Traverse City Travel Blog

The gentle rolling hills around Traverse City, carved by receding glaciers some 10,000 years ago, take on a different feel when the first snows of winter start to fall. Those slopes hug the vines that are responsible for some of the best wines of the Midwest. The Traverse Wine Coast is home to nearly 50 wineries, but the region is known for much more than wine tasting. It’s all about the experience. And in the winter that experience embraces exploration of vineyards along cross-country ski trails, snowshoe hikes, and fat tire biking.

Take a look at some of the Traverse Wine Coast experiences that welcome winter activities. 

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” That statement from the Executive Director of Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) Fred Sitkins marked the community welcome of a new three-masted schooner that will ply the Great Lakes based out of Suttons Bay. 

Increased traffic could be the number-one complaint faced by Traverse City Tourism (TCT) in the summer according to Trevor Tkach, President of TCT. He made the observation during a monthly radio show on WTCM AM called “The Road Best Traveled.” But, he added, there are excellent alternatives to driving for both local residents and visitors that are available during the National Cherry Festival and all summer long.

“This is a big deal for you guys, but it’s a big deal for us as well,” said Major Lauren Schlichting, pilot of the No.4 jet for the Air Force Thunderbirds. She made her remarks having just arrived from Iowa during her 16th stop on a 33-show schedule planned for the year. 

Shortly after setting sail the young lady serving as “Water Protector” passed around a ceremonial copper pail with cool, clear water. Passengers and crew dipped their hands into the water and that simple act forever changed the makeup of the liquid. Eventually, that water would be poured back into Grand Traverse Bay and symbolically altered the makeup of the Bay. The water became a part of everyone onboard the ship. 

Here is one heck of a way to celebrate the unofficial end of summer with a concert that will rock your world. 

This could be the year for full travel recovery in Traverse City following the pandemic according to the President of Traverse City Tourism, Trevor Tkach. Tkach made his pronouncement recently during the inaugural airing of the program “The Road Best Traveled” on radio station WTCM AM.

The new

A Norway-based television production company came to Traverse City last year in search to find the most beautiful wine regions of the world. The program named Wine First on PBS attempts to find local ingredients that can be matched with local wines to create a food combination prepared by a local chef. Ultimately the program puts the primary emphasis on wine.

The morning rains drifted away. On this spring day, it left behind the soft fragrance of blossoms and the sweet smell that follows a northern Michigan rain shower. The clouds gave way to sunshine and a gentle breeze. It was necessary to close your eyes and let other senses take over. I listened to the sound of the birds who embarked on a frantic frenzy while flying between tree limbs. In the distance, you could hear the faint sound of traffic that rushed along US-31 near Grawn.

Perched above Lake Michigan at 460 feet (140 meters), just one-word escapes from your lips — “Wow!” This can’t be a lake; it must be an ocean. Under the clear summer sky, the sparkling deep blue hue stretches as far as the eye can see. But this is Lake Michigan, one of five majestic Great Lakes that house 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. This inspiring view is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which was voted by ABC Good Morning America viewers as “The Most Beautiful Place in America.” When you stand along the scenic overlook, you will fully appreciate the majestic beauty of this lake.