Traverse City
Around Traverse City
Photo: Phoenix-Five · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Michigan · 156k people
Traverse City
“Cherry Capital of the World”
Where the cherries meet the lake
Cherry RedLake BlueForest Green
Welcome to Traverse City, where the bay meets the orchards and the dunes are just a short drive away. Whether you're here for the cherries, the wine, or the trails, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Get ready to soak in the lake breeze and explore everything this corner of northern Michigan has to offer.
Clubs for Traverse City
No clubs for Traverse City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Traverse City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Traverse City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Famous dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Old Mission Peninsula Cherry orchards, vineyards, and lighthouse at the tip.
- Mission Point Lighthouse Historic lighthouse on Old Mission Peninsula.
- Grand Traverse Bay Two arms of the bay offer boating and beaches.
- Traverse City Open Space Downtown park along the bay, hosts festivals.
- Clinch Park Beach and marina in downtown Traverse City.
- Outdoors Hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Outdoors Kayak or paddleboard on the Boardman River
- With kids Visit the Great Lakes Children's Museum
- With kids Ride the carousel at the Grand Traverse Commons
- Evenings Listen to live music at the City Opera House
- Evenings Bar hop on Front Street
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Wineries and tasting rooms
Through the year
- National Cherry Festival July Signature cherry-themed festival with parades and food.
- Traverse City Film Festival July/August Independent film festival founded by Michael Moore.
- Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival February Winter beer tasting and live music.
- Michigan Wine & Cider Festival August Tasting of local wines and ciders.
- Traverse City Horse Shows Summer Equestrian competitions at Flintfields Horse Park.
Four-season climate with lake-effect snow in winter and mild summers. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “Up north”
- Refers to northern Michigan, often used by downstaters.
- “The bay”
- Grand Traverse Bay.
- “The dunes”
- Sleeping Bear Dunes.
- “The commons”
- The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.
Getaways
- Petoskey Quaint downtown, lakeside parks, and the Petoskey stone.
- Cadillac Two lakes, mountain biking, and the Cadillac Pathway.
- Ludington Ludington State Park, lighthouse, and sandy beaches.
- Mount Pleasant Soaring Eagle Casino and outdoor recreation.
Local flavour
Teams
- Traverse City Pit Spitters Northwoods League
Eat and drink
- Cherry pie A local staple, often made with Traverse City tart cherries.
- Pasties A Michigan classic, especially popular in the north, filled with meat and root vegetables.
- Whitefish Freshly caught from the Great Lakes, often smoked or pan-fried.
- Cherry wine Produced at local wineries along the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas.
- Grand Traverse Pie Company A local chain known for its cherry pies and other baked goods.
Where people go
- Cherry orchards Thousands of acres of tart cherry trees, especially on the Old Mission Peninsula.
- Vineyards The region is a major wine-producing area, with tasting rooms on both peninsulas.
- Great Lakes beaches Sandy shores along Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay.
- Sand dunes Sleeping Bear Dunes is nearby, but smaller dunes exist within the metro.
- Lighthouses Historic lighthouses like the Mission Point Light and Grand Traverse Light.
- Downtown Traverse City A walkable downtown with shops, restaurants, and the historic State Theatre.
Heritage and traditions
The region is proud of its cherry-growing heritage, world-class wineries, and the stunning natural beauty of Grand Traverse Bay, along with a close-knit community that celebrates both its agricultural roots and a vibrant arts scene.
This time of year in Traverse City
- Color tours Fall Scenic drives and hikes to see the fall foliage.
Say it like a local: “you guys” — A term for a group of people, equivalent to 'you all'.
Festivals
- Gaylord Alpenfest July Swiss heritage festival in Gaylord with parades, food, and traditional music.
- Interlochen Arts Festival Summer A summer series of performances and exhibitions at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.
- Traverse City Jazz Festival June A weekend of jazz performances in downtown Traverse City.
Landmarks with a story
- Grand Traverse Lighthouse Historic lighthouse on the Leelanau Peninsula, now a museum.
- Hartwick Pines State Park Home to old-growth white pines and a logging museum, reflecting the region's lumbering past.
- City Opera House A restored 1892 opera house hosting performances and events.
- Interlochen Center for the Arts A world-renowned arts camp and academy on the shores of Green Lake.
Food traditions
- Smoked whitefish A Great Lakes tradition; locals smoke fresh whitefish and serve it as a spread or fillet.
- Morel mushroom hunting In spring, locals head to the woods to hunt for morels, then sauté them in butter.
- Pasties with ketchup A Cornish miner's meal brought to Michigan; locals often eat pasties with ketchup.
Music and arts
- Interlochen Center for the Arts A prestigious arts camp and academy attracting young talent worldwide.
- City Opera House A historic venue hosting concerts, plays, and community events.
- Local folk and bluegrass scene A lively acoustic music community with regular jam sessions and concerts.
- Dennos Museum Center An art museum with a focus on contemporary and Inuit art.
A little history
- Pre-1800s Anishinaabe peoples
- Late 1800s Lumbering boom
- 1885 Northern Michigan Asylum (now Grand Traverse Commons)
- Late 1800s Cherry orchards planted
- 1970 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore established
Rivalries
- Traverse City West vs. Traverse City Central High school football rivalry.
- Traverse City vs. Petoskey Friendly sports rivalry in various sports.
- Traverse City Pit Spitters vs. other Michigan Northwoods League teams Baseball rivalry with teams like Kalamazoo.
- Game day Bayshore Marathon
- Game day Iceman Cometh Challenge
- Outdoors Morel mushroom hunting
- Outdoors Sailing on Grand Traverse Bay
- With kids Climbing the Sleeping Bear Dunes
- With kids Cherry Bowl Drive-In
People here speak with a mild Great Lakes accent, often saying 'pop' for soda and 'you guys' for everyone. They refer to the region as 'up north' and pronounce 'pasties' as 'pass-tees'.
Only here
- The cherry pit spitting contest at the National Cherry Festival.
- Wineries on the 45th parallel, the same latitude as Bordeaux.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes was voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America' by Good Morning America in 2011.
- The Grand Traverse Commons, a repurposed state hospital with shops and trails.
New here? A few tips
- Be ready for snowy winters; invest in a good winter coat and snow tires.
- Summer brings many tourists, so book accommodations early.
- Learn to pronounce 'pasties' as 'pass-tees'.
- Try the cherry products—from pie to salsa—they're everywhere.
- Check for ticks after hiking in the woods.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaCadillacMichiganLakes, pines, and small-town charm.PetoskeyMichiganWhere the Great Lakes meet the pines.GaylordMichiganWhere the pines meet the lakes, and everyone knows your name.ManisteeMichiganWhere the river meets the big lake, and the pines keep watch.GraylingMichiganWhere the pines meet the waterLudingtonMichiganWhere the forest meets the lakeBig RapidsMichiganA river runs through it, and a university roots it.Mount PleasantMichiganA friendly college town on the Chippewa River.
Traverse City, MI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.