located near the river and lake, where you can savor some delicious local craft brews, seltzers & ciders.