Port Towns

If you're looking for an entirely a different kind of spring shopping experience, try one or two of the picturesque freshwater port towns that surround Traverse City. These small towns are rich with personality and neighborliness -- the heart and soul of northern Michigan -- and it's a delight to browse through their art galleries, bookstores, boutiques and gift stores. 

To the west is the Leelanau Peninsula, with laid-back little villages like Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland and Northport -- chock-full of charming shops, dramatic views and cozy little eateries. (Don’t miss Leland’s famous Fishtown district, a collection of old fishing shanties that are now shops and galleries.) To the east is Antrim County, where the picturesque villages of Elk Rapids, Bellaire, and Alden are wonderful places to find unique treasures.