Visiting Traverse City in Fall and Winter is truly a sight to behold as the fall colors are like no other place on earth and the white blanket of snow during winter makes it a winter wonderland. Step outside and take a deep deep breath of the crisp clean air and feel your body mind and spirit relax completely.
Take a fall color tour north through the Old Mission Peninsula over the rolling hills of vineyards and fields with beautiful views of the east and west bay. Stop at some of the many wineries and tasting rooms to sample some of Michigan’s best wines and ciders. If you get hungry stop off at the Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery for some of the best food and drink Traverse City has to offer. Picking apples or pumpkins or finding your way through a corn maze at one of the local orchards is another great way to spend the afternoon with the family.
Nearby and a short drive away is the town of Lealand with its beautiful view of the Manitou Islands, scenic green water flowing through the town and unique shopping, and excellent food. Continue further north up M22 to view one of the best scenic Autumn drives in the entire country.
Another great stop in the area is Sleeping Dunes National Park on the shore of Lake Michigan. The Empire Bluff Trail is a great way to see the fall colors of orange and yellow as well as the contrasting views of the blues and greens of Lake Michigan. The walk on this trail will provide enough exercise to fill your lungs with the crisp air of Michigan to last you the entire season.
Traverse City is the second-largest city on Lake Michigan with the large twin bays that sometimes freeze over in the winter but not always. During the winter snowmobiling is a popular way to see the countryside of the greater Traverse City area. Skiing and snowboarding are other popular winter activities at the nearby ski resorts; Boyne Mountain, Crystal Mountain, and Caberfae are just 3 in the greater Traverse City area. Some of these resorts also have tubing and zip lines for those of you who are not inclined to strap on the skis or boards.
Traverse City’s downtown area shopping and restaurants are some of the best Michigan has to offer. Some of the many grand restaurants to choose from include; Red Ginger, Mama Lu’s, Georgia’s, and a short stroll away are Bubba’s and the many food trucks.
Shopping in downtown Traverse City offers a variety of stores. Boyne County Sports, M22, Cherry Republic, and Glick’s are just a few of these stores. Meijer is the superstore of grocery stores in Traverse City. If you’re in need of a great haircut experience, check out Jude’s Barbershop – Traverse City.
Overall Traverse City Michigan is a great place to visit in the Fall as well as the Winter because of the beauty of the surrounding area as the trees change color and then as the snow covers the landscape.
