Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Day Tour
A guided day out to the towering Lake Michigan bluffs, dune fields and beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes, with someone else doing the driving from Traverse City.
Michigan
Traverse City
Traverse City is northern Michigan at its most generous: a bay-front town that calls itself the Cherry Capital of the World, two wine peninsulas pointing into Grand Traverse Bay, and the towering Lake Michigan dunes of Sleeping Bear a short drive west.
This guide books the region properly, with Old Mission and Leelanau wine tours, sunset sails, brewery stops and downtown walks, then stretches north to Mackinac Island and the straits for the history-minded. It also matches you to the right hotel, from a walkable downtown address to a bayfront beach resort, a golf and spa campus and a family waterpark lodge, because in a region this spread out, where you sleep shapes the trip.
Don't miss
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Day Tour
A guided day out to the towering Lake Michigan bluffs, dune fields and beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes, with someone else doing the driving from Traverse City.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour
A guided afternoon among the vines of Old Mission Peninsula, with tasting stops at several wineries on the narrow finger of land between the two arms of Grand Traverse Bay.
Downtown Traverse City and Front Street
A walkable downtown of independent shops, bakeries, rooftop bars and the bay, centered on Front Street, a good first stop and a good last night.
Fort Mackinac Admission
A hilltop 1780 British fort above Mackinac Island harbor, with costumed interpreters, cannon and rifle firings, and one of the best harbor views in the Great Lakes.
Things to do in Traverse City
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
A seven-mile loop road through beech-maple forest and over dune ridges to the Lake Michigan Overlook, a dizzying viewpoint high above the water. A seasonal park drive and one of the best scenic hours in Michigan.
Dune Climb and Glen Haven Historic Village
A steep sand slope you run down and crawl up, plus the restored port village of Glen Haven with its cannery and general store, all in the same stretch of Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour
A guided afternoon among the vines of Old Mission Peninsula, with tasting stops at several wineries on the narrow finger of land between the two arms of Grand Traverse Bay.
Old Mission Sunset Wine Tour
A shorter evening version of the peninsula wine tour, with three wineries timed so you finish with light over the bay.
Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour
A guided tasting day through the Leelanau Peninsula, the pastoral western cousin of Old Mission, with farm-country roads, village tasting rooms and Lake Michigan breezes.
Traverse City Brewery and Distillery Tour
A guided tasting through local craft breweries and a distillery, for visitors who want a break from wine and a look at Traverse City as a craft-beer town.
M-22 Michigan Lakeshore Self-Guided Audio Drive
A self-guided, narrated drive along the Lake Michigan shore on M-22, one of the most beautiful two-lane roads in the Midwest, with stops you set yourself.
Historical Ghost Lantern Tour Downtown Traverse City
A lantern-lit evening walk through downtown Traverse City with ghost stories, local legends and a look at the lumber-baron history behind the buildings.
Traverse City Rickshaw Tour
A pedal-powered sightseeing ride around downtown Traverse City, a lazy and fun way to see the waterfront, the shops and the neighborhoods behind Front Street.
Power Island Guided Jetski Tour
A guided jetski outing on Grand Traverse Bay, with a run out to Power Island, a wooded county park island in the West Arm.
Manitou Afternoon Sail on Grand Traverse Bay
An afternoon sail aboard a traditional schooner on Grand Traverse Bay, the classic Traverse City way to see the shoreline from the water.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Park Place Hotel
Downtown Traverse City
A long-established hotel in the middle of downtown, a short walk from Front Street, the bay and most of the city's restaurants.
Check rates →Hotel Indigo Traverse City
Downtown Traverse City
A boutique-style IHG hotel in the downtown area, with a design that nods to the region and a location that works for walkers.
Check rates →Delamar Traverse City
Waterfront / Downtown
A boutique hotel near the downtown waterfront, built for travelers who want a polished base and bay views.
Check rates →Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Acme / Williamsburg
The area's best-known resort, a few miles east of town on the East Bay, with golf, a spa and plenty of space for families and groups.
Check rates →Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City
Traverse City
A family resort built around an indoor waterpark, the easy pick for rainy days, cold months and kids who will not leave the slides.
Check rates →Bayshore Resort
East Bay / Oak Park
A bayfront resort-style hotel on the East Bay, with beach access and an easy trip into downtown.
Check rates →Cambria Hotel Traverse City
Indian Woods
A modern mid-range hotel on the south side of town, with easy highway access and good value for a car-based trip.
Check rates →Cherry Tree Inn and Suites
Traverse City
A value-minded inn and suites property for travelers who want a clean, simple base for a driving trip.
Check rates →Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Traverse City
Triangle Neighborhood
A dependable chain hotel in the Triangle area near the shopping and dining corridor, handy for families and road-trippers.
Check rates →Sugar Beach Resort Hotel
East Bay
A beachfront resort-style hotel on the East Bay, a classic summer-holiday choice with the bay on one side and town a short drive away.
Check rates →Traverse City guides
Traverse City in Three Days: Wine, Dunes and the Bay
A three-day plan that sorts the region by geography: wine peninsulas, Sleeping Bear Dunes and the downtown bay, with advice on pacing, bookings and where to eat.
Old Mission vs Leelanau: A Guide to Traverse City Wine Country
How the two peninsulas differ, which grapes to expect, when to go and how to taste safely, with a plan for choosing between a guided tour and your own car.
Sleeping Bear Dunes: A Visitor Guide for Traverse City Travelers
How to see Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore from Traverse City: the key stops, how long to allow, what to bring and when the park is at its best.
Mackinac Island and the Straits: A Day Trip from Traverse City
How to plan a Mackinac day from Traverse City: the drive, the ferry, the fort, the lighthouse and whether to go in one day or stay overnight.
The Best Time to Visit Traverse City, Season by Season
What each season offers in Traverse City, from cherry blossoms to the National Cherry Festival, beach weather, fall color and winter tasting rooms, with tips on crowds and prices.
Where to Stay in Traverse City: Downtown, the Bay and Beyond
A guide to Traverse City neighborhoods and hotel types, from walkable downtown and East Bay beachfronts to resorts, family lodges and value hotels, with booking tips.
