Traverse City Travel Blog

As the leaves turn into brilliant red, orange, and gold hues, the city comes alive with festivals, outdoor adventures, and unique local experiences.

From savoring autumn-inspired cuisine to races along colorful trails, Traverse City is the place to embrace the beauty and excitement of fall.

Take a look at these ongoing events happening this season!

Fall is knocking at our doors, and it is time to embrace Northern Michigan’s most colorful time of the year. Knit sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, football games, corn mazes, pumpkin carving… all hallmarks of the beloved season.

Here are some that are unique to the Traverse City area that you can’t miss out on this autumn!

Long before Interstates were built and enabled families to travel quickly to Michigan destinations. Long before there were Holiday Inn's or luxurious hotels. There were tiny mom-and-pop-run motor hotels that straddled the state highways. 

These motor hotels quickly became known as “motels.” They were a comfortable refuge that welcomed road-weary travelers with easy access to their rooms. Those tiny welcome centers still dot the northern Michigan travel landscape. They still embrace those who need a break from the road. In many cases, they allow travelers an inside look at quiet little towns that would be too easy to pass without exploring the wonderful stories and opportunities they possess.

In the 1970s, singer James Taylor reminded us that “On the roof is peaceful as can be.” Today, locals and visitors to Traverse City are discovering that the roof is where “the air is fresh and sweet,” and “everything is all right.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking over the vast expanse of Grand Traverse Bay, or the vibrant activity below with downtown shoppers. The popularity of rooftop bars has grown exponentially.

The Traverse Wine Coast—consisting of the Old Mission and Leelanau AVA’s—offers a wide array of classic, European wine varieties and experimental cold-tolerant hybrids. All of them offer the kind of vibrant, fresh, nuanced flavor that I personally enjoy and that makes them so suited for food

Love wine tasting? Then stay right at the vineyard. Looking forward to your tee time? Book a room on the golf course.

The Traverse City area has more amenities and more lodging options than anywhere else in northern Michigan, so it’s easy to find the perfect place to hang out for a few days while enjoying your favorite things to do. If you’re a beach bum, you can find a spot on the water. If you’re a foodie, you can grab a room right downtown within walking distance of many unique restaurants. And if you can’t wait to get out on the trail, you can reserve a cottage right in the midst of Mother Nature. 

Whatever your reason for skipping out on it, it shouldn’t feel like a chore to ask the bartender to nix the alcohol in your drink. However an establishment may refer to them – mocktails, N/A, virgin - these top spots provide dedicated non-alcoholic options with pride, proving that great taste and creativity shine above all else, even without the booze. Don't fret If you're more of a beer or wine type, the N/A philosophy has seeped into all forms of beverage.

Summer isn’t over yet. Here are the top five things to do in Traverse City before the season ends. Book your trip up north now to complete the list! 

’Tis the season for fall color! Experience the magic of a fall foliage tour right here in Traverse City. With incredible hues of reds and oranges, the drive is a sight to behold. The orchards, vineyards, forests, and villages create a beautiful landscape that highlights the meaning of fall. 

Benzie County is home to lovely inland lakes, picturesque towns, emerald rolling hills, the multi-recreational Crystal Mountain, and 25 miles of Lake Michigan coastline. You cannot miss out on exploring what Benzie County has to offer this season. Plan the perfect “Tour de Benzie” with the top summer activities listed below.