The Ultimate Getaway to Northern Michigan
As some of you saw, my family and I, spent last week gallivanting around Northern Michigan. We were gone for 8 days and by the end of our trip, my husband and I both felt like we had been gone just long enough. Meaning the trip was just the right amount of time spent in each location, which is always a good feeling when you're trying to balance all the places, in you know, April, when you're planning the trip! :)
I will highlight our entire itinerary, but I'm primarily going to focus on our time in Traverse City, MI and its surrounding area. We've now been to T.C. (as the locals call it) multiple times and my brother-in law (BIL), sister-in law (SIL), and their new baby George, live there, so I feel educated enough to make these recommendations for your next trip "Up North!"
My husband, Andy, and his family also lived in T.C. for a few years as they were growing up and that is what originally led us there in the first place. Andy and I spent one year in Chicago while we were dating, and Andy planned an "Up North" trip for us during that Summer. It was also the trip we got engaged on, but I'll save those details for another post! Anyhow, once I arrived in Traverse City, I was hooked. It literally took all of 5 seconds before I knew that Traverse City was a town I loved and would return to often. So with that said, let's break it down so you too have a great trip and the same feeling I do about a great gem that resides on the Northern part of our beautiful country.
How we got there: Andy's sister and her family live in Grand Rapids, MI, so we flew into Grand Rapids and spent the first two nights there catching up and letting the cousins hang a bit. We rented a car the night we landed and then drove up to Traverse City first thing Sunday morning. You can also fly into Traverse City, MI which is obviously more convenient, but can be a little pricey. We have found deals going in and out of there before, so it's definitely not unheard of you - just stalk your flight trackers!
Where we stayed: My sister in-law's parents recently bought a condo in downtown Traverse City and they were kind enough to let us stay there (Thank you Mr. + Mrs. Knue). If we did not have that connection we likely would have done an airbnb or vrbo, and I think we would have tried to stay in the same neighborhood. Traverse City has a lot going on downtown so being able to be within walking distance is amazing and this particular location is right by where my SIL, BIL, and George live, so it would have just made sense. If you're looking for a resort type stay, you can always stay at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, otherwise there are many standard hotels to accommodate you as well.
Day 1:
Lunch: there are a ton of delicious places downtown Traverse City, but we were led to the Dish Cafe . It was our first time there and it was great. They have everything from soups to salads to wraps and you can even enjoy a cold beverage of your choice at their cute little bar. If you are in need of walking off lunch, you're in luck, because downtown Traverse City is where it's at. There are tons of little shops to pick from but my two favorites are Ella's and Sweet Pea (but I have children).
Afternoon: if it were up to me and I was kid free, I would head out to Old Mission Peninsula and do some wine tasting. Traverse City actually has some pretty great wine and the views from said wineries can be outstanding. Our kids were with us, so we took naps! :)
Dinner: Head to Pangea's Pizza downtown. The pizza menu is legit, but the best part about the restaurant is, they have a rooftop with pretty views of Grand Traverse Bay. Any place with legit pizza, cold craft beer on tap and a decent view of beautiful water is a win in my book. I happen to love alfresco dining though.
Desert: your desert has to be Bardon's Wonder Freeze. It's so old school, it doesn't have a website. It literally serves the best soft serve ice cream I've ever head. EVER! It's at the edge of downtown and is your last stop before crossing over to the East Bay. Seriously, you're welcome!
Day 2:
Breakfast: We are big fans of Frenchie's Famous. The men that own it are brothers and very French (hence the name), so know that it's not you, it's just that they're very French. But they're brunch menu is delish and they're coffee is the highlight. You'll be leaving there so happy you ate the food and overlooked their French charm.
Morning activity: I would then head West and hike one of the many gorgeous trails that direct you towards Lake Michigan. We have done a few, but the Empire Bluff Trail is outstanding and the Port Oneida trail is fast but steep. I really liked the Port Oneida trail because when we came down the steep trail, you can walk down about 30 steps and be right on a Lake Michigan beach.
Lunch: Since you're out that way, I would stop at Art's Tavern in Glen Arbor for burgers + beers. You may have to wait, but it's worth it.
Afternoon activity: I would mosey back to the downtown area and likely lay on the beach or kick my feet up in an adirondack chair by Clinch Park. And if you have kids, they have an awesome splash pad the kids can play in as well as a little rope climbing course. You can't beat the view or vibe of that area.
Dinner: I would hands down go to Mama Lu's Taco Shop. The tacos are great, the margs are even better and they have a great kids menu (that's important for me!)
Day 3:
Breakfast: we ate breakfast in our condo (remember my 2 little ones?), but my SIL did recommend Rose and Fern Cafe. It's a new spot with an interesting vibe. I'm inclined to say try it if Britt says it's good. Her recccos are always spot on.
Morning activity+Lunch: I would do a day trip before you head out of town. We have done a few day trips, but this year we went to Frankfort, MI. Frankfort is the cutest little town and it shares a border with Lake Michigan. Main Street literally ends at the best public beach. The beach is equipped with a number of porch swings for adults, big swing sets for kids, and a path leading out to an old light house. The kids played in the sand, we played catch on the beach, and just had a fabulous time. Frankfort has many restaurants to choose from (we ate at FrankZ, which was very good) and a great brewery, but if I were to do it again, I would pack a cooler + lunch and bring Mary's Kitchen Port sandwiches and spend all my minutes on the beach.
And before leaving the Traverse City area, I would probably grab Bardon's Wonder Freeze ice cream, one more time!
We ended our trip up at Andy's family cottage on Lake Au Sable. We had a lovely couple days lounging on the boat, jumping in the deep water, fishing off the dock, and roasting marshmallows.
Safe Travels!
AFK