Traverse City Travel Blog

There is one bear where hibernation is not part of an annual hibernation ritual: the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Many people don’t realize that the National Lakeshore is open year-round. Word to the wise: if you miss a visit in winter, you are missing out on a remarkable experience. 

Many visitors use the words “Traverse City” as a kind of shorthand for the entire region of peninsulas, islands and forested highlands surrounding Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. 

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” That statement from the Executive Director of Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) Fred Sitkins marked the community welcome of a new three-masted schooner that will ply the Great Lakes based out of Suttons Bay. 

In Traverse City, it’s easy to support sustainable food options. From local and ethical sourcing of ingredients to environmentally conscious farming practices, to commitments to livable wages and just hiring practices, food businesses throughout the region are working hard to make our food community a long-lasting success. How can you take part? Head to events and workshops in the area that allow proud local food makers, farmers, and environmentalists to explain why they do what they do! 

The morning rains drifted away. On this spring day, it left behind the soft fragrance of blossoms and the sweet smell that follows a northern Michigan rain shower. The clouds gave way to sunshine and a gentle breeze. It was necessary to close your eyes and let other senses take over. I listened to the sound of the birds who embarked on a frantic frenzy while flying between tree limbs. In the distance, you could hear the faint sound of traffic that rushed along US-31 near Grawn.

Quick, name a part of the world known for its wine. For many of us, the answer might be Napa Valley in California or Bordeaux in France. Well, get ready to add Traverse City, Michigan to that elite list.

The “Blue Light Special” at this shutdown K-Mart has been replaced by “the house.” There are still “buttons,” but not in the clothing department, they are on a sheet of ice. And you can still find “brooms” however, they are not in the Housewares Department but in the firm hands of players that have come for a game of curling. 

The Traverse City Curling Club is in the final stages of opening a new 28,000-square-foot Curling Center. It’s located at the old K-Mart building at Cherryland Center and features five sheets of dedicated ice. The club had been located at the Centre Ice Arena but found their ice time was too limiting. Plus the type of ice needed for curling is different from what hockey players require. 

It’s a glowing celebration during December in Traverse City. Streets shine under twinkling lights and there's a festive spirit in the air. Viewing the annual holiday displays around local homes and businesses has become one of the highlights of the Christmas season in Traverse City. 

Some people can’t wait to join a crowd of strangers outside and count down to the New Year. Others prefer to drink and dance the night away indoors with friends, make memories with the family, or maybe just enjoy an elegant evening for two. 

With a simple turn of the key, it springs into life. Creating a guttural sound that seems to emanate from the toes, vibrate through your core, and tickle the primal nodes of the brain. This is a rumbling engine that not only speaks of the car, but it also speaks of an era. A time when big, heavy cars ruled the road. It was 1968 when this Ford Galaxie convertible came off the assembly line with untarnished vibrant red paint. Today the car shows some of its years on the road, but it has a classic beauty. It welcomes passengers to a spacious, leather-clad, back seat. The driver views the road over a sea of the red hood.