Downtown Traverse City sits about 32 miles off the Lake Michigan route along the western shoreline. I's a destination worth planning several days to fully experience what the city has to offer. After the region's forests were extensively logged in the mid-19th century, agriculture emerged as the new economic driver. Favorable weather patterns proved ideal for cherry orchards and the Traverse City area now produces roughly 75% of the nation's tart cherries. Each mid-summer, the town celebrates with a festival that swells the population from about 15,000 residents to an estimated 500,000 visitors. First held in 1925, the eight-day National Cherry Festival is scheduled for July 4-11 in 2026. In addition, more than 50 wineries now operate in the region.

There's always something happening in Traverse City. The Traverse City visitors website lists more than 90 events during the summer months. The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by filmmaker Michael Moore, started as an annual festival and now sponsors great movies year round. The options to explore are just as varied. Tour local wineries and distilleries, explore breweries by bike or kayak, or head out to enjoy the many hiking trails. The spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, about 25 miles away, offers sweeping Lake Michigan views from towering dunes. Check the Bay Area Transportation Authority for public transit options.