3-Day Itinerary For Traverse City, Michigan

If you’re looking for a perfect getaway for a long weekend, I’d put Traverse City right to the top of that list. While the city is fairly small, it offers a large variety of things to do, and three days is a perfect amount of time to spend here. Here’s how to spend an amazing three days in Traverse City, Michigan.

Day 1:

Check Into Delamar Traverse City

What’s a good getaway without proper accommodation? The Delamar Traverse City is in a convenient location, with comfortable, well-equipped rooms offering stunning views over the bright blue hues of Lake Michigan. The lobby has a piano which guests are welcome to play, as well as a restaurant and bar onsite. Upon check-in, you’ll be offered a glass of sparkling cherry wine, the perfect introduction to the cherry capital of the world. The halls are adorned with tropical wallpaper, adding a fun element to the entire experience.

• Book here.

Visit Mission Lighthouse

Mission Lighthouse is one of the most unique things to do in Traverse City. While you can stay in the lighthouse if you so choose, it’s not traditional accommodation. Instead, guests are “keepers” where they work for the duration of their stay by cleaning, gardening, or anything else the lighthouse might need to preserve its quality. If you don’t want to stay there, you can arrange a tour to check it out.

Drive Out To Sleeping Bear Dunes

One of the coolest sights near Traverse City is the Sleeping Bear Dunes. I had no idea something like this existed in Northern Michigan, and I assumed sand dunes like these would only be found in the USA’s Southwest. They’re certainly stunning to see, but wear comfortable shoes (and not glittery heels, like yours truly). For the best experience, book a tour here to learn bits of history as you go.

Stop At Cherry Republic

Nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes is Cherry Republic, a one-stop-shop for all things cherry in Traverse City. A stop here is required. There are several locations, and each one has cherry-flavored anything, from cherry peanut butter to cherry wine to cherry cookies to cherry gummies to cherry pop (pop=soda in Michigan language). It is such a fun shop to buy some goodies for yourself and friends/family back home.

Dinner At Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

For a perfect first night meal, why not go high above the sky and overlook beautiful Traverse City while eating some of the city’s best cuisine? Aerie Restaurant & Lounge is located within Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, and the food is just as remarkable as the views. The menu rotates, but if their sweet potato gnocchi is available as an appetizer, I cannot recommend it enough. It was my favorite bite during my time in Traverse City. It goes without saying that you should probably get a cherry cosmo, too.

Nightcap At Mammoth Distilling

Located close to the Delamar Hotel is Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge. The distillery has a rich history that dates back to prohibition-era, due to Michigan being one of the largest whiskey-smuggling points of entry in the USA. Sample some of their signature whiskeys, but don’t skip out on their gin. You will never look at a gin & tonic the same after having one at Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge.

Day 2:

Breakfast at Red Spire Brunch House

If you’re looking for a classic brunch/breakfast, look no further than Red Spire Brunch House. Red Spire is classic American breakfasts done right. It was hard to narrow down what to get, but the server recommended a benedict, so benedict it was. The benedict options included crab benedict, Flo’s benedict (with spinach and tomato), salmon benedict (smoked salmon), and classic. It comes with a side of fresh fruit or hash browns, where the obvious answer in my world is always potatoes. Red Spire is a quality spot for a fast and efficient service to fuel before a long day.

Tour the Old Asylum (The Former Traverse City State Hospital)

While the asylum of Traverse City has a dark past, a tour of it is certainly a unique thing to do when visiting Traverse City. You can arrange a tour here, and learn all about how a dark era of north Michigan has been transformed into what is now home to several eateries, shops, and cafes at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Go On A Wine Tour

There’s another thing Traverse City is well-known for aside from cherries: wine! Traverse City produces the majority of Michigan wine, and is home to over 40 wineries. A proper wine tour is in order when visiting this wine-centric town. While you’ll have plenty of wineries to choose from, my favorites are (in no particular order) Brys Estate, Mari Vineyards, Black Star Farms, and Chateau Chantal.

• Book a wine tour here.

Dine At amical.

After you’ve sipped wine all day, it’s time to go grab yet another fantastic meal in Traverse City. Hip eatery amical has a stellar menu, but they offer a special “cookbook dinner series” limited edition menu once a month. If you happen to be in Traverse City during the time they’re offering a limited menu, don’t walk, RUN to amical. For one week out of the month, they highlight a cuisine from a cookbook, perfect the recipes, and serve a few dishes. I was there during Jamaican week, and had some incredible beef patties that brought me back to the streets of Negril.

Day 3:

Breakfast At The Delamar

Since you are staying in one of the nicest hotels in Traverse City, you might as well enjoy it! Every morning, the Delamar offers a breakfast buffet, with a range from pastries to fresh fruit to eggs to cured meats.

Grab Ice Cream at Moomers Homemade Ice Cream

While today might be the day you’re leaving Traverse City, you simply cannot go until you try Moomers Homemade Ice Cream. I don’t say it lightly that it just might be the best ice cream I’ve ever had in my entire life. If you’re torn on flavors, get an ice cream flight, where you’ll get a small scoop of five different flavors; the only requirement is cherry’s moobile, the store’s signature.

Beverage Time At Right Brain Brewery

You might have had your fair share of wine yesterday, but the city does beer just as well. Point proven by Right Brain Brewery, a brewery that specializes in far-out brews, with anything from an entire cherry pie to smoked pig’s head in some of their beers. My personal favorite was the Thai Peanut, a beer with hints of peanut butter, lime, chili, and lemongrass.

Lunch At Sleder’s Tavern

Before you check out of your hotel, head over to Sleder’s Tavern, one of the oldest bars in Michigan. This no-frills establishment serves up some great, humble eats. The waitress I had told me their signature is their bison burger, so, when in Rome. It comes with crispy tator tots, and I found it was best washed down with a Sleder’s signature beer. There’s a giant moose head that hangs in the back of the bar, and you didn’t really go to Sleder’s Tavern unless you “Kiss the moose,” so eat some bison, drink some beer, climb the ladder, and kiss the damn moose before you leave Traverse City.

DISCLAIMER: Traverse City Tourism sponsored my visit to Traverse City, Michigan.

DISCLAIMER II: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!