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.