[Giesela]

A friend and I have hotel reservations for the weekend of October 10,11. She wants to do some wine tasting (so do I!) and I am looking for wine related and any other do not misses. I have not actually ever been or explored around there (embarrasing but at least I'm working on it!). We have another friend that moved there a few years ago and will visit her so I'm not sure how much time we will really have but am hoping for some good tips. If you have several it would help me a great deal if you ranked them?
Thank you
P.S. I am a nature lover, bird watcher, not necessarily particularly "touristy" if that helps.

[Jswee]

There are a whole series of vineyards on the Old Mission Peninsula that have wine tasting rooms. If the weather is nice, an afternoon visiting the tasting rooms would be a lot of fun. Peninsula Cellar's, Château Grand Traverse, Bowers Harbor Vineyards and Château Chantel all have some decent wines and are worth stopping at. The creme de la creme, in my opinion and one that should not be missed is one of the smaller operations, 2 Lads Vineyard. Very cool tasting room with some excellent views over East Grand Traverse bay and has some of the best wine produced in Northern Michigan, in my opinion.

If the weather is nice, finish up the Peninsula tour with a stop at the light house at the tip. There is a 100 acre township park there with hiking trails, if the colors are nice, it will be a nice walk and will help you walk off some of the vino. LoL! Or you can walk along the beach by the lighthouse, that can be nice too.

Another option would be a combination of color touring and wine tasting up the Leelanau Peninsula. Depending on how the colors are, that could be a great afternoon, also. Use a designated driver, though. ; )

Finish the day off with dinner in downtown TC at Red Ginger and you will have some great memories to take back downstate with you!

[Luzette]

I agree that Old Mission Penninsula is a great place to go. All the vineyards have something unique to offer. I'd also check out the Old Mission General Store. It's like stepping into the 1930s. I also like going to Suttons Bay and over to Leland. I think Fishtown is all open until the end of October.

[Michigansnowflake]

That weekend is AppleFest in Charlevoix, drive on up if you have the time!

[ImaMichigander]

Have dinner at Trattoria Stella. It's a little pricey, but the food is out of this world! It's housed in the former mental institution!

[Peter B]

The wines here are some of the best produced in Michigan. It is just E of Center Road on Old Mission Peninsula. Turn right at St. Josephs Catholic Church (About 9 miles out on OMP) and it's a 1/4 mile on the left

Brys

[aquadejoe]

I would suggest taking a nice drive up the bay to Suttons Bay. It is a quaint little town with some unique shops and some great views of the bay.
The community college in TC also has some great performances most weekends. Also, you could go for massages at the Grand Traverse Resort which also has some great trails for walking and bird watching. Enjoy!

[tecpatl]

I'll always recommend Leelanau County, with it's quaint costal villages, rolling hills covered with forests, vineyards and orchards, and miles of beaches and beautiful views.
Visit Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor...all with interestings shops, galleries and restaurants. Check out Historic Fishtown in Leland and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (especially the Pierce Stocking Drive!) and, of course, all those great Leelanau wineries!
Leelanau Peninsula Wines, Leelanau County, Traverse City Area, Michigan

[tecpatl]

www.lelandmi.com

[rubylounge]

Suttons Bay is nice---check out the Ciccone Vineyard. Also the Bowers Harbor Inn is a great place for dinner.