Traverse City Travel Blog

In so many ways, Traverse City is defined by the water. This area was 20,000 years in the making when massive glaciers melted and cut gouges in the earth that became the Great Lakes. It was worth the wait. Today, it doesn’t matter if you are on, in, under, or just sightseeing; enjoying the beauty of the fresh, blue water, is an important part of any Traverse City vacation. 

There is one bear where hibernation is not part of an annual hibernation ritual: the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Many people don’t realize that the National Lakeshore is open year-round. Word to the wise: if you miss a visit in winter, you are missing out on a remarkable experience. 

Last year, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore celebrated its 50th anniversary. This summer and fall, you’re invited to explore 50 amazing things to do in and around the national park.

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. 

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!  

Nothing says “vacation” like a colorful sunset over a sparkling body of water, and you simply can’t beat Lake Michigan for watching the sun slip over the horizon.

Tell us a little about what a "Sports & Group Account Executive" does at Traverse City Tourism.
I love the versatility of my job. On any given day I can be found researching area venues for events, completing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to host future sporting events, creating itineraries for

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.

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