Traverse City holds a special place in our hearts and has endless adventures within an hour in each direction. We highly encourage you to get up here early and explore all of what Northern Michigan has to offer. Summertime in Northern Michigan is the best!

Traverse city is located on two large Lake Michigan bays. Downtown is located at the bottom of West Bay, and East Bay is home to the second busiest area, and where most of our hotel blocks are located (see lodging details for more info). Old Mission Peninsula divides the two bays and is known for its incredible wineries, views farm stands and adventures. Some of our favorite days are spent on Old Mission.

Leelanau Peninsula to the west is home to several small coastal towns we love to adventure to: Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland and Glen Arbor, to name a few. Our wedding venue is located just Northwest of Traverse city at the base of the Leelanau Peninsula in Cedar, Michigan.

We highly recommend getting out of the city to explore the peninsulas, including taking a visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes if you've never been.

RESTAURANTS

COFFEE & QUICK BITES

DOWNTOWN TC & WESTSIDE:

Higher Grounds Trading Co.

EAST BAY:

Cuppa Joe Eastside

Third Coast Bakery

Bubbies Bagels

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

DOWNTOWN:

The Towne Plaza (good brunch)

Crepes&Co (located in MiddleCoast Brewing Co.)

The Omelette Shoppe Downtown (solid b-fast)

J&S Downtown (a TC staple)

EAST BAY:

The Omelette Shoppe East Bay (solid b-fast)

The Cottage (everyday breakfast menu)

Randy's Diner (all-day diner vibes)

J&S Hamburg South (all-day diner vibes)

LUNCH & DINNER

Best Sandwiches around:

Folgarelli's (Matt's favorite place)

Chef's Inn (Carly's favorite place)

DOWNTOWN:

The Little Fleet (outdoor bar with food trucks)

The Flying Noodle (modern Italian eatery)

Mama Lu's (good tacos & vibes)

Pangea's Pizza (rooftop seating with views)

Firefly (modern Asian-American)

Rare Bird (classic brewery vibe, good eats)

Archie's Social House (good brunch & dinner)

Sorellina (Italian in the heart of downtown)

Slate (steakhouse next to Sorellina)

Blue Tractor BBQ (best BBQ in town)

The Burrow (unreal food, just west of downtown)

Modern Bird (modern eatery)

EAST BAY:

Smoke & Porter (bbq/american cuisine)

Hopscotch (pizza/bbq with outdoor patio)

LEELANAU:

Farm Club (outdoor farm-to-table restaurant)

Hop Lot Brewing (outdoor beer garden, small eats)

9 Bean Rows (farm-to-table baked goods & eats)

OLD MISSION:

Jolly Pumpkin (cozy rustic brewpub)

Boathouse (upscale lakeside dining)

Mission Proper (coffee, brunch, drinks, dinner)

SWEETS & TREATS

Moomer's Ice Cream (homemade ice cream on a dairy farm)

Milk & Honey (downtown ice cream shop)

Bardon's Wonder Freeze (a TC staple)

Buchan's West Bay (just great ice cream)

Cherry Republic (downtown shop for everything cherry)

Grand Traverse Pie Company

Doug Murdick's Fudge

BARS & BREWERIES

BARS

DOWNTOWN:

H&L Social @ Hotel Indigo (rooftop hotel bar)

North Bar (rooftop bar with live music)

The Pub (pub below North Bar)

The Little Fleet (outdoor bar with food trucks)

The Coin Slot (live music & arcade bar w/ 'za & food trucks)

Low Bar (cocktail bar with speakeasy vibe)

Kilkenny's Irish Public House (late-night bar with live music)

Union Street Station (late-night bar with live DJ)

Artisan @ Delamar Hotel (hotel bar with good cocktails)

BREWERIES

DOWNTOWN:

MiddleCoast Brewing Company

North Peak Brewery

7 Monks Taproom

Rare Birds Brewpub

Taproot Cider House

EAST BAY:

Stone Hound Brewing Co.

Short's Brewing Company (Elk Rapids)

OLD MISSION:

Mission Proper

Jolly Pumpkin

LEELANAU:

Farm Club

Suttons Bay Ciders

Hop Lot Brewery & Beer Garden

GOLF

Bahle Farms (30 min NW)

Grand Traverse Resort (10-12 min NE)

Manitou Passage (30 min NW)

A Ga Ming (35 min NE)

Shanty Creek (50 min NE)

Arcadia Bluffs (1 hr SW)

Forest Dunes (1hr E)

Fun, local gems include Elmbrook, The Crown, Interlochen & Mistwood.

VINEYARDS & WINERIES

Leelanau Peninsula (West) and Old Mission Peninsula (East) are home to dozens of beautiful vineyards and wineries.

OLD MISSION PENINSULA:

Chateau Chantal

Bonobo Winery

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

Chateau Grand Traverse

Bowers Harbor

Mari Vineyards

2 Lads Winery

Black Star Farms Old Mission

Check out the entire Old Mission Wine Trail.

LEELANAU PENINSULA:

Shady Lane Cellars

Willow Winery

Ciccone Vineyard and Winery

Black Star Farms Suttons Bay

Check out the entire Leelanau Wine Trail here .

WINE TOUR TRANSPORTATION:

Traverse City Wine & Beer Tours

Scenic Wine & Brew Tours

Blue Lakes By The Bay

Magic Shuttle Bus

TC BrewBus

HIKING & NATURE TRAILS

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE

Glen Arbor, MI (40 minutes from hotels)

Empire Bluffs is our favorite trail. It takes about a mile or so of a hike to get to the bluffs. You will be blown away. The Dune Climb Trail is a unique and popular trail scaling the dunes to beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Pyramid Point is also a great one. Head to Glen Arbor after for a bite to eat at Cherry Republic!

OLD MISSION POINT PARK

Old Mission Peninsula (30 minutes from hotels)

Visit this small state park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, pop by the Mission Point Lighthouse, and stroll along the nearby trails for easy and accessible hikes.

BOARDMAN LAKE LOOP

Downtown (15 minute walk from Park Place)

Easily accessible from downtown Traverse City, the 4-mile walk around the Boardman Lake is a great way to get out and active without going too far from the city.

Photos