Traverse City Things to Do

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While walking down Front street, a sign for a LEGO expo over at the History Center of Traverse City caught our eye. My little guy loves LEGO, so we hoofed it over here to check it out. On the first floor of the building, there were a few larger LEGO displays, and then a few rooms you'd expect to find in a History Center - rooms dedicated to farming, older schools, etc.

The main draw was in the basement, where there was a large table of LEGO displays, then several more tables where kids are invited to build whatever they want. They also set up a large ramp for kids to let their vehicles fly! Obviously, the kids love this place, though I pity the poor people who have to clean that mess up every day:)

For $5 a piece (free for 4 and under), I think the LEGO carnival is worth the price if you want to kill a few hours. It looks like the LEGO is seasonal, so check out their website to see if it is open. Not sure it is worth the effort to make it over to the small place without it...

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The main shopping drag of Traverse City is Front Street - or downtown Traverse City. Here, you will find a ton of dining and shopping options - from the boutique stores to the tourist traps, and everything in between. The nice thing is that the stretch is only a few blocks long, so you don't have to drag yourself up and down miles and miles to see it all.

There are plenty of restaurants to suit all tastes, from breweries, to fine dining. There are your fudge shops (my recommendation - go to Kilwins and not Murdicks - Kilwins has a better selection and friendlier people.) There are your "cherry-themed" stores (Cherry Republic is a must do - the samples are incredible and will entice you to lay out a few bucks.)

Be sure to check out windows around the area for events around town - this is how we got clued in to visit the History Center of Traverse City.

Parking seems to be available in the various lots around the city - and at 50 cents an hour, is a great deal.

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Hey - in any touristy town, you're going to find a couple of mini-golf courses. At Pirate Cove, along with the golf, there are several other attractions (Go-karts, water slide), but the highlights are the two 18 hole mini-golf courses. Since the two kids wanted to play, we decided to take the "easier" course - and admittedly for an older golfer, this one will be fairly easy (lot's of 2 putts.) The course is in pretty great shape - there are a few fun hazards, such as jumping the ball over water. Prices are around $8 a person, regardless of age, which is just slightly on the high side, but overall, the golf was a fun distraction. At the end of the round, the kids were given little goody bags - crayons, a small gift, and piece of candy. So they were totally excited by the outing.

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When visiting the historical architecture at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons don't miss the opportunity to taste the best darned bread for miles around.

Know that with every mouth watering bite you are supporting the best of Northern Michigan right down to its organic crops.

This scrumptious, amazing, yeast less SUPER GOOD FOR YOU bread is baked in a wood burning brick oven in the old world style and uses only the finest local organic ingredients.

At 900 degrees Fahrenheit it only takes 18 minutes to bake a loaf. Now that's Hot!

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Our visit to Chateau Chantal Winery was pleasant and 'fruitful.' This beautiful winery sits atop a well-groomed hill top on the Mission Peninsula on the outskirts of Traverse city, on the coastline of Lake Michigan. It has old-world charm and the wines produced are some of the best Michgan wineries have to offer.

'Chateau Chantal was established i n1983 when cherry orchards were replaced with grafted vinifera grape vines; the same type of wine grape grown along other parts of the 45th parallel in the Bordeaux region of France. The vineyards of Chateau Chantal are planted with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Gewurtraminer, Merlot and Pinot Meunier. Wine grapes thrive in the unique micro-climate characteristic of the Northern Lake Michigan coastline.

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Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Area has become such a great biking region. I am going to stay within the confines of downtown however...
Pick up the Boardman Lake Trail and go south from the Library along the Lake.

Or

Pickup the TART Trail and head east, following the railroad.

Or

Head northwest into town on the TART Trail, passing homes, parks and following the Bay...

Or follow the Boardman Trail west, cross the bridge and wander through the Old Town District.

ALL are lovely and refreshing.

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The Four Seasons are well represented in Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Region. I appreciate the founding fathers' efforts to bring the country to the city when they had the forsite to plant blooming trees along Front and Union Streets and the current leaders who understand the importance of a lakeside trail.

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Located on the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay, Clinch Park is a great park for walking and running, going to the beach, or using the Marina. The exceptional location, right in the city, makes for a lovely spot for urban dwellers as well as tourist.

At one time, there was the Clinch Park Zoo that was operated by the City of Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Zoological Society. It was 3.5 acres that exhibited the wildlife of northern Michigan. Evidently, the small train is STILL there.

We found this lovely park to be a picturesque setting in the heart of the city. In the summer, it is the area's most populated beach and has over 1500 feet of sand along West Grand Traverse Bay. There are picnic tables, lifeguards from mid-June through August. It is located east of Union Street on Grandview Parkway.

Photographs:

1. As we were walking within Clinch Park, we saw this lovely spot with flowers and a beautiful bronze statue of a father helping his son learn to ride a bike.

2. As we walked further along, we found this rocky area overlooking the West Grand Traverse Bay.

3. As we walked on the pier, I stopped to take a photograph, and, as you can see, with the sun position, Micky and my shadows are evident.

4. The canopy advertises Clinch Park, the Marina, Restrooms, and the beach.

We were amazed at how many locals use these facilities. Each day, we saw people on bikes; people running; people walking; and people sitting admiring the view of West Grand Traverse Bay.