Alex’s guidebook
Food scene
Great place for boutique shopping, dining, and historical tours of the grounds.
130 locals recommend
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
1200 W Eleventh StGreat place for boutique shopping, dining, and historical tours of the grounds.
Regarded as one of the best restaurants in the area, reservations fill up fast so book far in advance!
54 locals recommend
Boathouse Restaurant
14039 Peninsula DrRegarded as one of the best restaurants in the area, reservations fill up fast so book far in advance!
Trattoria Stella
830 W Eleventh StHigh-quality Italian food takes reservations!
PepeNero
700 Cottageview DrQuality Italian food accepts reservations
amical
229 E Front StEclectic European cuisine. Takes reservations
The Cook's House
115 Wellington StFarm-to-fork cuisine. Takes reservations
Apache Trout Grill
13671 S W Bay Shore DrMichigan-based chain specializing in Mackinaw Fudge, ice cream, chocolates, and other sugary goodies.
6 locals recommend
Kilwins Chocolates
129 E Front StMichigan-based chain specializing in Mackinaw Fudge, ice cream, chocolates, and other sugary goodies.
Sightseeing
Beautiful drive up to the point with great hikes and places to stop along the way.
The area around the lighthouse is a premier sea kayaking location with a boat launch nearby. In the winter the area is also frequented by xc skiiers
61 locals recommend
Old Mission Lighthouse
Beautiful drive up to the point with great hikes and places to stop along the way.
The area around the lighthouse is a premier sea kayaking location with a boat launch nearby. In the winter the area is also frequented by xc skiiers
Hangouts
The area's most popular beach, complete with a splash pad, snack bar, and restrooms.
89 locals recommend
Clinch Park
111 E Grandview PkwyThe area's most popular beach, complete with a splash pad, snack bar, and restrooms.
Farms
Harbor View Lavender Farm
121 East Front StreetActivities
Kayak, Bike & Brew
436 W Front StA Pedal and Paddle Guided Pub Crawl.
The 10.5-mile-long Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) is a paved urban transportation and recreation corridor with an eastern end point at M-72/Bates Rd in Acme Township and a western end point at Carter Rd in Traverse City, where it links with the Leelanau Trail.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
12 locals recommend
Traverse Area Recreation Trail
Traverse Area Recreation TrailThe 10.5-mile-long Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) is a paved urban transportation and recreation corridor with an eastern end point at M-72/Bates Rd in Acme Township and a western end point at Carter Rd in Traverse City, where it links with the Leelanau Trail.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
Vasa Pathway features a series of loops (3K, 5K, 10K, 25K) that offer users a variety of challenges from easy to difficult. Cross-country skiers, runners, hikers, mountain bikers, walkers, and naturalists enjoy the Vasa Pathway.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
14 locals recommend
Vasa Trail
Vasa TrailVasa Pathway features a series of loops (3K, 5K, 10K, 25K) that offer users a variety of challenges from easy to difficult. Cross-country skiers, runners, hikers, mountain bikers, walkers, and naturalists enjoy the Vasa Pathway.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
It's a non-motorized trail that showcases destinations within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the two Lakeshore towns of Glen Arbor and Empire. Currently, the trail is 20 miles end to end including a 3-mile route on the road through Glen Arbor. There are 5 miles remaining to complete the 27-mile trail.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
18 locals recommend
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
Sleeping Bear Heritage TrailIt's a non-motorized trail that showcases destinations within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the two Lakeshore towns of Glen Arbor and Empire. Currently, the trail is 20 miles end to end including a 3-mile route on the road through Glen Arbor. There are 5 miles remaining to complete the 27-mile trail.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/
The 17-mile Leelanau Trail provides a paved off-road connection between Traverse City and Suttons Bay. Running through the last of Leelanau County’s former railroad corridors, the Leelanau Trail features picturesque forests, farms, vineyards, lakes, and ponds.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/leelanau-trail/
7 locals recommend
Leelanau Trail
Leelanau TrailThe 17-mile Leelanau Trail provides a paved off-road connection between Traverse City and Suttons Bay. Running through the last of Leelanau County’s former railroad corridors, the Leelanau Trail features picturesque forests, farms, vineyards, lakes, and ponds.
https://traversetrails.org/trails/leelanau-trail/
The trail is ideal for backpacking, bike camping, trail running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching, photography, and wildlife study.
https://traversetrails.org/trails
Boardman River Trail
Boardman River TrailThe trail is ideal for backpacking, bike camping, trail running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching, photography, and wildlife study.
https://traversetrails.org/trails
Coffee Shops
A superb coffee shop that will satisfy coffee connoisseurs everywhere which also serves alcohol in the evenings.
61 locals recommend
Brew
108 E Front StA superb coffee shop that will satisfy coffee connoisseurs everywhere which also serves alcohol in the evenings.
A top-quality coffee shop that serves Chicago-based Intelligentsia coffee and delectable little chocolate goodies.
29 locals recommend
Morsels
321 E Front StA top-quality coffee shop that serves Chicago-based Intelligentsia coffee and delectable little chocolate goodies.
Espresso Bay
202 E Front StA great coffee shop that also serves ice cream.
Quality coffee shop and roaster serving the greater Traverse City area.
34 locals recommend
Higher Grounds Trading Company
806 Red DrQuality coffee shop and roaster serving the greater Traverse City area.
Wine Tasting
Left Foot Charley Winery
806 Red DrA local winery/cider tasting room