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Is there anything better than those first few days of spring when you can leave your jacket at home when it's time to venture outside? I love hiking in all seasons, but nothing quite matches that first hike on a warm spring day after what seems like 10 months of winter! We're lucky to have dozens of fantastic hiking spots throughout the region, but here are a few hidden gems you might not know about.

Sometimes you want to get out and enjoy the winter (or at least get some exercise) but the conditions aren't really right for skiing or snowshoeing, and you don't want want to deal with a lot of special gear anyway. Not to worry -- you can always take a winter walk! All you'll need are mittens, a hat, a warm coat and a good pair of boots!

There’s no better way to enjoy the magic of a Traverse City autumn than to get out and walk about in it. Photographs are pretty, but there’s really no substitute for smelling the aromas of fallen leaves, listening to them crunch underfoot, and feeling the cool breeze brush your face as you surround yourself with in the sensory overload of this lovely, brief season.

There’s a saying up here in the dune country. The sand gives, and the sand takes away.

Photo Credit Ed Ketterer While I have long been aware that Leelanau County is a great place to bird, that message was strongly reinforced when my pal Dave Barrons and I organized (and ran) a birding

Strange as it may seem, winter can be an amazing time to take a hike in the beautiful outdoors of the Traverse City area. We asked Sandy Graham of Backcountry North  to tell us about his favorite winter adventure.

  In the forests of Northern Michigan, springtime promises the warmth of sunshine, a welcome symphony of birdsong, the brilliance and scent of woodland flowers -- and an eagerly-awaited gastronomic treat.

By MIKE NORTON Hiking in the Traverse City area can be fun in every season, but spring is one of the best times to be out on the trail! Why? Well, partly because it’s such a delight to be out on the

Hiking across the Sleeping Bear Dunes “I love looking out over this landscape in wintertime," said Liz Berger. "You can see the bones of the land.” Liz is general manager at the Chateau Chantal

Tell us a little about what the Director of Publications & Ad Sales does at Traverse City Tourism? As part of the marketing team, I am in charge of design which includes the Visitor Guide ,