Location: Traverse City
Top Things to do in Traverse City
Top 8 Hidden Gems Things to do in Traverse City, Michigan (MI)
Traverse City, known as a four-season playground, is now celebrated for quality cuisine, wine and culture. Miles of sugar-sand shoreline include the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with romantic lighthouses and coastal villages. The glacier-sculpted landscape of orchards and vineyards includes 16 golf courses. Swimming, sailing, paddling, hiking and fishing are favorite warm weather activities, while winter turns the region into a playground for skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers.
Restaurants in Traverse City
1. TC Flyboard
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 120 reviews
Flyboard TC is Northern Michigan's premier flyboard academy and dealer of Flyboards. Providing flyboard instruction/rental to newcomers, flyboard training, and sale of flyboards. Come enjoy the beautiful East and West Grand Traverse Bay while flying above the water on one of our Zapata Racing Flyboards.
2. Gallaghers Farm Market
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By MichelleF369 - Traverse City, United States
What's not to love? They have fruit, veggies, and wine and cherry products from local growers/producers, plus some "exotic," i.e. non-local things, but mostly just good seasonal produce, milk, ice cream, and baked goods. Kids love to visit the barnyard to see the animals and play with the toy tractors/animals in the toy barn. They've been doing this a long time, and I appreciate that it's just good products, not a kitschy "experience" for sale (though you can stick your head in a wooden cutout of what may be a caricaturized farmer in the parking area and take a photo if you're into that)
3. Grand Traverse Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Grand Traverse Distillery is Michigan's oldest craft distillery and we are family owned. We use 100% locally grown wheat, rye, corn and barley to distill our award winning spirits which include the True North Vodkas [Rye, Wheat, Cherry, Chocolate & Chipotle], Gin, Rum and our Whiskies [Ole George 100% Rye, Bourbon, Cherry Whiskey as well as many small batch specialty ones]. We also offer unaged whiskey to age your own at home. We have 5 Tasting Rooms located throughout the state in Traverse City (on 215 E Front St) Frankenmuth, Kalamazoo, Leland, Suttons Bay (located in Black Star Farms), and Mackinaw City so you can stop in and have the Grand Traverse Distillery experience. Our Main Distillery Tasting Room, located off of 3 Mile is open Monday through Saturday 11-a.m. to 5:30-p.m and is closed Sundays. We offer tours 6 days a week at 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm from May 1 through August 31. October 1 through April 30 tours are offered only on Fridays and Saturdays. Cheers, Kent Rabish!
Reviewed By enlithian
We took a tour of the distillery and then stayed for a tasting afterwards. The tour guide was absolutely lovely and nice, she did a great job breaking down the process while also spreading the message of the hands on nature of the distillery (she’s an accountant, runs the tasting room, and helps bottle on occasion). Topping off the tour was the tasting and, while I can’t speak for the Voka or Gin as I’ve never been a huge fan of either, their selections of whiskey were delightful. I bought a bottle of their Ole George on my way out and will definitely be back for more.
4. The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,270 reviews
Old state asylum that is being renovated into shops, restaurants, wineries, and more...lots to look at, including tons of trails to walk, bike, ski, etc.
Reviewed By Shepherdess903 - Santa Fe, United States
We enjoyed the historic tour of the former insane asylum grounds, some restored and some yet to be restored. Our tour guide shared personal experiences and insights from her childhood as a child of a staff psychiatrist. If you enjoyed the Alcatraz tour or have, like me, read a lot of historical fiction about women who were put in asylums often for dubious reasons, you definitely need to check it out. Be aware that there are stairs, rough floors, etc. Thank you to the people of Traverse City for saving this historic resource and allowing us to learn about it.
5. Light of Day Organic Teas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
Light of Day Organic Farm & Tea Shop is Michigan's only certified Demeter Biodynamic Farm & the only commercial grower of certified organic teas in North America! Our specialty is the growing-from seed to cup-of award-winning, delicious, original recipe loose leaf teas and tisanes. This is a not-to-miss health and wellness destination when visiting the greater Traverse City area, and is located right on M-72, the main highway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Thank you for your interest in certified organic Michigan agricultural products! We look forward to your visit! With love from Light of Day farm family. Please check website for seasonal hours and tea class schedules.
Reviewed By invoicesb
I had received tea for a birthday present. It was sunshine an comfort in a mug for me. The aromas were magnificent and the tea was so light and delightful. I am a converted tea drinker
6. Brewery Terra Firma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Brewery Terra Firma is a brewery and farm producing culinary-inspired brews in a responsible, sustainable way. Visit our tasting room to sample our creative, balanced beers that we produce using whole ingredients, not flavorings or extracts. The brewery is situated on a small farm minutes from downtown Traverse City where we produce some of the ingredients used in our beers.
Reviewed By R1345IVkimh - Fremont, United States
I love this brewery for their unique beers. In the past i have had a beet beet. This time i had a Honey Basil beer it was very good. The have their own bees on the property. The staff is always friendly.
7. Mission Point Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 886 reviews
Mission Point Lighthouse has been a Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula icon for decades. Located at the north end of a picturesque drive along M-37 through cherry orchards and vineyards, Mission Point Lighthouse stands as a classic piece of Michigan history. While it no longer guides mariners through West Grand Traverse Bay as it did from September 10, 1870 until it was decommissioned in 1933, Mission Point Lighthouse now offers visitors a peek into what life was like around the turn of the century for lighthouse keepers and for others who lived and worked in the area at the time. Self-guided tours of the lighthouse museum for daily visitors in May-October, and weekends in November.
Reviewed By johnlZ6099LM - North Olmsted, United States
When visiting Traverse City, don’t miss making the short drive (15-20 minutes) up the Old Mission Peninsula to visit the Mission Point Lighthouse. Not only is the drive up and down the peninsula beautiful in its own right, but also seeing the views of Grand Traverse Bay and visiting the Mission Point Lighthouse and learning of its history make it well worth the trip. NOTE: As an added bonus, stand on the 45th parallel with the lighthouse in the background and have your picture taken next to the sign proclaiming that you are exactly half way between the Equator and the North Pole!
8. 2 Lads Winery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 317 reviews
2 Lads Winery is a small production facility located on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, Michigan. We currently have 23 acres of established vineyards. We specialize in cool climate dry red and sparkling wines and have small runs of white wines to round out the lot. Sustainably farming our land is paramount to the health of our soil, vines and grapes at 2 Lads Winery. Come taste the difference.
Reviewed By conniel320 - Houston, United States
The view is beautiful, and the wine that I had (I had a flight) was really good. We didn't feel hurried at all, we were able to sit and talk with the friends we were there with, no one tried to chivy us on.
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