Traverse City Travel Blog

Is it possible that Traverse City can compete with the most beautiful wine regions of Europe and South America? After all, they have steep cliffs that hug stunning, meandering rivers and grapes that grow in volcanic soil. 

But northern Michigan has its own story to tell. We have the magnificence of the Great Lakes and soil created 12 thousand years ago by receding glaciers. We have over 40 wineries that compose the Traverse Wine Coast. 

Ice wine is a specialty dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen naturally on the vine. Very few locations can make true ice wine, and the Traverse City area is lucky to be one such spot.

Here in Traverse City, we are all about the vino. We’re also all about girl power, which is why we sat down with two of the leading women in wine in northern Michigan—Marie-Chantal Dalese, President and CEO of Chateau Chantal, and Sherri Fenton, Manager Owner of Black Star Farms—to chat about the industry…and get recs for our next favorite vintage!

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.

The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail®, north of Traverse City, feature some of the best wines in Michigan. As we get ready to celebrate Michigan Wine Month in April, here’s a look at what makes the eight distinct Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail® stand out from the crowd of more than 100 Michigan wineries.

Photo courtesy of The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail

It’s the time of the year for giving and receiving, and celebrating with those we love. It’s also a great time to give and celebrate with wine, try new wines and see how pairing the right wine with your holiday meal can enhance your

Looking east over the vineyards at Brys Estate to the frozen surface of East Bay.

By MIKE NORTON

It was a beautiful weekend on the Old Mission Peninsula. Blue skies were punctuated by an occasional flurry of snow, and Grand Traverse Bay was frozen solid: a sheet of unbroken white, bordered on

The Antiquities Wellington Inn in Traverse City's historic Boardman Neighborhood

By MIKE NORTON

Among the many high points of my job are the opportunities to get out of the office and actually meet some of the people who make Traverse City such a fun place for people to visit.

I’ve gotten to