Welcome to Traverse City!

I'm excited to have you here enjoying our area! Please use my curated guide to for tips for a more enjoyable visit and to discover my favorite local places to eat, drink, shop & experience. Enjoy!

Tips for a more enjoyable TC area experience

Downtown Traverse City

🍽 Dining
Most local options close by 9pm. Late night food options: Mode's Bum Steer, Lil Bo's

🅿️ Parking (map)
Downtown and surrounding streets have metered parking and are strictly enforced (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm)
*FREE parking on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day

🚻 Public Restrooms (map)

🚲 TART Trails (maps)
A network of multi-use trails in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties as well as a cross-town bike route

⛱️ Clinch Park
Metered parking
Splash Pad turns off at 6pm

🚗 Transportation
Traverse City has both Lyft and Uber as well as various local taxi companies

MY LOCAL FAVORITES

Seasonally driven breakfast menu - Sugar 2 Salt

Food

Bubbie’s Bagels

Bagel Shop

1215 East Front Street, Traverse City

(231) 252-3587

Locals tip: Ask about their seasonal schmears & cream cheeses

Sugar 2 Salt

Breakfast & brunch restaurant

1371 Gray Dr, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: No reservations. Totally worth the wait! Grab some English Muffins to go!

Folgarelli’s

Gourmet sandwiches, Italian market & wine

424 W Front St, Traverse City

(231) 941-7651 (menu)

Local's tip: Grab their homemade pasta, sauce, meatballs & focaccia and a bottle of wine for a quick and easy authentic Italian meal!

The Filling Station Microbrewery

Stove oven pizza & craft beer

642 Railroad Place, Traverse City

(231) 946-8168 (menu)(website)

Local's tip: If you like spicy, try the Firebox!

Charles and Reid Detroit Pizza

Pizza, salads & sandwiches. Beer & wine to go

113 E. State Street, Traverse City

(231) 252-3497 (website)

Local's tip: Located Downtown TC. They make a limited number of pizzas daily and often sell out. Order ahead.

Red Ginger

Asian cuisine & sushi

237 E Front St, Traverse City

Local's tip: Elegant/casual dining room dress code. Casual attire accepted in the bar

The Little Fleet

Open air bar & food trucks

448 E Front St, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: Fantastic variety of food trucks in the summer, and a rotating kitchen in the winter.

Farm Club

Farm, brewery, restaurant & market place

10051 Lake Leelanau Dr, Traverse City

Samsara

Southeast Asian restaurant

4025 Chums Village Dr, Traverse City

(231) 486-6155

Local's note: Great place for dine in & takeout

Moomers

Homemade ice cream and farm

7263 N Long Lake Rd, Traverse City

Craft Cocktails - Mammoth Distilling

Drink

Mundos 305

Coffee bar

305 W Front St, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: Try the Cheddar Lime Hash Burrito!

Earthen Ales

Local Brewery

137 Gray Drive #200, Traverse City

(231) 252-4270

Locals tip: Every Sunday is Small Batch Sunday

The Workshop Brewing Co.

Local craft brewery & live music

221 Garland St, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: Family friendly. Pinball, darts & board games.

Silver Spruce Brewing Company

Local brewery with food truck on-site

439 E Eighth Street, Traverse City

(menu)

Local's tip: Comfortable place to hang out both indoors and outside. Great beer!

Stone Hound Brewing Company

Top-tier beers & fantastic vegan food

3593 Bunker Hill Road, Williamsburg, MI

(231) 421-5010 (menu)(website)

All of their beers are named after local bike trails.

Brys Estate

Old Mission Peninsula vineyard & winery

3309 Blue Water Rd, Traverse City

The Parlor

Craft cocktails, wine, MI beers & food

205 Lake Ave., Traverse City

(menu)(website)

Locals Tip: TC's best Happy Hour. 1/2 OFF Cocktails 4-6pm. Live music Thurs, Fri, Sat

Mammoth Distilling

Craft cocktails lounge

221 Garland St, Traverse City

(231) 943-1073 (menu)(website)

Local's tip: Great live music most Wed-Sat. Bring in food from The Workshop next door!

Bonobo Winery

Old Mission Peninsula Winery

12011 Center Rd, Traverse City

Lil Bo

Neighborhood bar & food

540 W Front St, Traverse City

(231) 421-3100

Local's tip: Outdoor seating, food truck, beer trailer & yard games. Kitchen is open

Scenic Drive - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Things to Do

Skydive TC

Skydiving

1160 Airport Access Rd, Traverse City

(231) 649-4929 (reservation)

Local's tip: Amazing views of the bay!

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Shopping, dining, tours & more

1200 W Eleventh St, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: Don't miss the tunnel tours.

TC Wine Girl

Wine Tours

Traverse City

Distance: 5-15 miles

(231) 492-0048 (reservation)

Discovery Cruises

Boat tours

13170 S W Bayshore Dr, Traverse City

(231) 943-1183 (menu)(reservation)

Local's tip: Happy Hour on the Water!!!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Beaches, hiking & dunes along Lake Michigan

6748 S Dune Hwy, Glen Arbor

Local's tip: Dunes get hot. Morning climbs in Summer are best. Take the scenic drive!

Clinch Park

Beach, splash pad, restrooms, cafe & more

161 E Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City

Local's tip: Great place to enjoy a beautiful sunrise

Sara Hardy Farmers Market

Local produce, baked goods, flowers & more

Parking Lot B, Corner of E Grandview Pkwy @ Cass St, Traverse City

Local's tip: Open Saturdays 730am-12pm(May-Oct) & Wednesdays 8am-12pm(June-Oct)

TART Trails

Network of multi-use trails

Grand Traverse & Leelanau counties

Maple Bay Natural Area

Great beach and hiking trails

10849 US-31, Williamsburg

(website)

Pyramid Point Trail

Hiking trail along Lake Michigan

Basch Rd, Maple City

Local's tip: 2.7 miles of hilly hiking with a beautiful lookout.

Fresh produce & meats - Oryana

Shopping

Oryana

Organic Grocery Store and Café

260 E. 10th Street, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: The $5 Roasted Chickens on Wednesdays are the best in TC! Get them early!

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Shopping, dining, tours & more

1200 W Eleventh St, Traverse City

(website)

Local's tip: Don't miss the tunnel tours.

Burritt’s Fresh Markets

Specialty Grocery & Meat Market

509 W Front St, Traverse City

Local's tip: Fresh seafood and great brats for the grill

Bay Bread Co

Local artisan bakery

601 Randolph St, Traverse City

Local's tip: If you like cheese, try the Cheddar Cheese & Onion Loaf!

Downtown Leland & Fishtown

A fun downtown and active fishing village full of great shops

Leland, MI

Fustini’s

Specialty oils and vinegars

141 E Front St, Traverse City

N.J.’s Grocery

115 W Philip St, Lake Leelanau

Local's tip: Authentic packaged Indian food prepared daily

Tom’s Food Markets – East Bay

Local grocery store

738 Munson Ave, Traverse City

Meijer

Supermarket, pharmacy & gas

3955 US 31 S, Traverse City

Local's tip: Very busy. Do shopping before 7am to save time. Check out Stocked-up.com for delivery

Bike & XC ski rentals, sales & service - Brick Wheels

Services/Rentals

ELEV8 Climbing & Fitness

Climbing & fitness gym

777 Boyd Ave, Traverse City

WHY LOCAL'S LOVE IT: Great workouts. Fun for families!

Stocked

Local grocery delivery service

Delivering Northern MI

(231) 844-0772 (delivery)(website)

Local's tip: Deliveres before arrival or while you're out! Ideal for rentals, homes & boats. Items neatly placed in the kitchen and directly into the frigde!