The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the most popular single attraction in the Traverse City area, and it’s a rare visitor who won’t trudge up the Dune Climb, motor along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive or frolic on the beach at Good Harbor sometime during their stay.
Category - Hiking

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 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 festival here for five years. A number of Leelanau Conservancy properties were included in our field

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 trail, smelling the scents of spring and enjoying the feel of warmth and damp on your skin after a
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, brochures, advertisements, promotional items, Visitor Center displays, photography, videos…the list goes on.