How to Spend a Scenic Weekend in Traverse City

When it comes to the perfect escape, there’s nothing quite like a weekend in Traverse City, Michigan! Situated right along Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, this place has everything you could want – a charming downtown, incredible views from every direction, idyllic wineries, a lake that feels more like an ocean, and, of course, a fantastic food scene.

Check below for my recommendations!

Be sure to check out our Traverse City episode of Season 8’s “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love” for all the cool things you can do here:

Where to Stay: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

For a real getaway, check into Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, located just outside of Traverse City. It’s an epic resort with a ton of different room options, a huge spa and health club (including two pools and a water playground!), golf courses, five different onsite restaurants, and even its own beach.

If you want to stay more in town, there are a few smaller bed and breakfasts that feel really charming and romantic.

Ideas for Your Weekend in Traverse City

Try a dune climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes

No trip to Traverse City would be complete without visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes. It’s one of three National Lakeshores in the country! There’s a lot to do since it spans miles and the dunes rise up to 450ft above Lake Michigan. The most popular thing to do, of course, is to try to climb one of said dunes! Stop #9 Lake Michigan Overlook is the one I always come across on social media. It looks more like a cliff straight down to the water than a dune and apparently climbing up will feel like trying to climb a 34-story building. And, yes, if you decide you made a mistake, the rescue helicopter will cost you a cool three grand!!

Instead I’d recommend the Dune Climb. There are multiple dunes that make up this climb and all lead to Lake Michigan but I liked just climbing the first one for a gorgeous view to Little Glen Lake. If you come in the winter these dunes turn into the perfect sledding hills!

Relax on the beach

A lot of people don’t think of Michigan and think of lounging on the beach but that’s where they go wrong. Michigan is nearly a peninsula which means it’s home to a lot of coastline and Traverse City in particular has a number of great beaches. I really enjoyed Esch Beach at the mouth of Otter Creek in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Another great spot in town, especially for swimming, is Clinch Beach.

Shop Along Front Street

While you’re downtown, take a stroll through all the shops on Front Street. The Victorian facades and brick sidewalks make for an especially beautiful walk as you poke your head into all the different boutiques and galleries. Along this street alone, there’s 150 shops and restaurants!

Try all things cherry at Cherry Republic

If you like cherries, boy are you in for a treat. Traverse City is the “Cherry Capital of the World.” And when I say it’s known for cherries, I mean it’s known for cherries. The local airport is literally called Cherry Capital Airport, and if you chat with locals, expect at least one or two stories of growing up picking cherries in the summer. To really see this sweet culture on display, go right to Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. It’s home to nearly 300 cherry products!

Oh, and if you come in early July, you’ll be just in time for Traverse City’s annual Cherry Festival!

Get out onto Lake Michigan

When the weather is warm, there’s nothing better than getting out onto Lake Michigan. And I loved hopping aboard Wind Dancer, a 63-foot long schooner! They have a few different sail options that run from the Delamar. If you do their signature day sail, it also includes a great picnic spread with local food and drink. For something even more special, check out their sunset options.

Check out the shops at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

About a 10 minute drive from downtown is The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Once a psychiatric hospital, this massive Victorian-Italianate building has undergone one of the largest historic rehabilitation and redevelopment projects in the US! These days the building itself houses all sorts of shops and restaurants while the grounds are split between trails, an arboretum, and lawn space for festivals and other activities. Give yourself plenty of time to explore!

Go for a bike ride along the TART trail

For all my fellow cyclers, there’s a fantastic TART Trails network across Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. There are 10.5 paved miles through Traverse City itself and then it connects to the Leelanau Trail which goes all the way to Suttons Bay. Check here for rental and tour options and here for a full map of the different routes.

Where to Eat & Drink in Traverse City

Cherry Public House

If you’re planning to eat more than cherries or cherry-flavored snacks at Cherry Republic, check out their restaurant, Cherry Public House. They have a seasonally rotating menu and, yes, if you want to continue the cherry theme, they have plenty of dishes like a cherry chicken salad or pizza made with a cherry roasted alta cucina tomato sauce. In the summer, you can take a stroll right over to the Red Box Creamery for dessert!

Leelanau Cheese

Did you know a globally renowned cheese is made right here in Traverse City? That’s right, Leelanau Cheese specializes in raclette cheese and won Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards! All dairy is sourced from Northern Michigan farms and sustainably cooled in a manmade cave. Visit the Creamery to learn more about their process and, of course, pick up some cheese. Also check out their workshops and events.

Chateau Chantal

When it comes to picking out which of the 50+ wineries in Traverse City to visit, I’d start with Chateau Chantal. They offer two specific wines you’ll want to try in northern Michigan – cherry wine and ice wine.

Farm Club Restaurant

Farm Club Restaurant takes their name very seriously. Not only is their menu 90% made of ingredients grown at their nearby farm, they also have servers spend time there to fully understand the different dishes. Plus the small percent they don’t grow themselves, they source from local farms the owners know personally. There are so many great options (and an onsite brewery!), but I’d start with the farm board to sample all the different dishes.

Bonobo Vineyard

Once a cherry farm brothers Carter and Todd Oosterhouse worked on as kids (see what I mean about the cherry childhood stories?!), Bonobo Winery is now an eco-friendly winery focused on celebrating all that makes this region great. While the wine is world class, the atmosphere is rustic and laid-back, letting visitors enjoy their drinks without worrying about any pretentiousness. They specialize in Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pinot Meunier, and Cabernet Franc.

And there you have it – some ideas to get you started on planning your weekend in Traverse City! If you’ve been, do you have any spots you’d add? Let me know below!