Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Weekend Getaway - Traverse City - is it worth it?

Planning a fall getaway after work dies down in mid October

Would like to go up to northern Michigan.

Was wondering if anyone had any first hand experiences with Traverse City

What are you looking to do?

My wife and I try to get there once a year for a long weekend. Good restaurants, good wine/beer/cider places, great beaches, good fishing, shopping downtown isn't so bad(enough outdoor stores and places with free food samples to keep me satisfied for an afternoon).

Leland is a visit every time. Excellent smoked fish.

Can do it cheap or expensive, just depends on your budget.

That's what I love about the 'Fire. Until now, I wouldn't have ever guessed that people vacation to Michigan.

And not even the UP!

My wife's grandfather was a Captain on the ice breaker Mackinaw. So we go up there occasionally.

Norther Michigan and U.P. is beautiful country.

As for Traverse City, its a full day of just wandering around and seeing the sites? If I go I'll hit Leland.

Make reservations EARLY.........fall color tour time.

Golfing mecca if that's your thing; will be too cold to use the beaches.

Can always tour some wineries in the surrounding area.

Dinner at Boone's on Long Lake is a must do.........as good of beef is you'll find most anywhere.

Casino's if you like to gamble.

MM

yea, going to try to decide this week and make reservations.

Boones on Long Lake - ok

Northern Michigan is absolutely gorgeous. I have lived all over the country, and could retire anywhere, and I am looking to retire from my current occupation to there next year.

Traverse City is the most populated of the areas up there. I would recommend the Petoskey area, which isnt that far away from there. Or Harbor Springs which is just across from the bay.

Crystal clear water. Excellent fishing both on the big lake and in the inland lakes if you have a boat. There are a number of blue ribbon trout streams. If you have an ATV, there is 100's of miles of designated trails. Excellent swimming in many lakes. Millions of acres of public land. Crime is extremely low. People are laid back.

It is an awesome place to spend a summer vacation. Though, Traverse City is good if you want shopping, which isnt my thing. There are many others, but I would recommend Petoskey or Harbor Springs. Beautiful sunsets. If golf is your thing, which I despise, then there are a ton of courses.

TC is a little too busy for me, but any place between there and the bridge is great. My preference is more towards Petoskey, Harbor Springs or Charlevoix. Can't go wrong with any of them.

405wcf

If you're into craft beer, there are a couple good breweries there, I suggest North Peak, they have a great amber. I second Boone's, good food. Try the Bowery for rib, or the Blue Tractor for great sandwiches and Mac and Cheese (sounds weird, but worth it). As others have said, if you like wine, it's a great place too. Not a golfer, but there are plenty of opportunities. Great fishing abounds.Not too far away are the Sleeping Bear Dunes and the scenic drive next to it, it's a nice drive with nice views in the fall. Not much in the way of gun shops, if that is your interest, but there are a couple. Depending on how you head up, Jay's in Clare is good for outdoors stuff. If you are there during color season, head towards Kingsley on your way south, some truly nice colors. Enjoy your trip.

If we are going to add in the fall season into the mix, then you will not find better woodcock hunting in the country. Actually, all the upland game is pretty awesome. I love hunting Pats but they are a tough bird to get. Not because there are not plenty of them around, but because they are so darn hard to shoot. Lol. Waterfowl hunting is equally great, especially around the Houghton Lake area. And the salmon run is going on as well. If you have a set of waders, you can almost guarantee a trip of a lifetime if you time your trip correctly.

It is just an awesome place for outdoor stuff.

And all of this doesn't even touch the Upper Peninsula. That is a whole new ball game as soon as you cross the bridge.

You'll like it, Make sure you get out and see the "back" country of Grand Traverse County some very beautiful country to see. If you have time take a ride over to Elk Rapids and check out their beaches.

I spend a lot of time in Traverse at my grandfathers farm so when you do go hit me with a pm and if I'm up there I will by you lunch.

You like liberals? You will love it.

It's a foodie town. You could eat at a different restaurant every day for 6 months and still miss a few.
They are famous for Craft Beer Pubs, Wineries, Hard Cider Mills and even now have their own Distilleries. There are also two nice Casino's if you want to piss away your money and watch some good entertainment.
Moomers Ice Cream Parlor was voted best in the US by USA Today and again by Good Morning America.
The Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore was also voted as the most beautiful place in the US. Check out Leland and Glenn Arbor both just a few miles out of town.
In the fall you can watch the Salmon migrate up the Boardman Rive, right down town TC along with some of the best fall colors in the US.
There is enough lodging to sleep an army, and some really nice stuff that will run you $1000 per night.
Plenty of shopping for the wife too.
TC is considered small town America and a tourist destination, crazy busy in the summer & fall, slow and quiet in the winter and spring, but it's big enough to attract the Blue Angles and Thunderbird air shows every two years for the past 20 years.

ok so now you guys are selling me on it

Traverse City is a good jumping off spot to explore the NW coastline. Someone already mentioned the good eats.

Moomers is worth the trip by itself!

Shorts Brewing (https://www.shortsbrewing.com/beer/portfolio/) in Bellaire is an excellent brewery with Bellaire Brown Ale as one of my favorites.

Have fun!

405wcf

Beats the hell out of Texass.

And no one's still trying to fight the civil war either.

Not in this lifetime.

We use TC as our base camp for seeing the area. Most places people have listed are 30-60 minutes from there in all different directions.

If you want the name of a clean, cheap hotel with a serviceable breakfast, pm me. We have stayed there for several years in a row, always happy. We then splurge on lunch and dinner.

Also have to try Roses in elk Rapids for Cajun and Creole food. The Jolly Pumpkin for American Pub style food.

The tunnel of trees just North of Petoskey is great that time of year. Beaches are fun to walk looking for Petoskey stones and a few other stones native to Michigan. Sunny days with an east wind are your best bet.

River salmon runs will probably still be happening. The platte River salmon hatchery should be in full swing. Really neat place to visit, near Sleeping Bear.

Hampton Inn is the place to stay

You're a legend in your own mind, but nobody else's.

I lived there for a number of years; still have property up there. It gorgeous up there that time of year. A few tips, many have already been mentioned:

2nd weekend in October is when peak color usually hits - I'm generally duck hunting there at the time. Jordan River pathway, M-119, M-22, or the Chain-of-Lakes all make a great color tour.

Get a place to stay with a view of the water. East and West bay or one of the many inland lakes all have affordable lodging on them. Your past peak season so the rates will be less.

Skip Boones...they've gotten pricey for what they serve - locals go to Mode's Bum Steer downtown. Old school steak house. Been there for decades. Delicious. TC is a foody destination if you're into that sort of thing.

TC, Leland, Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs can get touristy in the summer. In the fall it's mostly blue hairs. Lots of winerys on Leland Penninsula and Old Mission Peninsula. Try following the Chain of Lakes - lots of cool small towns with neat places to eat and drink. Pearl's in Elk Rapids, Shorts Brewery in Bellaire, Moomer's Ice Cream in Central Lake, Dockside in Alden on Torch Lake - a must see, third clearest lake in the world, Cafe Sante in Boyne City, and so many others. I kinda like the small, outta the way mom & pop places. There's a bunch of them too.

LGS in TC include: Hampels (over 100 years old), Fieldsport for high end stuff, and Cliffs for rifles.

I believe the Mighty Mac is now berthed in Cheboygan. She's a beautiful ship and was a welcome sight I'm sure for many freighters during the winter months before shutdown on the Great Lakes. Her namesake is ported in Mackinaw City last I heard, but both are a couple hours from TC.

The Tunnel of Trees fall color tour on M119 is worth checking out that time of year as is the town of Petoskey, the town Ernest Hemingway spent his summers at. Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan are both great sights. Early to mid October is a great time of year to be in northern Michigan, the colors are great the weather is usually excellent.

October is a little late, but I understand they have some really nice white sand beaches in the Traverse City area.
Plus good Walleye fishing.

tag

I live in Alden, (26) miles NE of Traverse City on SE corner of Torch Lake. . Raised in this area & TC has changed immensely in last 20-30 yrs. Tons of imported Libtards, a large gay population, large amount of drug trafficking, etc. Most of Northern Michigan is Conservative, but a lot has changed due to influx of rich retiree's! Michael Moore started the Film Festival in TC, if that tells you anything! Beautiful country in surrounding area & numerous attractions for vacationers. And yes, Boone's Long Lake Inn is a great informal place to ear; great steaks & seafood.

funny not sure if you are joking or not but I just booked the Hampton Inn before I saw this

mostly because of price

sorry didn't acknowledge it sooner, thanks for the offer

I'll go back and visit this thread before my trip to just lock in all the information

The strip from Traverse City on up to Petosky is really beautiful. Bring lots of money - you're going to need it!

Charleveux is nice as well and along the route.

I avoid it from May until the snow flies. As pointed out, way too many Birkenstock wearing, granola eating liberal retirees from big city university towns. That and a large welfare population heavily into spending your tax dollars on drugs.

The current push seems to be in craft beers and local wines, so much so that there seems to be some festival every weekend around the wine and beer. This weekend they have a "blues, brews, and barbeques" festival because the Blue Angels are in town. Apparently that by itself is not a big enough draw for raping the tourists.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the traffic. It's as bad as anyplace in the state because the city fathers appear to believe that to have a beltway or any other facilitation of traffic would reduce their little city charm.

I remember when you could drive through town along the lake... and actually see the water. The "little city" ship sailed many years ago. Still a nice place to visit though I prefer Frankfort, Manistee or Ludington.

Just got back from my trip I talked about earlier on here.

Hit Boones in Traverse City Friday Night. I have mixed reviews on it. On a fall evening as the sun is going down its a cool place to hang out but I wasn't blown away by the food.

The drive from Traverse to Petoskey thru Charlevoix and then into Harbor Springs was great - even hit an apple festival in Charlevoix.

After Harbor Springs, took this road called Pleasant View and then 31 into Mackinaw City.

Had a great time and ended up on Mackinac Island on Sunday.

Just mile after mile of this.



Next year we're going back and I'm bringing a backpack. Enough of seeing it from the car, I want to get in the middle of it. Didn't have enough time to do what I wanted to as it was.

Nortwestern Michigan is great - 45th parallel!

Glad you enjoyed it, You won't get bored on the return visit.

Next time you go to Traverse give me a little notice and if the wife and I are up there I will buy you dinner in Elk Rapids.

I will - sorry I didn't look you up this time but it was non stop.

That apple festival in Charlevoix was a huge traffic jam - they pretty much just blocked off 31 so we stopped - then took some back roads to get around it later on.

My wife was like "figure out a way to move here. I want to spend the rest of my life in this area"


I told her lets come up in February and see if she's still committed to it.

The village idiot has spoken again.

Boy, don't let Steelhead hear that. He might actually drag his knuckles out of the cave and go visit.

I spent two summers up in the UP as a kid and really enjoyed it.

Crawl out of your fuggin' hole and look around a bit. You might think otherwise.

The Color this years not that good to warm and alot of rain, leaves are falling and still green! Should be Full color now, but just a bit over half where im at!

To each his own I guess.

We did almost a half day of horseback at Outrider this time around.

I saw some of those ATV trails and I am definitely bringing them up next year. I'm taking a week if I can.

Hell, I'm kinda like my wife right now, I'd like to make it a lifetime.

yea, it was like I was 4 or 5 days too early for the fall colors to be in full effect.

People were telling me I was going late - and the area showed it , at least 4 places I went to were shutting down for the season after this weekend.

Global warming might extend that season up there by a few weeks. It was 83 on the drive back today.

You don't want to be there on the day that the black flies hatch out.

I remember when my father-law came up here to visit me for the first time - it was a cool crisp fall day and we sat around a big stone fireplace drinking cider at the local orchard, then went to a pumpkin festival. The next day we went hiking around some old indian mounds and he found some fossils, then we grilled some steaks, had some wine and went to a small village to get Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream.

By the end of the weekend, he was ready to move up here and told me to start looking at houses for him

I had to tell him "you know, not every weekend is like this up here"

I thought of him when my wife and I were like "lets move here". Still...I was blown away by this area.

Pleasantview rd. is a pretty enough stretch; drove it on the way home from working in Harbor Springs today.

You should have taken M-119 along the shore of Lake Michigan - it's a beautiful stretch of narrow blacktop often referred to as the tunnel of trees. It can get a bit twisty though, to the point where the driver doesn't get to enjoy the view much. Best plan is for one person to drive it north, then swap seats and let another person drive back south, or vice versa.

If you decide to come back, drop me a line. I live about 8 miles directly South of Mackinaw City. Maybe I can help with something.

Had dinner/ watched the Packers at the Keyhole Bar last night, and Darrows Family Restaurant on Saturday.

Don't shout it to loud! More idiot other than what's already here will want to come.

I know both places well. Darrows has some great homemade pies.

I was camping about 20 miles East over the weekend and trying to get some fishing done. The wind and waves didn't agree, but I did manage to put a 20" walleye in the fridge.

Bruin, sounds like a nice walleye... Good job.. I wanted to leave Wy. this fall and tour the Mich. area and some of the Northeast.. The boss did not want to go this year maybe next>> Have a good one, beautiful country.

22 from Arcadia to Elberta has some nice scenery too. I've watch people jump off the cliff with hang gliders while I was fishing the Herring Hole on the big lake.

KFWA, make a trip here in winter. That's any time after mid November till late April.
And yes, the winters are that long.

KFWA glad you enjoyed it! You definitely came up at a most gorgeous time of year w/ the colors popping!

If you return shoot me a PM I'd love to grab a bite. Never disappointed meeting fellow fire regulars face to face!