Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Offering miles of fascinating sand dunes and beautiful blue lake Michigan shoreline, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Come and enjoy 35 miles of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, take a boat to explore North and South Manitou Islands, and of course climb the dunes! Learn about the history of shipping, logging, and agriculture of the area by visiting former Life-Saving Service/Coast Guard Stations, the Glen Arbor Cannery museum, and the Port Oneida Historic District's picturesque farmsteads. Read more about the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Port Towns

There’s something special about places like Leland, Elk Rapids, Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay and Northport that can’t be found in an inland town. Even bustling Traverse City preserves a few spots where the maritime past seems close enough to touch. The recent influx of cottages, shops, galleries and artists’ studios seems only to accentuate their historic connection to the water, the shore and the open sky. Admiring or purchasing art, enjoying an ice cream cone, or dining al fresco all are particularly enjoyable when you can see the big lake just a few steps away.

Wineries

Located on the 45th parallel, Traverse City is home to vintners who grow grapes and bottle wines on the scenic Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas. The wines are fast becoming among the finest offered nationally and internationally. The ideal climate, with vineyards protected by winter snows and conditions moderated by proximity to Lake Michigan, has given rise to a wine industry that has been recognized for its quality and variety since the first winery opened here in 1974. Notable for Rieslings, methode champenoise sparkling wines, Chardonnays and fruit wines, Traverse City area vintners are now also receiving high praise from critics and consumers alike for their red wines, Pinot Noirs, ice wines and other varieties. Visitors can enjoy days of touring and tastings at beautiful wineries located on some of the most breathtaking sites in the area. Our wineries are located on two beautiful peninsulas extending north from Traverse City - the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. Learn more about Traverse City wineries, including a complete description of each establishment.

Family Recreation

Children and parents alike enjoy a sunny day at the beach. Lake Michigan is so wide that the curvature of the Earth makes it impossible to see the other side. Michigan's squeaky-clean sand beaches are perfect for building sand castles or soaking up the sun, and the fresh water is a pleasant treat for those used to the salty ocean. When you've had enough of the shore, families might consider spending some time at the Great Lakes Children's Museum, taking a historic lighthouse tour, or going for a hike or bike ride on the Traverse Area Recreational Trail or the Leelanau Trail. The Dennos Museum Center on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College offers a permanent hands-on kids exhibit in addition to constantly changing art exhibits and a permanent display of one of the nation's largest displays of Inuit art, while the Music House Museum houses an amazing collection of self-playing instruments ranging from violins to gigantic pipe organs. And or course there are both indoor and outdoor waterparks, indoor and outdoor mini-golf courses and a variety of other amusements for all ages.

Shopping

Downtown Traverse City offers a stunning combination of historic architecture and great shopping. Along a few blocks of Front Street and adjacent streets, shoppers can find everything from high-end hats to sculpture and paintings to sweaters to both new and antique furniture. Each of the surrounding small towns are home to art galleries, shops and restaurants. Traverse City is home to three modern shopping malls. Some visitors come to the Traverse City area just for the shopping - regional art, world-class apparel, and more. Most visitors savor a taste of the area by visiting one of our many farm markets.

Golf

Set against a backdrop of woods, water and hills throughout picturesque Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and Antrim counties, Traverse City golf is, in a word, incomparable. Matchless designs, stunning beauty, impeccable conditioning and a warm welcome await golfers teeing up in Traverse City. It's Michigan's Golf Coast, a region selected by Golf Magazine as one of the top six golf destinations in the country. Traverse City golf includes designs by Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Doak, and Weiskopf. Read about the area's many individual courses on our Golf page.

Other Activities

Dining: Click for restaurants in and near Traverse City

Museums: Click for museum information

Art Galleries: Click for gallery listings

Lighthouse tours: Click for information about our lighthouses 

Fly-Fishing: In a recent issue, Fly Rod & Reel magazine listed Traverse City as one of its “12 Top Fly-Fishing Retirement Towns.” Together with such spots as Key West, Durango and Park City, the magazine chose Traverse City as one of a dozen “finest places for living out the dream.” The Boardman River, which meanders through miles of lush forest before winding through downtown Traverse City, is just one of many streams that offer excellent fishing for brown trout. The Adams fly was first created in the village of Mayfield, just a few miles from town. Click for local fishing information.

Other Information

Transportation: Click for rental car information.

Attire: Traverse City is a casual community. Shorts are fine everywhere. Temperatures in May typically reach the 60s in the afternoon, then may dip into the 40s at night. If it rains, a light jacket is usually sufficient.

Weather: Check weather and climate information.

Resort Information: Read about area lodging facilities.

Gaming: Click to learn about Traverse City casinos.

Event Calendar: See what's happening in Traverse City.

Read about the history of the Traverse City region.

Click to view a detailed city map in .pdf format.