Weekend Guide to Traverse City, Michigan

As much as I love to travel and explore new destinations, I also have those select few places that keep me coming back again and again. Northern Michigan is definitely one of those and is a beautiful area to explore no matter the season. We love Traverse City, Michigan for so many reasons and make it a goal to visit at least once every summer. Since we'd been there multiple times before, the focus of this trip was to discover new restaurants and wineries which made it seem like it was our first time visiting all over again. 

You can discover my other Traverse City guides here: 

• Pet Friendly Guide to Traverse City
• Wandering Through Northern Michigan
• 5 Best Hikes at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase which allows me to keep sharing my adventures with you! ​

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Where to Stay:

We've stayed somewhere different each time we visited based on our specific needs for the trip (quick overnight stay when just passing through, pet-friendly for Wrigley, etc.) This trip we decided on Bayshore Resort which is located less than a mile off of Front Street and situated on it's own private beach area with lounge chairs and a variety of water sport rental options including SUPs and jet skis. Since Traverse City is situated on the Grand Traverse Bay and not Lake Michigan, beaches can be a bit hard to come by so it was nice to be able to walk right out onto the sandy shores. Like most lodging facilities, Bayshore Resort had made several changes during COVID-19 to ensure guest safety including no housekeeping or shuttle downtown and grab and go breakfast instead of their typical buffet. Overall, we would definitely stay here again as it offered everything we needed in a hotel at an affordable price. Keep in mind, during peak summer season lodging prices can get pretty pricey in this area so if you're trying to save money consider visiting in early spring/summer. 

Wineries/Breweries: 

With around 40 different wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms to choose from, you simply can't visit Traverse City without making a least a few wine tasting stops. There are two primary regions to explore - Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula - making it easy to hop from one winery to the next while enjoying picturesque views along the way. Plan to choose your top two or three locations for each peninsula so you have time to enjoy each stop and don't feel rushed to make it to all of them. We will typically plan one day on each peninsula and enjoy the other sites to see along the way. If you don't feel like driving yourself, there are plenty of transportation options to choose from including tour buses or designated drivers who will drive your car for you. You can also rent a bike and pedal from one stop to the next. 

The stops we made on this trip were: 

• Chateau Chantal - located on Old Mission Peninsula, this is one of the area's most well-known wineries offering gorgeous views of the Grand Traverse Bay from their patio which sits on the hill overlooking the vineyards. The estate is also home to a bed and breakfast if you're looking for a unique lodging experience. At the time of our visit they were requiring advance reservations for a wine flight or by the glass which basically just means you pay in advance and select a time for your visit. Drink of choice: Bubbly Cherry which is part of the sweet flight (Sweet Flight: Late Harvest Riesling, Bubbly Cherry, Nice Red)
• Bonobo Winery -  Another first for us, this winery had such a fun atmosphere with to goal to create a social gathering place where people can relax and enjoy amazing wine. They typically have live music on the patio as well as seating in the lawn and a large swing overlooking the vineyards (insta-worthy alert!). They do focus more on the dry wines and don't add any extra sugars so if you're a sweet lover like me you may have a harder time finding something you like. Drink of choice: Special of the week which is more like a cocktail. 
• Shady Lane Cellars - This was our first stop of the day along the Leelanau Peninsula. They open at 11am which is an hour earlier than most places if you're looking to get a head start on the day. The grounds were absolutely gorgeous with the cutest farm type vibes, tons of outdoor seating, and corn hole. You can order wine by the glass from the outdoor bar or a flight of 3 for $5 (one of the best deals I've found). Drink of choice: Sparkling Riesling
• Sutton's Bay Ciders - Switch things up a bit from the wine scene to try some ciders. They have the cutest flight tasting boards which allow you to sample 4 different ciders. The views from their upper patio are simply breathtaking or discover more seating on the lower lawn. This would definitely be my pick for a visit in the fall during peak colors. Drink of choice: Smitten
• Hop Lot - It doesn't get more picturesque than this! Sip your favorite drink in the beer garden which isn't far off the main road but seems like it's nestled in the middle of the forest. You can also roast s'mores on the bonfire or grab food from their walk up window. In the winter they set up igloos throughout the grounds. Drink of choice: Not Soury ‘Bout That Kettle Sour
• M22 Wine - This isn't your typical winery and is actually located on a small patio on the side of the M22 store in Glen Arbor. However, their wines, which are blended in partnership with Black Star Farms, turned out to be some of my favorites from the whole trip so I had to include. The offer wine tasting all day and if there isn't someone out on the patio just ask inside the store and they will pour you a flight or glass to take outside. This is an easy stop if you're planning to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes area on your trip. Drink of choice: Cherry wine

Restaurants: 

• Blue Tractor BBQ - Located in downtown Traverse City. We stumbled on this place sort of by mistake after encountering super long waits at two other places we tried. We were able to get a table right away here and were super impressed with the bbq dishes. I got a side of the Mac and cheese (which was the perfect size) and was super cheesy and came topped with their pulled pork - best of both worlds.
• Peace, Love and Little Donuts - I have to stop here every time I visit Traverse City and try a new flavor or two. These mini donuts are made right in front of you and loaded with delicious toppings. You can order just one or grab a dozen if you can't decide. It's a small space so we always just get them to go and devour them in the car on the way to our next adventure. 
• Village Cheese Shanty - I have heard people talk about this place for years and never been able to try it. This trip we planned to visit historic Fishtown in Leland around lunch time while exploring the Leelanau Peninsula to see what all the hype was about. Located in a little shanty along the river, you'll order from a walk up window and get a pick up time (expect it to be longer in peak season). However, there's lots to explore in this adorable fishing village while you wait. Sandwiches come on pita, baguette or their famous pretzel bread which was insanely good. 
• Mama Lu's Taco Shop - Wins the award for best meal of the trip! Located on Front Street in downtown Traverse City, I recommend putting your name in and then walking around to explore some of the many shops and boutiques in this area. This summer, a large portion of Front Street was closed to traffic to allow more space for outdoor dining and pedestrians to walk so we were able to eat in the middle of the street. You can mix and match tacos and their street corn is a must order - trust me! 
• Cherry Republic - You can find many of their cherry products at the Front Street store, but we like to visit the Glen Arbor location for the full experience. Here you'll find a menu of cherry inspired dishes, wine, beer, and soda, and ice cream for dessert (still dreaming about the Tractor Tracks). Order inside and find a spot to sit outdoors in the garden area and they'll bring your food right to you. This is also a great stop for lunch or dinner after visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Murals:

If you're anything like me, you love a good mural find on your travels. Traverse City has some great ones that have popped up recently - most within walking distance while exploring Front Street. 

• Greetings from Traverse City - located on the side of Kilwin's 129 E Front St.
• Traverse City Beer/Wine - located behind State Street Market 329 E State St.
• We are Your Wings TC - located on side of Coin Slot 346 E Front St. 
• M22 Not Just a Road, It's a Way of Life - located behind M22 store 6298 W Western Ave., Glen Arbor 
• Bonus Sunflower Field - not a mural but still a great photo stop! Located at Leabo Farm 9224 E. Duck Lake Road, Sutton's Bay 
  

Sleeping Bear Dunes: 

Located about 30 minutes outside of Traverse City, we typically will make this the first stop of our trip on the way in to town or the last stop on the way home. The National Lakeshore encompasses a 35 mile stretch along the Lake Michigan coast line. It is truly a can't-miss natural wonder when visiting Northern Michigan offering a range of landscapes including forests, beaches, and of course the star of the show - towering sand dune formations. For this trip we wanted to check out a hike we'd never done before at Pyramid Point. Click here for my list of 5 of the best hikes along at Sleeping Bear.

The 2.7 mile loop trail winds through Beech-maple forest and fields with a dune overlook point located only .6 miles from the trailhead. Due to limited time we decided to just hike to the overlook and it was a perfect short adventure which rewarded us with amazing views of the turquoise water. The trailhead is located off Basch Road from Port Oneida Road and there is sign located in the parking lot so you know you're in the right spot (our Google map lead us astray the first time we tried this hike). If you're traveling to the dunes from Traverse City, this is a great first stop of the morning before continuing on M22 through to Glen Arbor.