Traverse City orchards | Lake Michigan Destinations

Explore Traverse City, Michigan!

Named one of America’s Top 10 Beach Towns by Fodor’s Travel Guides, Traverse City is Michigan’s favorite northern travel destination. It has something for everyone, no matter what the season. At just over 15,000 people, it has a small town feel with large town advantages. Miles and miles of sugar sand beaches along Lake Michigan, exhilarating outdoor activities, and award-winning wineries make Traverse City the place to be! The food scene in Traverse City is gaining national attention, in part to recognition by Bon Appetit magazine and Chef Mario Batali, who has a summer home in Traverse City.

Top Things to Do and See in Traverse City

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons: Once the Traverse City State hospital, the village holds a lot of history, even ghost stories, and offers unique shopping, fine restaurants and tours.

Traverse City Recreation and Transportation Trails: Traverse City has a wonderful network of biking and walking trails perfect for seeing the city and supporting an active lifestyle.

Grand Traverse Bay: This gorgeous, calm bay has popular beaches all along the coast and shimmering blue water navigated by sailboats.

State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay: Run by the Traverse City Film Festival, both theaters play an important role in the community and host a variety of films and events.

Traverse City Beaches

What could be more enjoyable than a day at the beach? If your idea of a perfect summer day is swimming, sunning, or people-watching, then you’ve discovered paradise. Pretty parks are scattered throughout the Traverse City region and most parks have picnic tables, grills, and playgrounds.

The Traverse City area boasts sandy shorelines, spectacular dunes and pristine lakes. The area features over 180 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and sugar-sand beaches edging over 100 deep, blue lakes.

While many of the beaches in the Traverse City area offer a family-friendly atmosphere, there are also more remote beaches offering solitude.

Beaches closest to downtown Traverse City include:

Bryant Park – Located off M-37 near downtown Traverse City, features a sandy beach, picnic area and playground and offers an excellent location for viewing sunsets.
Clinch Park – Located along West Grand Traverse Bay in downtown Traverse City, features over 1,500 feet of sandy beach, making it one of the most popular and much-used area beaches. It is adjacent to the zoo and Clinch Park Marina.
East Bay Park – Located at the foot of Front Street, this beach features shallow water and a shady picnic area.
West End Beach – Located at the foot of Division Street on Grandview Parkway, this beach is just west of downtown Traverse City. Overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay, it features a large park and beach and offers ample parking.
More beaches can be found just outside of Traverse City as well as near many of the outlying towns, including Acme, Bellaire, Central Lake, Old Mission Peninsula, Elk Rapids, and Glen Arbor.
Don’t miss the spectacular 400 foot high sand dune at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This massive dune is located near Empire.

Outdoor Activities in the Traverse City Area

If you like to hit the links, Traverse City golf championship courses will become your favorite places to play. With designs by such famous players as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Weiskopf, you’ll find these courses both beautiful and challenging. Pamper yourself with a visit to one of Traverse City’s premier spas, visit a museum or lighthouse, or try your luck at a local casino.

During the winter, anything you can do on the snow…you can do in Traverse City! Snowshoeing, cross country & downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating…there’s no better way to survive the cold than to immerse yourself in it and have fun!

Lodging & Restaurants in Traverse City

When it’s time to retire for the evening, Traverse City has the most wonderful variety of accommodations. Hotels and motels, bed & breakfasts, cabins and resorts, condominiums and vacation rentals are available in all styles and price ranges. You certainly won’t go hungry in Traverse City — their distinctive cuisine will both surprise and delight you. Fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables are showcased in delicious entrees and desserts. Tantalize your taste buds with a glass of wine produced from area vineyards. Whether you stop into a cafe, bistro, or elegant restaurant, you will not be disappointed.

For more travel information about Traverse City, Michigan, please contact this tourism resource:

Traverse City Tourism
101 W. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 947-1120 | toll free: (800) 872-8377

Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
202 E. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 947-5075