Apart from being a home to bustling streets, historic architectural masterpieces, and a dozen of unique tourist attractions, Traverse City in Michigan is a euphoric paradise for all shoppers. I spent four days exploring this city with my husband and it has given us so many warm memories to cherish. If you’re curious about what you can enjoy during a short visit, this itinerary is tailor-made to satisfy your wanderlust.
Day (1) : Arrive in the World’s Cherry Capital
Hello Hello! Traverse City here I come! Our journey started from Columbus, Ohio. We reached Kalkaska which is 25 miles away from Traverse City after a ride of around 6 hours. We spent the first night in an Airbnb apartment in Kalkaska. The apartment was amazing and located away from the buzz of the roads which made it seem like a jungle house. As the sun set, we took a short drive to downtown Traverse City and had our dinner.
Airbnb in Kalkaska, Traverse City
Day (2) : Explore Mackinac Island on a Tandem Bike
An early morning road trip of 95 miles followed by a short ferry ride and we were standing on the beautiful Mackinac Island. I have penned down all the details of our joyful time exploring the island here. After a day full of riding along the stunning views of Lake Huron, we headed to Downtown Traverse City and checked in at Cherry Tree Inn & Suites.
Exploring the Charming Streets
If you’re thinking about visiting Traverse City, the Cherry Inn is a wonderful place to stay. This delightful bed and breakfast provides a cozy and inviting atmosphere, comfortable lodging, and a scrumptious homemade breakfast. Its central location makes it a convenient hub for exploring the picturesque area and immersing yourself in the town’s vibrant culture and attractions.
Day (3) : A day full of vivid experiences
Waking up to a splendid lake view from the gallery of our suite was so cinematic. The premiere hotel Cherry Inn sits right at the beachfront and is glamorous for its amazing location, interiors, views, and hospitality.
View of Lake Michigan from the balcony
1. Sleeping Bear Dunes:
We had a scrumptious breakfast and steered towards the northwest side of the city to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore which is 32 miles away from the city center. Passing through the long stretch of sand beach, clear lakes, flourishing forests, and distinctive flora and fauna felt so calming. We crossed 2-3 dunes but it felt like we had climbed miles uphill.
At the apex of each dune was the sight of yet another dune and this seemed to never end! The views of the lakeshore and landscape were incredible. Exploring around was comfortable only because of the breeze and cloudy weather, else I don’t think I could have survived the searing heat!
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
2. Point Betsie Lighthouse:
Our next stop was the historic Point Betsie Lighthouse. We enjoyed the soul-stirring views of the lighthouse and its surrounding. We spent an elating time walking on the beach, hopping over the rocks, and soaking ourselves in the beauty of Lake Michigan.
Point Betsie Lighthouse standing strong against the Lake Michigan backdrop
3. The Village at Grand Traverse Commons:
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons was our next stop. Located just a few minutes west of the downtown shopping area, this historic complex gives a unique experience of shopping, dining, staying, and exploring on wooded grounds amidst dozens of stately castle-like historic buildings. After a little shopping spree, we went downtown and visited the leading and trendy Cherry Republic Traverse City on Front Street.
A perfect blend of historic architecture and vibrant community life
Moving ahead we explored nearby areas and then started to search for eateries but most of them required a reservation. We enquired at 2-3 restaurants but couldn’t find any luck. It was dark and we were completely exhausted, so we ended up grabbing food from Wendy’s and reached the hotel to relax for a while. Then, we went to the swimming pool area in the hotel to soak in the Jacuzzi and enjoy the weather. It was a nice, soothing end to the day.
Day (4) : Visit the Mushroom Houses Tour in Charlevoix.
Next Morning from Traverse city to Charlevoix: I had heard a lot about Mushroom Houses, and I was excited to be on my way to see them. We checked out of the hotel in the morning and drove 45 miles north to Charlevoix. We had pre-booked our tour online and arrived 10 minutes before our time slot. You can find more details regarding tour booking here. A representative of the tour services accompanied and guided us throughout the tour.
Fairy Tale Architecture: Mushroom houses tour in charlevoix mi
You can also choose to go for a self-guided tour but please be sure to respect the privacy of the owners as all the Mushroom Houses are privately owned residences. However, you can feel free to click pictures from the road or sidewalks. These houses, also known as Gnome Homes/Hobbit Houses are built using stones and boulders from the shoreline in Northern Michigan.
You’ll see that every house reflects Young’s key design features – the rounded shape of the homes including the roofs, doors, and windows, wide and wavy eaves, bare rafter tails, and thoughtful use of indigenous materials. Seeing these architectural masterpieces from so close was an incredible experience for us.
East Bay Park
East Bay Waterfront
Later, we moved towards East Bay Park. The well-maintained park has beautiful homes at the periphery and view of Traverse Bay in the front – it’s absolutely on fleek. I was in complete awe of this waterfront park. We walked down the docks to have a look at the boats. With cheered-up hearts, we had our lunch and then drove back to Columbus with all the amazing experiences packed in lots of precious memory moments.
We hope you find this 3-day Traverse City itinerary helpful for your first visit! Have you been to Traverse City before, or do you have any additional places or attractions you’d recommend? We’d love to hear about your experiences and any hidden gems we might have missed. Feel free to share your tips and insights in the comments below, and let’s help each other plan fantastic trips to this beautiful destination!
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Remember, every journey is a story waiting to be told. Safe travels, wanderers!
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