Days Inn & Suites Traverse City

Hope you like cherries....

by pchamlis

As mentioned in my introduction, Traverse City is centered in a major cherry growing and exporting area. The rebirth of the cherry industry has, to a great extent, been fueled by civic-minded locals hell-bent on saving the old cherry orchards from condo builder bulldozers.

You can buy just about any cherry-related or themed product you'd want in and around Traverse City. Some of them may be a stretch. I didn't see any cherry dog food, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it exists.

There is a huge civic pride in the cherry industry, and you almost find yourself feeling like a traitor is you choose to have blueberry jam with your scones.

And again, a personal recommendation. Google "Cherry Republic" for a nice assortment of cherry products and goodies. It's owned by Bob Sutherland, who is the brother/brother-in-law of my Traverse City friends. My PERSONAL favorite things the Cherry Republic sells are

(a) the Cherry Chocolate Coconut BoomChunka cookies. Imagine terrific oatmeal cookies with nuts, dark chocolate chips and coconut. Ummm Ummm, good.

(b) The Cherry Orchard Crunch, which is basically a gourmet caramel-coated popcorn product with pecans and dried cherries added.

Take a tour out onto the...

by fluteangel

Take a tour out onto the Penninsula. If you drive along Penninsula Drive, you'll get spectacular views of the west bay and power island with water as blue as the Carribbean. If you drive along M-37 you'll get breaktaking views of both bays and cherry orchards. At the end of the penninsula is Mission Point Light House which sits right on the 45th parallel. Also, on west bay there is Bower's Harbor for docking your boat. And you simply must take home some of Doug Murdock's Fudge because it truly is the best in the world. It lives up to it's reputation.

Home, Sweet Home

by ciaobellamici

"Summer in the City"

A quick bike ride or walk with the dog will take you to the beach, joining others who appreciate the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings. Early morning runs provide a different view but just as spectacular is the water and the atmosphere of this special place.

"South Manitou Island, Leelanau County, Michigan"

Not far from Traverse City are many opportunities to expereince the big lake's hostory.
A ferry takes day visitors and overnight campers to the island once each morning. Be sure to get reservations ahead of time, get to Leland early in the day (enjoy breakfast at the early Bird) an be prompt to the ship, located at Fishtown.
We have only done day trips so we rush around the island trying to see everything before returning to the port for the 4 pm departure back to the mainland.

"There's So Much to this Place"

It is hard to describe the joy of living here. The city itself is lovely. Right on the water and the people generally appreciate their lives here. We recognize the gift of having surroundings that others can only visit for a brief time each year.
And within 30 miles you have the spectaculr Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, where you can hike for days...literally. Check it out and come visit.