Traverse City, Michigan - Treasured by Vacationers

Traverse City has long been treasured by vacationers because of its matchless scenery, easygoing friendliness and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Over the years, this Michigan coastal retreat has made the transition from a rustic “Up North” resort to a charmingly sophisticated small city without losing any of the natural beauty and small-town atmosphere that make it so much fun to visit.

Ancient glaciers carved the long deep lakes and roller-coaster hills that give this region its splendid natural setting. Set at the edge of Lake Michigan’s beautiful Grand Traverse Bay, it has a surprisingly moderate climate, and is celebrated for its miles of sandy beaches and the Caribbean color of its waters. Its miles of golden beaches, lonely lighthouses and beautiful sunsets are the stuff vacation memories are made of!

In summer, Traverse City is a paradise for sailing, boating, beachcombing and paddling. There are so many top-flight golf courses – including links designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player -- that Golf Digest named this one of the world’s 50 top golf destinations. Anglers can fish some of the nation’s finest trout streams, while hikers and cyclists can enjoy miles of unspoiled trails. (The magnificent Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is particularly beautiful. Winter, meanwhile, brings skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers to the region’s ski hills and trails.

Reminders of the past are everywhere: humble mission churches to grand old hotels, quaint summer cottages, and even a few castles. Just a few blocks from Traverse City’s waterfront is the Grand Traverse Commons, a 480-acre wooded park that contains the turreted buildings of a 19th-century mental asylum – now a fascinating “village” of shops, restaurants and homes.

The area boasts many art and concert venues, including the renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts, and is drawing increasing attention for its award-winning wines and regional cuisine. Warmer in winter and cooler in summer than most areas in the same latitude, Traverse City produces over 70 percent of America’s tart cherries, and the water-cradled vineyards of the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas produce some of the best wines in the country. As the home of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, Traverse City has begun to attract attention from some of the nation’s more discerning food writers. (Midwest Living just named it one of the Midwest’s five top “foodie” towns.)

Shoppers are drawn to Traverse City’s tree-shaded and pedestrian-friendly downtown, where a decade of thoughtful restoration and renovation has yielded beautiful results. With scores of fascinating boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and galleries, and lots of places to sit and relax, it’s the perfect destination for an unforgettable shopping excursion.