Things To Do
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Whether you are looking to work up a sweat by climbing the dunes, wanting some spectacular views, or you are just looking for the feeling of sand between your toes, you will not be disappointed by the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history. 12/10 would recommend to a friend.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Entrance
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is certainly a must-do activity when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 7.4 mile drive loops through the Beech-Maple forest and sand dunes and provides insight to the history of the area, a sampling of the vegetative communities found within the park and, best of all, spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Lake Michigan. You can take a dune hike along the Cottonwood Trail or stop for a picnic at one of the picnic areas on the drive. If you aren't feeling like getting up and about, the best part is that you can see it all from the comfort of your car!
Shipwreck Cafe
Come for the dunes, stay for the sandwiches - the usual Barroso routine is to stop into Shipwreck's Cafe for a lunch sandwich (our personal favorite is The Arizona) and to bring it with us on our hike to the top of the dunes. While sitting on top of a dune and overlooking the water is sweet, it's somehow is even sweeter when you have a Shipwreck sammy in your hand (and mouth).
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail
Experience what thousands of wine enthusiasts have already discovered, the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail is the perfect wine destination for creating a day full of memories with friends. There are plenty of non-wine related activities, too! Just to name a few: -Pyatt Lake -- hiking -Bowers Harbor Park -- pickleball -Lighthouse Park -- dreamy beach, hiking trails, the historic Hessler Log Cabin, and the 1870 Mission Point Lighthouse, open seasonally for self-guided tours of the museum -The 1842 Dougherty Mission House (open seasonally for tours) -The old-timey Old Mission General Store, a purveyor of penny candy, gourmet deli delights, & pizza and fresh-made subs -Old Mission Flowers -- a self-serve cutting garden open dawn to dusk -The Farm at Cherry Hill -- a roadside stand for flowers -Buchan’s Blueberry Hill -- U-Pick blueberries, ice cream (blueberry, of course, and other flavors like Old Mission apple pie, lemon poppy seed and lavender) and a gift shop full of homemade goodies
Light of Day Organic Farm & Tea Shop
This gem of a Tea Shop is WAY more than just a tea shop! This is the direct source for some delicious, award-winning, legendary loose leaf teas! Using traditional regenerative agricultural practices, the mission & passion of Light of Day Organics is to grow & produce a wide variety of Michigan-grown ingredients of pristine quality, to educate about holistic health, and to teach through example about reverence for all life. Crops grown by partner farmers are also Certified Organic & purchased using fair trade standards which are intended to support & honor the intense human effort that is required with literally every aspect of tea production. The harvesting, finish blending & all packaging are done by hand right in their commercial kitchen. The Retail Tea Shop is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10am - 5pm and Sundays from 12-5pm but if you are looking for something extra and fun to do, they offer Tea Classes and Farm Tours which can be found on their website.
The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
Located in the heart of Traverse City on the beautiful grounds of Historic Barns Park is the Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden is a year-round sanctuary of environmental preservation, recreation and education. Its 25 acres nurtures the soul, enlivens our history and promotes Michigan’s natural beauty. With an emphasis on plant species native to northwest Michigan, it creates and enhances habitats for various forms of wildlife. As a place of refreshment and solace, The Botanic Garden’s unique and original design strives to inform and inspire. After over a decade of careful planning and preparation, the garden is coming alive.
Traverse Tall Ship Company
Sailing out of Traverse City, Michigan, Tall Ship Manitou is a replica of an 1800’s “coasting” cargo schooner, similar to those that sailed the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. Specifically designed for passenger service, her hull was constructed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1983 and finished by Vermont carpenters on Lake Champlain. With a 58 passenger capacity, there is plenty of space for sitting and moving around the decks while under sail. Her overall length of 114 feet, beam of 21 feet, and displacement of nearly 100 tons ensures a comfortable, relaxing motion, soothing to both landlubbers and “old salts” alike. You can book her for a variety of sails, including a brunch sail, an evening sail, a dinner & sail, and a Moomer's ice cream sail!
The Wolverine Golf Course
One of three golf courses on the premises of the Grand Traverse Resort. Gary Player’s 1st signature course in Michigan is designed to take full advantage of the Resort’s richly diverse environment. The design’s flexibility, versatility, and playability with 4 sets of tees allows the course to be set up to accommodate golfers of all abilities. Each nine is distinctive. The front nine is constructed on lowland terrain with water and wetlands, and existing wetlands were enhanced to interweave with several holes on the front. The back nine is constructed on highland terrain with hardwoods, rolling hills, and views of East Grand Traverse Bay. Fairways and greens were seeded with Providence Bentgrass, tees were seeded with Penncross Bentgrass, and the rough was seeded with bluegrass and fescue. The greens are undulating while water comes into play on 13 holes. The course record is 63, shot during the first round of the 2008 Michigan Open by Brian Stuard of Jackson, Michigan.
Blue Sky Rentals
Blue Sky Rentals is Traverse City’s best watercraft rental service! We offer convenient delivery and pick up service to make your day on the water hassle free, or you can rent directly at one of our easy to find locations. During the summer, we rent jet skis and pontoons, as well as water trampolines, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. Our boats are all late model, well-maintained and ready for a fun day on the water! Rentals are available on an hourly, daily, and multi-day basis. Pick up and delivery options are available on multi-day rentals.
Firefly Restaurant
Looking for something not on the main drag but that is still delicious? Maybe with the possibility of still eating outside? Look no further. The Firefly is AMAZING. Don't miss their crab rangoon appetizer, their flank steak and truffle fries are to die for, and I am drooling just thinking about their salmon. Do yourself a favor and stop by for a bite!
Poppycocks
We only just tried this place for the first time in August 2024, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't recommend it to you. Their bar and mixologists make incredible and innovative cocktails but - more than anything - they have the single best brussels sprout dish I have ever had. And I get brussels sprouts pretty much any time I see them on the menu. I mean seriously, it's just THAT good.
Good Harbor Bay Beach
Look at what I found! If you are looking for a feel-good sand-between-your-toes moment, with lots of privacy, where dogs are allowed, and you can find piles of Petoskey stones then you've come to the right place.