This visit to Traverse City was coordinated in partnership with Grand Traverse Resort and other local partners. As always, all opinions are my own, and partnerships like this help keep this website and its resources free to use for travelers like you. 1
Traverse City is often called the Cherry Capital of the World, but wow, there’s so much more to it than that! What really surprised me on my visit was just how much this corner of Northern Michigan has to offer. It’s a destination where vineyards stretch down to the water, farm-to-table dining is a way of life and sunsets glow over the bays for what feels like hours. It’s all about boating and lazy lake days and the absurdly tall sand dunes and yes… cherries! I just spent three nights exploring the best of Michigan wine country, with time to sip, sail, hike and unwind at a resort that has everything in one spot.
Here’s my Traverse City itinerary and tips for planning your own trip.
Getting to Traverse City
Cherry Capital Airport makes getting here simple, with nonstop flights from many major hubs including Chicago, Detroit, Dallas and New York. While I didn’t have a direct option from Jacksonville, I only had a quick layover in Washington DC (DCA) before touching down. From the airport, most hotels and resorts are just minutes away.
If you’re driving from Chicago, the trip takes about 5.5 hours. From Detroit, it’s roughly 4 hours. Grand Rapids is about 2 hours away. Many visitors take M-22 along the shoreline for scenic views of the lake and rolling countryside. Winter driving can be icy, so check conditions if you’re visiting between December and February.
Getting Around Traverse City
A rental car is essential if you want to explore the surrounding wineries, orchards and Lake Michigan shoreline. Roads are well maintained and traffic is light compared with larger cities. Parking downtown is generally easy but can fill up during weekends and festival events, so plan ahead if you’re heading to popular restaurants or attractions.
Downtown Traverse City is very walkable. Shops, cafes, restaurants and waterfront areas are all within easy walking distance. Even if you have a car, you’ll likely spend most of your downtown time on foot.
For trips to nearby wineries or orchards, plan for 20 to 40 minutes of driving each way depending on the location. Most wineries have ample parking and offer outdoor seating, which is ideal for tasting while enjoying views of the hills and vineyards.
If you want to visit multiple towns or explore along the lake, it’s easy to plan half-day or full-day drives. Popular routes include a loop along M-22 that passes small towns, beaches and overlooks, making it simple to combine scenic drives with stops at cider mills, orchards and small wineries.
Best Time to Visit Traverse City
Traverse City has something for every season but the experiences vary widely depending on when you go. Here’s a breakdown:
Spring (March to May)
Spring is quieter which makes it perfect if you’re looking to avoid crowds. The orchards start to bloom and farmers markets begin to reopen with fresh local produce. It’s a great time for hiking especially as trails come alive with greenery and wildflowers. By May you can also catch early cherry blossoms around the city.
Summer (June to August)
Summer is peak tourist season and the best time for cherry lovers. Traverse City celebrates the National Cherry Festival every July, a multi-day event with parades, concerts and cherry-themed foods and family-friendly activities. This is also the ideal season for lake activities including boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming in Grand Traverse Bay. Summer evenings are lively downtown with outdoor dining and frequent live music.
Fall (September to November)
Fall is arguably the most scenic time to visit with vibrant foliage coloring the vineyards, orchards and forests. September and October are perfect for wine tasting, cider sampling and apple picking. Cooler temperatures make for pleasant hiking and driving along M-22 for a gorgeous fall colors road trip.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is quieter and ideal if you prefer a slower pace. Downtown streets are cozy, local breweries and cafes are warm and nearby ski areas offer snow sports. While some outdoor attractions close, this is the perfect season to enjoy hearty comfort food, wine tastings in less-crowded wineries and serene lakeside walks with snow on the shore. I’ve also heard there are some fun snow-shoe winery tours that even I, the consummate think-skinned Floridian, would like to try.
Where to Stay: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
I checked into Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, just a 10-minute drive from downtown, and it turned out to be the ideal home base. My room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking East Bay and every morning I’d catch the sunlight shimmering across the water. The resort has multiple restaurants, golf courses, an impressive spa, indoor pickleball courts, massive gym and even a private beach club in summer. Read on for more about my time at Grand Traverse Resort below.
Check Pricing and Availability at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Day 1: Wine Tasting on Old Mission Peninsula and Exploring Downtown Traverse City
I suggest spending a whole day out on Old Mission Peninsula, where vineyards line the road and views of the bays open up around every curve. My first stop was Mission Point Lighthouse, at the very tip of the peninsula. It’s a beautiful spot to take a walk, climb to the top (it’s a tight squeeze so maybe avoid if you’re claustrophobic), snap some photos, dip your toes in the cold, clear lake and get your bearings before wine tasting.
Old Mission Peninsula and nearby Leelanau Peninsula are on the 45th parallel, the same latitude as world-famous wine regions like France’s Bordeaux and Northern Rhône, Italy’s Piedmont, Oregon’s Willamette Valley and New Zealand’s Central Otago. The bays on either side create a natural microclimate that helps moderate the temperature, protecting vines from harsh winters and allowing grapes to ripen slowly. That means bright, balanced wines with crisp acidity – perfect for varietals like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and my favorite, Riesling.
There are 10 wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail, and dozens more throughout the region. I visited Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery, where I climbed aboard their wine wagon for a guided tasting through 150+ acres of grapes. This is a fun way to sip outdoors (with a wine necklace!) while learning about Michigan’s wines.
Check Availability: 5 Hours, 4 Wineries Guided Tour on Old Mission Peninsula
Don’t miss Brys Estate’s Secret Garden, a dreamy spot filled with lavender in the summer and all sorts of fragrant flowers and seasonal goodies in the adorable shop. Don’t leave without some travel sized lavender hand sanitizer!
I found this to be an extremely accessible, approachable wine region – there’s no pretense, no wine snobs that I could see. Just friendly folks happy to share their love for Traverse City and its incredible food and wine scene.
After a half day or more touring the wineries, you have to check out Downtown Traverse City. It’s the kind of place that invites you to wander with no strict agenda. Just lolly-gagging on a late August day was exactly what I needed. I spent an afternoon strolling the streets and found a mix of local boutiques, artisanal foods and small galleries that made me want to linger.
One of my favorite stops was Fustini’s Oils and Vinegars, a small shop that completely exceeded my expectations. Tasting the infused olive oils and aged balsamics is an experience in itself – the flavors are so vibrant and balanced that it’s easy to see why locals swear by them. I didn’t get out of there unscathed: I’m now the proud owner of SIX bottles, including fig balsamic to use at next year’s Figchella. It’s a perfect reminder that Traverse City isn’t just about wine; it’s about quality ingredients and regional craftsmanship.
Just down the street, Grand Traverse Pie Company celebrates the area’s cherry-growing legacy. I grabbed a whole pie to take home to Florida, where yes, we ate it warm with vanilla ice cream and Rick agreed I need to plan a new trip with him involved. But good news: GTPIE ships their pies around the country so you can get them in time for your next fiesta!
In addition to food, downtown Traverse City is a great place for boutique shopping. Local clothing shops, home décor stores and galleries make it easy to find a unique gift or a keepsake from your trip. Even if shopping isn’t your main focus, wandering the streets gives you a real sense of the community and creativity that makes this city special. Downtown Traverse City is endlessly charming, filled with boutiques, cafés and tasting rooms. Plan on at least a few hours here to explore and shop.
Day 2: M-22 Road Trip and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
No Traverse City itinerary is complete without a day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – and you know I’m a sucker for a national park so I rented a car and made my way to the coast. It’s only about 40 minutes from downtown, and the drive itself is charming part of the experience. Rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and truly adorable small towns make the journey just as important as the dunes themselves. I took my time, stopping to snap photos and peek into local shops along the way.
LISTEN: M22 Road Trip Audio Guide
The dunes are breathtaking – and I mean that literally. They are no joke to climb, and I most certainly did not attempt the whole official Dune Climb nor the roundtrip down to the lake’s edge. The dunes rise nearly 450 feet above Lake Michigan, and climbing to the top (or driving to the top on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive) gives you sweeping views of aquamarine water and endless sky. The hike is a challenge if you’re tackling the big dunes – it can take hours and if you can’t make your way back up the steep hill, it’s an equally steep $3,000 for rescue. For a less strenuous experience, scenic drives offer overlooks that are just as spectacular.
I tackled a few dunes but ultimately chose the winding scenic route with its multiple overlooks and trailheads. Each stop feels like its own little adventure, from forested hikes to Lake Michigan views that go on and on and on and rival the turquoise hues of the Caribbean. Summer is great for cooling off in the lake (if you’re not a giant baby when it comes to cold water, like me) or picnicking on the sand.
TIP: Bring your kids here and let them run amuck. The kids I saw were running up and down the dunes at full speed and having the time of their lives… and you know they slept GREAT all the way home.
On the way back, I stopped in Glen Arbor to shop for souvenirs like cherry salsa and cherry barbecue sauce at the original Cherry Republic location and a pop into adorable Cottage Book Shop. It was a reminder that part of the charm of this region is the small-town hospitality – everyone I met was as sweet as cherry pie. (Yeah, I said it.)
Day 3: Relaxation and Resort Time
After two busy days of exploring, I dedicated my last full day to soaking in everything Grand Traverse Resort has to offer. Since it was a Sunday, I started with a leisurely breakfast at Aerie, enjoying views over East Bay and a buffet with a custom pasta bar, omelette station and every tasty pastry and breakfast item you could want. After breakfast, I made my way down to the huge spa area, with plunge pools, private outdoor hot tubs, a sauna and of course, lots of treatment rooms. I chose the 50-minute Pinot and Peppermint massage, made with ingredients from Brys Estate wines to bring everything from my trip full circle. It was deeply relaxing and far too short. Book the longer option, you won’t regret it.
Check Pricing and Availability at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
I spent the rest of the day wandering the resort property, discovering quiet spots along the golf courses and soaking in the peaceful scenery. The resort’s layout is ideal – everything is close together, but it never feels crowded, which makes it easy to move between activities or just pause and enjoy the view. There was often live entertainment in the main lobby plus shops and multiple restaurants to choose from. I got the Bloody Mary latte every day while I was there – and fortunately it does not contain tomato juice because that would be gross. It’s actually a seasonal coffee special with cherry & white mocha syrups. I just about ate my weight in cherry everything in Traverse City, and I don’t have a single regret.
In the evening, I joined a sunset sail on the Wind Dancer, and I can’t think of a more serene way to end a trip to Traverse City. We glided across Grand Traverse Bay with local wine (Cherry Riesling is my new fave) and treats in hand, chatting with new friends and watching the sky slowly transform from bright blue to burning gold. The Northern Michigan sunset is famous for good reason. The colors linger and evolve, casting soft pink and orange light across the water, and it felt like the perfect way to reflect on the last few days absorbing this new-to-me corner of the world. It got a but chilly once the sun was almost gone, so dress in layers and bring an extra blanket if you have one.
Check Pricing and Availability: Wind Dancer Happy Hour Cruise
Suffice it to say, it was love at first bite with Traverse City. The wineries are incredibly approachable, so you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy tastings, pairings and vineyard views. The food is fresh and abundant, from crisp apples and cherries straight from local orchards to farm-to-table meals that highlight the region’s blessed climate. Everywhere you look, cherries make an appearance – in pies, jams, candy, balsamic vinegar, lattes and barbecue sauce. The Sleeping Bear Dunes offer one heckuva a hike and a view to match, and the people here are genuinely friendly, making you feel welcome the moment you arrive. It would be be a perfect spot for a low-key bachelorette weekend, an inspiring writers retreat or a romantic holiday getaway.
If it sounds like I’m listing all the excuses to go back to Traverse City… well, I am. I can’t wait to return!
Have you ever visited Traverse City, Michigan? What would you add to this itinerary? Do you have a favorite cherry-forward dish? Tell me in the comments!