From historic lighthouses, picturesque golf courses, wonderful wineries and beautiful beaches to a host of friendly downtown shops and restaurants, Traverse City and its neighboring villages offer a myriad of ways to experience northwestern Michigan this summer. Cruise along M-22 for great coastline views of the bays and Lake Michigan or spend the day exploring the trails and beaches along Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Catch a concert at Interlochen or travel up Old Mission Peninsula for a taste of award-winning local wines. Discover amazing underwater sights while diving the shipwrecks near the Manitou Islands. For tourists, the choices seem endless. Pick a weekend to enjoy the Traverse City area with someone special, breathe the cool breeze off Lake Michigan and return home refreshed!
More than a half-million people are expected to attend the 2015 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. The eight-day celebration is scheduled for July 4-11 and offers something for everyone. Voted by USA Today as one of the 10 Best Specialty Food Festivals, festival goers will savor the flavor of cherries along with parades, family and kids’ events and entertainment. In all, there are more than 150 events along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay.
For more than 150 years, lighthouses have been a beacon of safety for ships traveling the Great Lakes. During the past 50 years, many of Michigan’s 130 lighthouses have been transformed into some of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. This is especially true of the Traverse City area, home to four lighthouses that are open to the public and others that are not, but well worth viewing. What sets the area apart, however, is the variety of lighthouses less than an hour’s drive from each other, including the state’s most photographed lighthouse, one sitting on a picturesque, rocky beach, two others on islands and another perched at the end of a pier.
You simply can’t visit Traverse City without enjoying a cool treat at Moomers Homemade Ice Cream. The shop is located just five miles from beautiful downtown Traverse City next to a dairy farm. And it’s all about family at this popular destination. Moomers is owned and operated by the Plummer family who share their passion for ice cream and agriculture with area residents and tourists. Nancy Plummer had tossed around the idea of opening an ice cream shop for years. As the owner of a dairy farm with her husband Bob, she thought it was an ideal location. To learn about the ice cream business, she contacted the Ice Cream Association and they put her in touch with the Durant family, owners of Uncle Ray’s Dairyland in Fenton. “They trained me in all aspects of the ice cream business. They were my mentors,” says Nancy. They have remained good friends and still call each other for advice.
The craft beer movement has exploded across the country, including in the state of Michigan. Traverse City is home to several micro-breweries – one is called Right Brain Brewery, located on E. 16th Street in the old warehouse district. Owned by Russell Springsteen, the unique brew pub has been serving beer lovers since 2007, according to Joe Symons, Event Coordinator. “It’s the thing to do now,” says Joe. “We make our beer on site at the brewery.” And what people love best about Right Brain is the fantastic beer made with all natural ingredients. “There are no fake flavorings in our beer!” he exclaimed. One example is their Apple Pie Whole, an amber ale made with 40 real apple pies — crust and all! One can expect a hazy sunset color, candy apple aroma, medium body and satisfying notes of apple skin, cinnamon and biscuit. Another craft beer is Angel’s Nectar, which has a dark body with big notes of chocolate and banana.
Interlochen Center for the Arts will be brimming with artistic excitement this summer as students express their creative passions in the school’s many camps and classes. Located just 15 miles southwest of Traverse City, Interlochen originated in 1928 as a music camp for boys and girls. Its Arts Academy opened in 1962 and soon thereafter, its popular public radio station and arts festival were born.
Simply one of northern Michigan’s most picturesque drives, the M-22 highway gives visitors a taste of the tree-lined beauty and lovely lakeshores from the comfort of their vehicles. Whether you enjoy investigating small towns or just cruising for the views, M-22 is a unique destination in itself. It’s also an eye-pleasing route for those looking to experience the splendor of northern Michigan’s fall colors.
Traverse City and the surrounding area is wine country – its location on the 45th parallel makes the climate perfect for growing grapes. Winery tours are popular and the variety is nearly endless! Discover the spectacular beauty and charm of Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula while experiencing some award-winning wines. ♦
