Traverse City Travel Blog

Photo: Noah Jurik

A one hour drive out of Traverse City will take you to one of the most breathtaking views of Lake Michigan to be found anywhere! 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the crown jewel of Michigan. Having received some recent high praise for the miles of scenic sand dunes, clear night skies, and vistas that span as far as the eye can see, we wanted to celebrate all the love one of our favorite regional landmarks is getting. If you love northern Michigan you may find yourself inspired to hike one of the beautiful trails or visit the beach this summer! 

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. 

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.

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.

For over a decade, one of our star attractions has been the Village at Grand Traverse Commons -- Traverse City's former mental hospital -- whose stately buildings are being transformed into a bustling residential and entertainment district. More recently, though, the old asylum is attracting

Cherry Trees in Bloom on the Old Mission Peninsula

By MIKE NORTON

Flowers, flowers everywhere! Well, after the long winter and the cold spring we've had, it's been a nice treat. The thing is, instead of taking turns, everything seems to be blooming at once! No sooner did the cherry trees start

For some people, a family trip to Traverse City just wouldn’t be the same without the family dog. Fortunately, this is a pretty pooch-friendly town.

The same natural attractions that make TC such a popular place for outdoor recreation – miles of forest trails, wide open spaces and long beaches, make