> Traverse Magazine April 2006 > 10 Reasons to Love Grand Traverse10 Reasons to Love Grand Traverse
List of 10 activities to do and places to visit that should not be missed when vacationing in or travelling to Grand Traverse County.
Mar 4, 2008 Emily Bingham
Dennos Museum Center.
Patrick Wellever
2. National Cherry Festival: An entire week of festivities all in the name of a little red fruit? You bet. The annual T.C. celebration features parades, carnivals, concerts and plenty of cherry fare. (231-947-4230, cherryfestival.org)
3. Old Mission Lighthouse Park Beach: Spread your towel in the shadow of a historic lighthouse (tip of Old Mission Peninsula off M-37, 231-223-7322). Afterward, stop into the Old Mission General Store (18250 Mission Rd., 231-223-4310) for ice cream. The century-old establishment boasts it was the first store between Ft. Wayne, Indiana and the Straits of Mackinac.
4. Wine country: The temperate climate on Old Mission Peninsula makes it perfect for grape growing — check out the fine award-winning wineries on the trail (wineriesofoldmission.com).
5. Sand volleyball courts: A little sand in the shorts never hurt anyone, especially if acquired during a great game of beach volleyball. Gather your pals and hit the courts between Grandview Parkway and West Bay. (231-922-4910)
6. South Island Nature Preserve: Put in your watercraft at Crescent Shores boat launch on Long Lake and paddle to this 14-acre island for a hike along a marked nature trail. For directions to this and other Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy preserves, visit gtrlc.org.
7. Antique shopping: Treasure hunting is an everyday adventure in Traverse City, where antique shops offer rare and whimsical finds. Scour stores from the bay front to downtown; you're sure to unearth a gem or two along the way.
8. Traverse City Farmers Market: Juicy blueberries, buttery squash, dewy bunches of basil, fresh pesto bread — and that's just the first farmer's table. Held Saturday and Wednesday mornings in the parking lot between Union and Cass Streets. (231-922-2090)
9. VASA Pathway: Mountain bike or cross-country ski along one of the area's most scenic bike trails, ranging in intensity from mild to steep terrain. Main trailhead located in Acme Township Park on Bartlett Road. (231-941-4300, traversetrails.org)
10. Dennos Museum Center: Peruse a collection of Inuit art, try the hands-on Discovery Gallery or catch a musical performance at the 367-seat Milliken Auditorium. Three exhibition galleries rotate throughout the year (231-995-1055, dennosmuseum.org).
Emily Bingham is assistant editor of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
ebingham@traversemagazine.com
Note: This article was first published in April 2006, and was updated for the web February 2008.
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