Guidebook for Traverse City
Sightseeing
Great scenery takes you through vineyards, orchards and a cool old general store with ice cream.
14 locals recommend
Old Mission
Great scenery takes you through vineyards, orchards and a cool old general store with ice cream.
Classic summer-time beach town. Bike to Sleeping Bear Dunes or stay in town and visit galleries and restaurants.
83 locals recommend
Glen Arbor
Classic summer-time beach town. Bike to Sleeping Bear Dunes or stay in town and visit galleries and restaurants.
Best place in town to plan your trip and learn about the greater Traverse City area.
Traverse City Tourism Visitor Center
101 W Grandview PkwyBest place in town to plan your trip and learn about the greater Traverse City area.
Northport
Nice small-town atmosphere and scenery.
Leland
See historic Fishtown! Take the ferry to South Manitou Island.
Arts & Culture
Interlochen
Performing arts venue...concerts of many types during the year.
Excellent rotating exhibits and galleries as well as concerts.
39 locals recommend
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College
1410 College DrExcellent rotating exhibits and galleries as well as concerts.
Beautifully restored home of the Traverse City Film Festival, great movies all week and voted one of the world's best theaters by Conde Nast.
105 locals recommend
State Theatre
233 E Front StBeautifully restored home of the Traverse City Film Festival, great movies all week and voted one of the world's best theaters by Conde Nast.
Good for mini-golf, go-carts, bumper boats and other young-at-heart entertainment. Within walking distance.
29 locals recommend
Pirate's Cove Adventure Park
1710 US-31Good for mini-golf, go-carts, bumper boats and other young-at-heart entertainment. Within walking distance.
Built from the former Con Foster Museum, the Bijou shares management with the great State Theater downtown. Bijou and State are best places to see movies in T.C.--cannot beat the atmosphere and there are no commercials before the movie!
56 locals recommend
Bijou by the Bay Movie
181 E Grandview PkwyBuilt from the former Con Foster Museum, the Bijou shares management with the great State Theater downtown. Bijou and State are best places to see movies in T.C.--cannot beat the atmosphere and there are no commercials before the movie!
Food Scene
Moomers Homemade Ice Cream
7263 N Long Lake RdWorld-famous Moomer's...stop by and see if you agree.
Culver's
876 Munson AveConcrete Mixers...and the fact that they are about 100 yards away. mmmmm....
Patisserie Amie
French cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Omelette Shoppe
124 Cass Sthearty omelettes and locally owned.
9 Bean Rows Restaurant
303 N St Joseph Storganic, farm-to-table food
Bubba's
428 E Front StGood hamburgers, "pub food" and brews.
Black Star Farms Suttons Bay
10844 E Revold RdHidden gem of a restaurant, pizza with DUCK BACON.
Green House Café
115 E Front StBiggby Coffee
748 Munson AveIf it's brewed with beans or brewed with barley and hops you can find it here.
61 locals recommend
Brew
108 E Front StIf it's brewed with beans or brewed with barley and hops you can find it here.
"Opened in October 2009, Frenchies has been providing Traverse City with fresh, flavorful food made from scratch with a whole lotta love. Business hours are Monday-Saturday 8am-3pm and Sundays 10am-3pm. Brunch is offered all day Saturday and Sunday.
Call us for takeout or join us in our cozy dining room. Warm weather opens the backyard garden patio. But while its cold out...the coffee is pouring very nicely and We'd love to see you.
Located at 619 Randolph St (next to Tilleys)
Traverse City Michigan"
26 locals recommend
Frenchies Famous
619 Randolph St"Opened in October 2009, Frenchies has been providing Traverse City with fresh, flavorful food made from scratch with a whole lotta love. Business hours are Monday-Saturday 8am-3pm and Sundays 10am-3pm. Brunch is offered all day Saturday and Sunday.
Call us for takeout or join us in our cozy dining room. Warm weather opens the backyard garden patio. But while its cold out...the coffee is pouring very nicely and We'd love to see you.
Located at 619 Randolph St (next to Tilleys)
Traverse City Michigan"
"We're located on the corner of West Front and Spruce Streets, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the main drag.
We serve up Homemade Hand Pattied Burgers and Fresh Cut Fries made here every day."
45 locals recommend
Slabtown Burgers
826 W Front St"We're located on the corner of West Front and Spruce Streets, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the main drag.
We serve up Homemade Hand Pattied Burgers and Fresh Cut Fries made here every day."
"Snug burger joint with limited seating & old-school decor serving burgers & shakes from a counter."
10 locals recommend
J & S Hamburg
302 W Front St"Snug burger joint with limited seating & old-school decor serving burgers & shakes from a counter."
A hidden dining gem. This place should be busier based on the quality of its food and service. Excellent meat entrees including the pork shank.
65 locals recommend
The Towne Plaza
203 Cass StA hidden dining gem. This place should be busier based on the quality of its food and service. Excellent meat entrees including the pork shank.
THE BEST flatbread pizza in Traverse City. Outdoor seating area on a warm day is sublime. Very good microbrews. I've never been disappointed by The Filling Station.
Parking is limited in summer.
106 locals recommend
The Filling Station Microbrewery
642 Railroad PlTHE BEST flatbread pizza in Traverse City. Outdoor seating area on a warm day is sublime. Very good microbrews. I've never been disappointed by The Filling Station.
Parking is limited in summer.
Thai Kitchen
1133 W South Airport RdGreen coconut curry is my favorite here. Two can eat for $25-$35 here.
My choice is the three-taco plate; hard to go wrong. Outdoor seating in the summer but be ready for a wait unless you're there in the winter.
62 locals recommend
Mama Lu's - A Modern Day Taco Shop
149 E Front StMy choice is the three-taco plate; hard to go wrong. Outdoor seating in the summer but be ready for a wait unless you're there in the winter.
First, it's a mile east and an easy bike ride there. Very good goat cheese pizza and they smoke their own meat. Outdoor seating is nice during the summer.
26 locals recommend
Hopscotch Brick Oven and Taproom
2032 US-31First, it's a mile east and an easy bike ride there. Very good goat cheese pizza and they smoke their own meat. Outdoor seating is nice during the summer.
Great bahn mi and spicy buffalo chicken sandwiches. Very good selection of microbrew beer and outdoor seating during nice weather.
103 locals recommend
Rare Bird Brewpub
229 Lake AveGreat bahn mi and spicy buffalo chicken sandwiches. Very good selection of microbrew beer and outdoor seating during nice weather.
Everything Else
Thousands of great hats (and accessories). If you can't find the right hat here they don't make it! Plus supplies for the home brewer.
Diversions
104 E Front StThousands of great hats (and accessories). If you can't find the right hat here they don't make it! Plus supplies for the home brewer.
Tandem Cider
2055 N Setterbo RdDelicious hard ciders. Located in a tranquil country setting.
Shopping
Mr Bill's Shirt Co
228 E Front StTacky TC shirts and other knick-knacks.
Dang near anything you want made with/from cherries.
34 locals recommend
Cherry Republic | Traverse City
154 E Front StDang near anything you want made with/from cherries.
Flagship store in Glen Arbor. Great place to spend a sultry summer evening.
55 locals recommend
Cherry Republic | Glen Arbor
South Lake StreetFlagship store in Glen Arbor. Great place to spend a sultry summer evening.
Wilson Antiques
123 S Union St4 floors of treasures! Never know what you'll find in this old department store.
Horizon Books
243 E Front StParks & Nature
Fantastic scenery and hiking. Plan on several hours here. Voted most beautiful place in the United States.
29 locals recommend
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 West Front StreetFantastic scenery and hiking. Plan on several hours here. Voted most beautiful place in the United States.
Traverse City State Park
1132 US-31Great beach for swimming; fifteen-minute walk away.
Site of first dam removal along Boardman River. Witness the re-birth of the river and its habitat.
9 locals recommend
Brown Bridge Quiet Area
Brown Bridge RoadSite of first dam removal along Boardman River. Witness the re-birth of the river and its habitat.
"The Grand Traverse Commons Recreation and Natural Area is a 140-acre park that was dedicated to Garfield Township in the early 1990s. Miles of unpaved trails, many covered with woodchips, wander up, down, and around wooded hillsides, streams, meadows, and wetlands. The park is a part of the overall Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment District and was originally a part of the former State Psychiatric Hospital."
130 locals recommend
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
1200 W Eleventh St"The Grand Traverse Commons Recreation and Natural Area is a 140-acre park that was dedicated to Garfield Township in the early 1990s. Miles of unpaved trails, many covered with woodchips, wander up, down, and around wooded hillsides, streams, meadows, and wetlands. The park is a part of the overall Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment District and was originally a part of the former State Psychiatric Hospital."
"The 158-acre Boardman Valley Nature Preserve (BVNP) is located along both sides of the Boardman River south of Airport Road, and includes opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting (with prior Township approval), and nature watching. "
Boardman Valley Nature Preserve
3000 Racquet Club Dr"The 158-acre Boardman Valley Nature Preserve (BVNP) is located along both sides of the Boardman River south of Airport Road, and includes opportunities for hiking, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting (with prior Township approval), and nature watching. "
"Nestled between the Great Wolf Lodge and Kohl's, this park is a hidden gem along US-31. The 3/4 mile trail network includes wooden bridges and boardwalks following Kids Creek. Development of this park into a passive recreation resource is an ongoing process. Kids Creek Park makes for a great walk after some shopping at the nearby businesses!"
Kids Creek Children's Clinic
5024 N Royal Dr"Nestled between the Great Wolf Lodge and Kohl's, this park is a hidden gem along US-31. The 3/4 mile trail network includes wooden bridges and boardwalks following Kids Creek. Development of this park into a passive recreation resource is an ongoing process. Kids Creek Park makes for a great walk after some shopping at the nearby businesses!"
"Just behind the Grand Traverse Crossings Mall on South Airport Road, you can find the 88-acre Miller Creek Nature Reserve. Recreational opportunities at this park include hiking, nature watching, hunting (with prior Township approval), cross county skiing, and snowshoeing.
The trails at the Miller Creek Natural area pass through a former Red Pine plantation, skirt the edges of open meadows, wind through beautiful beech forests, cross boardwalks though cedar swamps, and follow Miller Creek, a tributary of the Boardman River. Very shortly, the trails at Miller Creek will be linked to the miles of trails within the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve via a connection across Cass Road at Dairy Square Drive."
Miller Creek Nature Reserve
"Just behind the Grand Traverse Crossings Mall on South Airport Road, you can find the 88-acre Miller Creek Nature Reserve. Recreational opportunities at this park include hiking, nature watching, hunting (with prior Township approval), cross county skiing, and snowshoeing.
The trails at the Miller Creek Natural area pass through a former Red Pine plantation, skirt the edges of open meadows, wind through beautiful beech forests, cross boardwalks though cedar swamps, and follow Miller Creek, a tributary of the Boardman River. Very shortly, the trails at Miller Creek will be linked to the miles of trails within the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve via a connection across Cass Road at Dairy Square Drive."
South Manitou Island Visitors Center
Drinks & Nightlife
Delicious, local beer! Try a waffle sandwich while you're there.
61 locals recommend
Right Brain Brewery
225 E Sixteenth StDelicious, local beer! Try a waffle sandwich while you're there.
Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn
15900 Rue DevinWinery
They make some of my favorite wines and the drive there is great...try the late harvest riesling if you like white wine.
34 locals recommend
Chateau Grand Traverse Winery
12239 Center RdThey make some of my favorite wines and the drive there is great...try the late harvest riesling if you like white wine.
Northern Natural Cider House
324 East Front StreetLocally produced hard cider.
The Workshop Brewing Company
221 Garland StMore delicious, local beer.
Great reputation for delicious, regionally-brewed beer.
207 locals recommend
Short's Brewing Company Bellaire Pub
121 N Bridge StGreat reputation for delicious, regionally-brewed beer.
Rare Bird Brewpub
229 Lake Avelocally made beers, food and occasional music