Check out what other travelers say about Sample Itineraries
Below are a couple of sample itineraries which give a taste of a few of the attractions and sights in the Traverse City area. There is much more. If you would like to discuss additional ideas for tours, please contact our Tourism Sales Manager via the link on our Contact Us page.
Itinerary #1 Wine, Music, Art and the Old Mission Peninsula
Continental Breakfast at your hotel
Music House Museum – 2 hours An extensive collection of the finest and rarest automated musical instruments in live performance, where some of the greatest artists of the past come alive in concerts performed on classic mechanical instruments.
Dennos Museum Center – 1 1/2 hours
Located on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College, the Dennos Museum Center features changing exhibitions of historic and contemporary significance. Its permanent display of sculpture, prints and drawings by Inuit artists of the Canadian arctic is one of the largest and most historically complete collections anywhere.
Lunch at Old Mission Tavern
This delightful restaurant typifies the blending of good food, wine and eye-pleasing art that are to be found in Traverse City. (It even has its own art gallery, and owner Verna Bartnick is a celebrated local sculptor.)
Old Mission Lighthouse – 1 hour
This picturesque lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn ships away from the dangerous shoals extending into Grand Traverse Bay at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula. Although it’s no longer in operation and is not open for tours, it is the centerpiece of an attractive park with popular beaches, historical exhibits and extensive hiking and skiing trails.
Old Mission General Store – 45 Minutes
This historic store preserves the atmosphere of a simpler time, with barrels full of old fashioned candies, homemade sandwiches, soda fountain, general provisions, gifts, antiques, and conversation. Enjoy your treats while sitting down for a game of checkers or at the picnic table on the front porch.
Chateau Chantal Winery – 1 1/2 hours Perched high atop the Old Mission Peninsula in one of the most scenic areas of the Great Lakes, Chateau Chantal’s views are as refreshing as its award-winning wines. This unique destination combines vineyards and winery, a bed & breakfast, winding roads, fresh air and kind company to create an Old World retreat.
Dinner at the Peninsula Grill
This cozy eatery in the village of Mapleton is a favorite place for Peninsula residents to gather for food and good times, and it doesn’t take long to see why. An extensive menu and a casual, neighborly atmosphere are its claims to fame.
Driving Directions:
Directions all begin at the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, 101 W Grandview Parkway To the Music House Museum... head Northeast on US 31 N. (approx. 7.33 miles.) The address for the Music House Museum is 7377 US 31 N., the driveway will be on your left.
To the Dennos Museum...turn right out of the driveway of the Music House Museum and head Southwest on US 31 N. (approx. 5.8 miles.) Turn right into the main entrance of Northwestern Michigan College (College Dr.) and the Dennos Museum will be located on the right at 1701 E Front St.
To the Old Mission Tavern...turn left out of the Dennos Museum parking lot onto College Dr. to the light. Turn right onto US 31 N (Front Street) and follow to the next light, turn right onto M 37 N (Center Rd.), continue approx. 13.5 miles. Old Mission Tavern will be on your left at 17015 Center Rd.
To the Old Mission Lighthouse...turn left out of the parking lot of Old Mission Tavern and venture North on M 37 (Center Rd.) for approx. 4.5 miles to Old Mission Lighthouse.
To the Old Mission General Store... head south on M 37 (Center Rd.) until you get to Swaney Rd. (approx. 2.5 miles) turn left. Follow Swaney Rd. to Mission Rd., .8 miles and turn right. Old Mission General Store will be locate on the left at 18250 Mission Rd.
To Chateau Chantal…Head South on Mission Rd., .2 miles and turn right onto Old Mission Rd. follow for .7 miles until you get to M 37 (Center Rd.). Turn left onto M 37 and head South for about 2.2 miles until you get to 15900 Rue De Vin.
To Peninsula Grill…head back out Rue De Vin to M 37. Turn left onto M 37 (Center Rd.) and follow for approx. 1.8 miles. Peninsula Grill will be located on the left at 14091 Center Rd.
Itinerary #2: A Sleeping Bear and a City by the Bay
Sleeping Bear Dunes – 3 - 4 hours
Created by an act of Congress in 1970, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sweeps for 64 miles in a golden arc along the clear blue waters of Lake Michigan, a national treasure enjoyed by more than a million visitors each year. It covers more than 70,000 acres, including massive sand dunes, seven major watersheds, four stream corridors, 20 inland lakes, beech and maple forests, two islands and the remains of more than 50 shipwrecks.
Lunch at Cherry Republic
This amazing store/restaurant/mail-order center is dedicated to our favorite fruit! Fresh cherry baked goods are made here every morning, and the full lunch and dinner menu includes items like cherry chicken salad and cherry chili, plus homemade cherry pie and 14 flavors of cherry ice cream for dessert!
Shopping in Glen Arbor - 1 1/2 hours The sand and blue water of Sleeping Bear Bay are in full view only a block away as you wander along Glen Arbor’s colorful streets, and many of the stores and galleries carry products inspired by the beauty and the natural qualities of the town, from art and handicrafts to jewelry and garden accessories.
Grand Traverse Heritage Center – 1/2 hour
Located in Traverse City’s 1903 Carnegie Library building, the Heritage Center houses several historical and cultural collections in newly-refurbished galleries. Visitors can see Native American artifacts from several periods as well as exhibits about railroads, the Northern Michigan Asylum, a blacksmith shop, one-room schools and a Victorian parlor
Traverse City Historical Tour – 2 hours Traverse City has a rich history in which Native Americans, missionaries, lumberjacks, mariners and farmers all played an important part. A good way to learn about the men and women who have left their mark on this landscape is by taking a guided historical walk, since many of the area’s most interesting historical sites are outdoors.
Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater
This new banquet and conference center combines fine dining with a series of ever-changing musical revues that are proven crowd-pleasers.
Driving Directions:
Directions all begin at the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, 101 W Grandview Parkway.
To Dunes…head West on US 31 N to M 72 West, approx. 1.1 miles and turn left. Follow M 72 (E. Traverse Hwy.) for approx 14 miles. You will then need to turn left where the road turns into M 72 (W. Empire Hwy.) and follow for approx. 8.3 miles. Turn right into the parking lot of the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center.
To Cherry Republic…head back to S. La Core Rd. and turn right and then another right onto M 22 North to M 109, approx 1.6 miles and follow M 109/ M 22 into Glen Arbor. Turn right onto Lake St. where Cherry Republic will be located on the right at 6026 Lake St.
To the Grand Traverse Heritage Center…take Lake St. to State St. and turn right and go less than .1 mile and turn left onto M 22 (S. Glen Lake Rd.) continue to follow for about 2.7 miles. Turn Left onto CR 677 (S. Benzonia Trl.) and follow for approx. 3.3 miles until you get to M 72 (W. Empire Hwy.) where you will need to turn left. Continue to follow M 72 East approx. 9 miles. Turn right onto US 31 approx. .5 mile to
Division St. where you will turn right, follow approx .25 of a mile and turn left onto Front St. Front St. turns into a one way and will turn into State St. Turn right at the first light onto Union St. and then another right onto 6th St. The Grand Traverse Heritage Center is located on the right side of the road at 322 6th St.
To The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater…head East on 6th St. to Union St., turn left and go approx .5 mile to US 31 N (Grandview Parkway) and turn right. Continue to head East on US 31 N approx 7.4 miles until you get to M 72 East, turn right. The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater is located on the right approx. .4 of a mile at 4230 M 72 East.
