Traverse City Travel Blog

Experience the full range of fun and relaxation that a vacation has to offer, minus the added stress of long-distance travel. The Traverse City area is teeming with events and activities this fall season, and planning your own staycation is a wonderful way to enjoy the bounties of Northern Michigan without needing to buy plane tickets or step foot in the airport. There’s no need to wander far from home when you live near Traverse City: it’s exactly where we should be.

Craving cool days and warm apple cider? A town steeped in food and farming culture, Traverse City offers incredible opportunities to connect with your food – even to the point of picking it yourself! These three fall afternoon trips are perfect for finding bright foliage, perfect sips, and great

’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. 

Last week, The Oprah Magazine highlighted Traverse City as a top destination for families and couples to get away during the holidays.

The sunny days, cooler nights, and Mother Nature’s dazzling display make the fall a perfect season to meander up the Old Mission Peninsula. Stretching 19 miles north out into Grand Traverse Bay, and only four miles wide at the broadest point, Old Mission Peninsula is a breathtaking travel destination! Take in the frenzy of fall color and do a little wine tasting along the wine trail. Did we mention there are nine distinct wineries to visit? 

It's no secret The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is known for its year-round beauty. And when autumn arrives, the scenery is even further enhanced by nature's color palette. 

While the autumn leaves are still shining, grab your camera and head to the quiet corner of Northern Michigan known to locals as the High Rollaway.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the fall color from below – looking up from the seat of your bike or your car as you pass a blazing hillside of red, gold and orange maples. Hard-core foliage fans, however, won’t be content until they’ve climbed the summits of a few hills to enjoy the autumn display from above.

If you’re a Sleeping Bear Dunes veteran, chances are you’ve run up and down the Dune Climb or biked along the Heritage Trail. You’ve probably hiked to the top of the Empire Bluffs or visited the Good Harbor Bay Beach, looking to find that famous beauty and stunning serenity that the National Lakeshore holds for anyone who needs it. However, it may be just a bit harder to find that serenity when you’re surrounded by people sprinting down a giant sand dune, flailing their arms and yelling like maniacs. But hey – we’ve all been there. We know how much fun it is!  

As we wait for the return of autumn’s annual color show, we’ve reached out to the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail to learn where they like to enjoy the dazzling display of fall color -- and of course, their favorite fall wines.