I have become a big fan of Michigan recently! This was our second summer taking a trip up to Lake Michigan, and I definitely don’t want it to be our last. Today I am covering what we did in and around the Traverse City area up north, including the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. (If you’re looking to plan a Lake Michigan trip a little further south, you can also check out what to do in South Haven with kids, how to tour the Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan, or how to spend 1 day in Holland, Michigan.)
This post today is all about that cherry-loving land up north. (I want to come back some year for their annual Cherry Festival! It looks great.)
For context: We went in early August with our 3 kids (ages 3, 6, and 8).
Why visit Traverse City?
If you are most places in the country, then getting to Traverse City is… a little bit out of the way. And not close to a major airport.
HOWEVER, if you can get there…it is very worth it! This area of the country is vastly underrated, IMHO. I mean, look how much water is surrounding it!
The area is absolutely gorgeous. The fresh, turqoise water and coastal views were top-notch, and the whole area was just… lovely. Everywhere you look there’s a lake or a coast. And sand for days! And if you drive just 5-10 minutes west then you’ll hit gorgeous farmlands and rows of orchards (cherry and apple!).
Our goal for this quick trip was to let our kids enjoy some time out in nature with friends for a few days before we had to go back home and start the more rigid school year routine. This area fit the bill perfectly!
(BTW I also need to give any and all credit for this information to my beloved college roommate. She has lived in Traverse City for several years and knew all of the best hot spots to take us! We had so much fun visiting her & her crew.)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located 30 minutes west of downtown Traverse City, making it a perfect place to include on your weekend itinerary for Traverse City, Michigan.
“Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes.”
–Sleeping Bear Dunes official National Park Service website
The scenery here was amazing! We only had time to visit a couple of the locations within the national lakeshore, but I’d love to go back again someday to experience more.
First stop: Dune Visitor’s Center
You’ll need to get a pass at a Visitor’s Center before you can officially enter the National Lakeshore. There are actually 3 visitor’s centers you can choose between- we went to the first one listed on their website – the Philip A. Hart Visitor’s Center.
There are some cool visual displays there for kids to enjoy and helpful staff to answer any questions. Don’t forget to pick up a map! And load your directions before heading out, too- signal isn’t great within the national lakeshore.
Next up: The Dune Climb
If you are traveling with active kiddos you should most definitely add the dune climb to your itinerary! It’s tall, steep hills made up of sand that go on and on. You could eventually make it out to the water, but the main draw here is just … well…. it’s the climb. (Anybody catch that reference? Yeah??)
Anyways, our boys could have stayed here for HOURS. It really wore them out, too. Actually– it really wore all of us out!
Read more on the website for details.
Note: pets are not allowed on the dune climb!
Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook
The crowning jewel of the Traverse City area seems to be this GLORIOUS scenic outlook. It really took my breath away. My water-loving husband (who has seen a decent amount of things on this globe) said this specific view is in the Top 5 Best things he’s ever seen.
Pictures don’t do it justice, but it really feels like the ocean! There is nothing but water for eons and eons. If you make time to do anything in the Traverse City area, make sure this outlook is at the top of your list. We did this both at sunset and first thing in the morning, and it was very pretty at both times of day.
It’s only a short, paved walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint.
Be warned: Do NOT climb down the drop off sand wall here unless you want to spend hours climbing back to the top!!! Also, it was VERY windy one of the times we were there.
Empire Beach
My friend said they also love to spend time at Empire Beach, which is very close to this area. We didn’t end up having time, but I wanted to pass that along here! There are several food options here as well, which you may need after touring the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The public lakeshore is gorgeous but beware there are extremely limited food options (I didn’t see any at all).
Downtown Traverse City
Park in one of the parking lots near the water (don’t forget to pay!) and stroll Front Street and the downtown area! There were cute candy counters, souvenir shops, and stores with apparel & accessories.
Oh, and some adorable murals (see below)! And live music! It’s a great area to check out, and very kid-friendly.
Cherry Republic
The most popular store here for tourists is Cherry Republic. You won’t miss it, because it’s huge. Traverse City is all about their cherries, and this store was SO FUN to shop at. Although it’s not the original location (that’s in Glen Arbor nearby), it certainly feels like a beloved place for Traverse City!
Why is this a good place to bring kids, you might ask? Well let me tell you! They have TONS of samples out, and a great variety of them. My kids loved trying the various chocolate-covered cherries (the red imperial ones were our favorites), cherry trail mixes, cherry salsa + tortilla chips, and more).
They even serve ice cream, but we were holding out for a local recommendation from my friend- more on that later. 🙂
Greilickville Harbor Park
This downtown park is referred to by my friends as “The Pirate Park”. There’s a pirate themed playground located right on the sand at this public park.
It’s a little bit more contained (aka easier to keep an eye on swimming kids!) than a typical beach, and the pirate theme is fun, too. The parking was free & easy and there are public restrooms, SO really this was a win for kids and parents alike!
Address for the Pirate Park: 13133 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684
Old Mission Peninsula
The long skinny strip of land jutting out from Traverse City into the Lakes is Old Mission Peninsula. The peninsula is filled with vineyards and farmlands– the views along the drive are very pretty. It’s an 18 mile strip to get to the end, or about 25 minutes of driving.
At the recommendation of two friends, we drove to the very end of the peninsula to get to the Old Mission Point Lighthouse & Beach.
Mission Point Lighthouse & Beach Park
You can park for free in the parking lot and walk the short paved distance to the lighthouse. You can even tour inside the lighthouse (10 am- 5 pm during summer months and limited off-season hours). More details on the official website here.
The beach is filled with sand, but also tiny tiny rocks and little broken seashells. This is not a sandcastle-building beach. It is more of a take-in-the-views and walk-along-the-coast-with-water-shoes kind of a beach. The views were lovely and worth the trek out to the lighthouse!
There is a small swing set there, too. My kids enjoyed swinging and gathering little white shells.
Traverse City Foods We Liked:
We enjoyed pretty normal meals at our Airbnb, but we did try a few fun eats while in Traverse City, Michigan. Here are the ones that stood out:
Local Ice Cream Brands & Flavors
Moomer’s is a Traverse City ice cream shop that was on our list to try while in the area. Lucky for us, they also carry their pints in nearby grocery stores! We grabbed some Moomer’s Peanut Butter Oreo and Hudsonville Traverse City Cherry Fudge to try back at our Airbnb.
Hudsonville is a Michigan ice cream company that has been around for almost 100 years! They have tons of different flavors, including a few featured “Michigan” flavors – this Traverse City cherry one, and a Mackinac Island Fudge flavor for instance.
I am happy to report that both flavors were VERY GOOD! The chocolate fudge running through the cherry was high quality, and the cherry flavor was probably the overall family favorite. And the PB Oreo was thick and creamy and not too sweet.
5/5 Members of our family enjoyed both. Ice cream forever!
Slabtown Burgers
This burger joint is pretty close to downtown and has ample indoor or outdoor seating for families. They have fun burger flavors like cherries + blue cheese that feel unique to the Traverse City area.
The fries were VERY good and the sauces in particular were delicious. My kids ordered soup and enjoyed that, too. Official Slabtown website HERE.
Address: 826 W Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684
That’s it for Traverse City, Michigan with Kids!
Well, in writing this, I have convinced myself that we need to go back to the Traverse City area. The scenery is unmatched with that turquoise water! And cherries + chocolate too? YES.
My kids loved this weekend trip and are still talking about it! (Thank you again to my college roomie for showing us such a good time!)
Have you been to Traverse City?
Let me know what you would add in the comments below!
Read More About Our Trips to Michigan :
A Guide to Beautiful Windmill Island Gardens (with Kids!)
