[EulyBell]

Hello everybody! I've been lurking around on here for quite some time...mostly to enjoy all the amazing pictures....but I just found out I'll be spending a month in Traverse City this fall! I'll be there pretty much the whole month of October and I was hoping ya'll could tell me some things I'd be crazy to miss while I'm up there. I'll be pretty busy during the week with work, but I should have at least 2 or 3 freeish weekends. And I should have some free weekday evenings too to play around in Traverse City.

Thanks so mush!

[Luzette]

Travel out on Old Mission Peninsula and enjoy all the different vineyards. It's a beautiful drive. I'd also drive up to Suttons Bay and over to Leland. Those are two small towns that offer a lot. Enjoy downtown Traverse because it has a lot of really nice stores and foodie places. Once you're there you'll find all the enjoyable things the area has to offer.

[jmlowman]

Agree with what Luzette said. We were just there in May.

Here's a useful website. I think they also sent me a book about the area that was about the thickness of a magazine:

Traverse City Michigan, Hotels, Vacations, Lodging - Traverse City

Aside from the wineries, if you like a good beer, try Mackinaw City Brewing Company. It's downtown, in the main shopping district. Good place to eat, as well.

If you go to Sutton's Bay, try for breakfast or lunch at the 45th Parallel Cafe.

There are a couple of interesting lighthouses at the tip of each leg of the peninsula, if you're interested in some maritime history. Both have small museums, and there is a gift shop at Grand Traverse.

On the upside, you shouldn't be inundated with tourists in October. The downside could be seasonal closings. We were there before school was out, but after Memorial Day, so everything that we wanted to see was open. Maybe someone more local can explain that situation better than I can.

We're originally from Flint, but have lived in southern California for the past 38 years, so seasonal closings are something that we had to remember. It was our first time in Traverse City and we loved the area.

[michmoldman]

There is just waaaay to much to see and do up here. The breweries and wineries are amazing if you are into that!!
The scenery will blow your mind, so just driving from place to place is a treat in itself.
Naming everything you should see is just too much, but of course Sleeping Bear should be right at the top of your list...plus anything up that way. I would also put the Grand Traverse Commons on your list. We LOVE that place, and will be the site of my storefront soon. The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

This is also a great site to check out.
Northern Michigan Guide-Traverse City, Traverse City Hotels, Mackinac

Have fun!

[belleislerunner]

Make a day trip to Glen Arbor (when you're visiting the dunes). I actually prefer Glen Arbor over Leland in terms of amenities (coffee shops, diners, cherry shops etc) but you can easily enjoy them all on a day's drive as they are only 10 miles apart. Visit Glen Arbor - Cherry Republic Headquarters is a must visit!

[Torchure]

You have got to have breakfast at 45th Parallel in Suttons Bay......go to Sleeping Bear of course, Mackinac Island, and my personal favorite....Torch Lake is about 30-60 minutes out of TC. Torch is the 3rd Most Beautiful Lake in the World.......1st in the USA....... AND it is October.....take a fall color tour.

The Traverse City area has everything ..... except alot of jobs.....if you need to visit a laundrymat, i recommend Eastfield on 8th street. Lots of places like yoga and regular gyms, churches to bars, walking/biking trails, camping to higher end resort accommodations, nightlife to quiet library.....I could go on and on....you will love it here!!!!!!

[malamute]

Definitely Sleeping Bear and the Grand Traverse Bays, try both East and West and spend some time downtown, and make sure you buy some fudge or at least buy it when/if you check out Mackinac Island. I also agree about the GT Commons because it's a very pretty and historic place.

When you go to Sleeping Bear, make sure you do the whole thing, walk to the top of the sand dunes, get an amazing view of Glen Lake, and keep on walking down to Lake Michigan and check out that shore line.

You might want to see if there is a good show at the casino.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by malamute

Definitely Sleeping Bear and the Grand Traverse Bays, try both East and West and spend some time downtown, and make sure you buy some fudge or at least buy it when/if you check out Mackinac Island. I also agree about the GT Commons because it's a very pretty and historic place.

When you go to Sleeping Bear, make sure you do the whole thing, walk to the top of the sand dunes, get an amazing view of Glen Lake, and keep on walking down to Lake Michigan and check out that shore line.

You might want to see if there is a good show at the casino.

I agree, just driving through Sleeping Bear doesn't cut it - and if you expect scenery you will be disappointed. In Michigan you must leave your vehicle, and not be a "windshield tourist".

[FenderBass]

Eulybell, I'm going to share everything you need to see and do in and around TVC and you can do it in one day or less!

1. Drive up Center road(M37) to the tip of old Mission Peninsula. On the way stop at the Peninsula Grill, tell Johnny I said "Hi"
2. Drive down Old Mission Peninsula on Peninsula drive, this puts you on the west side of the Peninsula on West Bay. East bay is for the birds.
3. Drive west towards downtown Traverse City, once you are by the Holiday Inn stay in the left lane towards downtown Traverse City.
4. Park your car. Walk the 4 or 5 block area that is downtown.
5. Now, get in your car head west towards M-31 on Front Street.
6. Turn right at the new CVS store. (Man this place is looking like every other town USA)
7. Turn left at the first light you come to. Don't go straight or you will end up in the Bay.
8. Drive up M-22 towards Suttons Bay. Honk and wave as you pass by my house, it's on M-22 halfway between TVC and Suttons bay
4. Continue through Suttons Bay on M22 north towards Northport.
5. Continue on M-22 past Northport. This turns into 640, continue north to the Leelanau state park. Enjoy the park.
6. Now head South the way you came, after you go through Northport you will turn right(west) on M-22(North Manitou Trail) this will take you down the west side of the Leelanau Peninsula towards Leeland.
7. Follow M-22 south past Leeland towards Glen Arbor.
8. When in Glen Arbor eat at Art's. (Cash only, they don't take credit cards).
9. Take M-109 to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. There is a fee(there wasn't when I was a young man!)
10. Climb the Dunes. From here you can see Big and Little Glen Lakes. Get in your car and...........
11. Stay on M-109 heading south.
12. From M-109 you will see a sign for "Pierce Stocking Senic Drive". There is a charge for this. (Again this is a recent development).
13. After the drive continue south on M-22.
12. Stay on M-22 until you reach Empire. Turn right at the blinking light(it's the only light in town)
13. You have arrived in Empire. There is a nice park on the beach just west of the town(follow the signs)
14. Now head back toward the light in step 12, continue straight thought the light.
15 You are now on M-72, follow this for about 26 miles.................
16. Congratulations, you are now back in Traverse City!

That's it, you've seen it all!