Why Honeymoon in Traverse City
Traverse City combines a wine trip with a beach trip, which is rare in the Midwest. You can spend the morning on a sandy bay beach and the afternoon tasting riesling, pinot noir or sparkling wine on a peninsula with water views on both sides.
The nature is impressive. Sleeping Bear Dunes offers huge dunes, lighthouses, quiet beaches and some of the best sunset views on the Great Lakes. Small towns like Glen Arbor, Leland and Suttons Bay add charm.
It suits couples with different interests. One of you might bike or paddle while the other takes a cooking class or browses galleries.
For Midwestern couples, Traverse City is a short flight or a long drive rather than a cross-country trip. Detroit is about four hours by car and Chicago about five.
When to Go
June through September is the main season. Summer days are warm and long, with water in the bay warming enough for swimming by July. Wineries, beaches and restaurants are fully open.
The National Cherry Festival runs for about a week in early July. It brings air shows, concerts and parades, but also heavy traffic and higher hotel rates. Avoid it if you want a quiet trip.
September and October are lovely, with harvest season at the wineries, fewer crowds and fall color that usually peaks in early to mid-October.
May brings cherry blossoms on the peninsulas and quieter roads, though it is still cool.
Winter is cold and snowy, with heavy snowfall. Some wineries remain open. There are also opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Many seasonal businesses close or reduce hours.
Where to Stay
Downtown Traverse City puts you within walking distance of restaurants, breweries and the bay. Boutique hotels and inns offer a good base for exploring. Resorts along the bay's east arm have private beaches and water views.
On Old Mission Peninsula, wineries such as Chateau Chantal offer bed-and-breakfast style rooms among the vines, with views of both arms of the bay. Leelanau Peninsula has small inns and cottages near towns like Suttons Bay, Northport and Glen Arbor. Glen Arbor is a good base for Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Many couples rent a cottage on the water for privacy. Expect roughly $200 to $450 a night for good inns and rentals in summer, with prices rising during the Cherry Festival and on peak weekends. Book well ahead for July and August.
Romantic Things to Do
Spend a day tasting wine on Old Mission Peninsula. Wineries like Chateau Chantal, Brys Estate and Mari Vineyards have tasting rooms with bay views. Leelanau Peninsula has even more wineries, including sparkling wine producers. Book a driver or tour.
Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for overlooks above Lake Michigan, climb the Dune Climb or hike the Empire Bluff Trail at sunset.
Explore the historic fishing village of Leland, known as Fishtown, with its weathered shanties and smoked fish.
Bike part of the TART trail network, which links Traverse City to nearby towns. Rent kayaks or paddleboards on the bay. Visit Mission Point Lighthouse at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula for a quiet walk on the beach.
Getting There and Around
Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is about 10 minutes from downtown. It is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, with nonstop flights to hubs including Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis and additional seasonal routes in summer.
By car, Traverse City is about four hours from Detroit, three hours from Grand Rapids and five hours from Chicago.
You will want a car to explore the peninsulas and Sleeping Bear Dunes. For wine tasting days, hire a driver or join a wine tour, since roads can be winding and police patrol for drunk driving. Downtown Traverse City is walkable. Bikes are a good way to get around town on the TART trail. Sleeping Bear Dunes requires a park pass, which you can buy online or at visitor centers.
Food and Drink
Cherries are the star. The region produces a large share of the country's tart cherries. Look for them in pies, jams, salsas and even cherry wine and cider.
The region's wine is cool-climate, with riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wines as standouts. Many wineries offer food pairings and outdoor seating with views.
Downtown Traverse City has a strong restaurant scene, with farm-to-table cooking, fresh Great Lakes fish and craft breweries. Whitefish is the local favorite, often served broiled or smoked.
In Leland's Fishtown, you can buy smoked whitefish and pâté for a picnic. Cideries and distilleries add to the drink options. Reservations help on summer weekends and during festivals.
Honeymoon Tips
Avoid the National Cherry Festival week in early July unless you want crowds and festivities. Book well ahead if you do go.
Pace your wine tasting. Visit three or four wineries a day and arrange a driver for longer trips.
The Dune Climb and other dune hikes are harder than they look. Climbing back up the steep sand slopes from Lake Michigan can take an hour or more. Bring water, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. Turn back if you feel tired.
Lake Michigan can have dangerous rip currents and waves, especially on windy days. Swim at guarded beaches and check the flags.
Bring layers. Evenings are cool even in summer. Mosquitoes and ticks can be active in wooded areas, so use repellent. Dress is casual almost everywhere.
