Traverse Traveler News & Events

Downtown Traverse City Holiday Events

Celebrate the Spirit of the Season in Downtown Traverse City

There’s nothing quite like strolling the streets of Downtown, popping in and out of shops while snowflakes drift to the ground. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, there’s no better time for holiday shopping. Downtown Traverse City wants to make sure you enjoy the holidays, so they’re getting ready to kick off the season with the Arrival of Santa, followed by special shopping nights and festive events all season long.

Here are all the details you’ll need to enjoy a festive holiday season in Downtown Traverse City.

Annual Tree Lighting with Santa and Light Parade

Saturday, November 23rd

Downtown Traverse City’s seasonal magic lights up on Saturday with the excitement of Santa’s Arrival, the Tree Lighting, and the Light Parade. Spend the evening with Santa and enjoy shopping throughout downtown.

This Downtown Traverse City Holiday Event includes a community sing-a-long of your favorite holiday carols until Santa joins the Traverse City Mayor and special guests for the Tree Lighting. Enjoy the excitement as the Light Parade rolls in with stunning floats, live performances, and of course, Santa himself.

Santa’s House

Take your little ones to meet Santa this holiday season! He will be in his cozy house on City Center Plaza at the corner of State and Cass Street throughout the holiday season. Make sure to bring your letters for Santa and your sweet tooth when you visit. Check out the hours for Santa’s House here.

Black Friday & Small Business Saturday

November 29th & 30th

Support local and enjoy seasonal savings! Shop great deals on Black Friday & Small Business Saturday in shops, restaurants, and more in downtown Traverse City. It’s the perfect chance to check off your holiday list, enjoy local dining, and make a positive impact by supporting the community.  

Ladies Shopping Night

Thursday, December 5th

Grab your friends and enjoy a festive night out at downtown Traverse City’s annual Ladies’ Night! From 5 to 9 pm, participating stores will offer exclusive specials, refreshments, prize drawings, free gift wrapping, and more. 

Men’s Shopping Night

Thursday, December 12th

Gentlemen, the evening is finally yours! Celebrate and shop with friends during Men’s Night Downtown Traverse City from 5 to 9 pm.  The gents can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and specials at many restaurants and merchants will be offering in-store specials, gift wrapping, and drawings.

Merry Marketplace

November 9th – December 14th

Get into the holiday spirit at Crooked Tree Art Center on the historic Sixth Street in Downtown Traverse City! Their Merry Marketplace features unique gifts and art from artists across Michigan. It’s the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind holiday presents while supporting local. Explore more holiday events and plan your visit here.

Holiday Performances

The City Opera House has several festive performances. Kick things off on December 7th with the Gilded Christmas Gala. Keep the holiday spirit alive with the Good Lovelies Christmas Tour, enchanting candle-lit concerts, and a Magical Motown Christmas. Discover more events and book your tickets here. 

The Old Town Playhouse knows there’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than curling up for nostalgic holiday movies. Don’t miss the Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon from December 13th to the 21st. Check out their full lineup and grab your tickets here.

Enjoy festive music in a beautiful setting at The Alluvion. They have a calendar of events filled with heartwarming concerts, including a special performance by jazz icon Bob James. For tickets and more details, visit their events page. 

Where to Park or Catch a Ride

Getting around Downtown Traverse City should be hassle-free! For drivers, convenient metered parking is available throughout downtown, with options to pay by coins or phone with the ParkMobile app. If you don’t want to worry about running out of time, try parking at the Larry C. Hardy and Old Town Parking Decks.

Don’t want to pay for parking or riding? Catch a ride on the Bayline Bata bus which runs past Traverse City’s East Bay hotels into downtown Traverse City. Find their ride schedule here.  

Celebrate with Small Business this Holiday Season

We hope you’ll find some fun Holiday events in the Traverse City community this season. With over 200 merchants in the downtown region alone you have plenty of options to support local businesses, and shop small this season.

By |2024-11-21T12:30:46-05:00November 21st, 2024|Community, News & Events, Things to Do|0 Comments
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22 Reasons for a Fall M-22 Roadtrip

Original post updated in October 2024

Take a Roadtrip this Fall along the M-22 Scenic Drive

Living in the heart of the M-22 corridor I’ve seen it through all seasons. Each has something amazing to offer, but none more varied and beautiful than autumn in Northern Michigan.

In case you’ve never planned an M-22 roadtrip I’ve put together a list of some of the fun, food and activities to experience along this scenic drive. Named one of the top five greatest driving tours in America by Rand McNally, M-22 has something to offer everyone. But don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. Here’s my list of 22 Reasons for a Fall M-22 Roadtrip. (more…)

By |2024-11-11T15:38:29-05:00September 1st, 2024|Arts & Culture, News & Events, Travel Tips|1 Comment
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Two Northern Michigan Tourism Bureaus Unite for a Regional Approach to Marketing

Traverse City Tourism, northern Michigan’s largest destination marketing organization has formed a merger with the Benzie County Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Traverse Traveler has worked closely with both communities since our inception. So we’d like to give you some perspective on how this regional approach to marketing affects the hospitality industry in northern Michigan. We’ll talk about how the merger impacts hotels and travelers. And we’ll share some perspective from the local business members of both organizations.

Tourism Bureaus Unite

Let’s Start with a Regional Approach to Marketing

When we first went into business with our little card displays in 2001 one thing was certain. We knew our marketing was going to represent businesses all around Traverse City, including those in Benzie and Leelanau county. While Traverse City had the most hotels—an important factor since our distribution is based in the hotel lobby—some of the best restaurants and attractions to visit lie off the beaten path, in the small towns that surround the city. So we took a regional approach to marketing. We have displays in all three counties and promote businesses all across the area. I think we had the right idea.

Since 2001 we have worked with hotels, restaurants, and attractions across Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, and Antrim county. We’ve learned that travelers who stay in one community are here to enjoy and experience northern Michigan. That itinerary doesn’t stop at the county line. Guests that stay in one town are more than willing to drive 40 minutes to enjoy a fabulous meal, explore our parks and beaches, shop for souvenirs and wander through our historic towns. But when it comes to our destination marketing organizations (DMOs), whose job it is to market this region nationwide as a vacation destination, lines had to be drawn in the sand. Until now.

When 2 + 1 = 2

As of March 1, 2020 two of our region’s DMOs will become one. The Benzie County Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced they will be merging with Traverse City Tourism. This merger not only impacts the Benzie CVB members but the Benzie Chamber as well. The Benzie Chamber and Benzie CVB shared staff, offices and a Visitor Center at the corner of M-115 and US-31 in Benzonia. This merger will bring two organizations together and leave one to stand alone.

In the fall of 2019 Mary Carroll, the Executive Director of the Benzie CVB and Benzie Chamber president announced she was leaving. This left the boards with big decisions to make about the future of their organizations. The Benzie Chamber selected Rick Coates to lead their organization starting in January 2020. In a letter to Benzie Chamber members announcing the merger, he shared their perspective,

“Tourism, along with agriculture are the largest economic drivers in Benzie County. Many of our businesses in Benzie are directly impacted by the tourism economy. This transition will serve as a great opportunity to strengthen our tourism industry which is vitally important to the economic health of Benzie County.”

At this time the Visitors Center in Beulah will remain open at the Chamber office in Benzonia. The Chamber will refocus its efforts on the economic development of Benzie county businesses. Lodging members of the Benzie CVB, who voted by referendum to support this union, will see some changes.

The room assessment percentage in Benzie county, a fee which is levied to lodging properties to fund the marketing organization, will increase from the current 2% to 5% to match that of Traverse City Tourism. All assessments and the responsibility for marketing the Benzie CVB members will shift to Traverse City Tourism in March.

In a press release from Traverse City Tourism, director Trevor Tkach shared some insight into the new marketing efforts.

“Collaborating with Benzie County allows us to tell bigger stories about our area’s greatest attractions, like skiing, fishing, golf, trails, watersports, and more.”

Affect on Local Business

We spoke with several of our Benzie County partners in hospitality to get their perspective on this regional approach to marketing and found overwhelming support for the merger.

Steve Campbell, owner of Harbor Lights Resort in Frankfort, is also a board member for the Benzie CVB. 

“As a lodging property in Benzie County, we are very excited about this partnership with Traverse City Tourism.  It allows our county to leverage the power and reach of TCT to help tell the story of Northwest Michigan not just on a state level, but more regionally, nationally and internationally.  This is now more important than ever given the uncertainly of Pure Michigan funding.  I am confident that the entire area will benefit from the increased exposure, not only from a tourism standpoint, but the potential long term impact on the economy.  Job creation in the tourism industry is one aspect, but long term, the more people that are exposed to this region, the greater the potential to attract more home buyers, entrepreneurs to start or move businesses here, etc.  I think this is all very positive.”

There are more than just the lodging properties who will be impacted by creating a larger regional CVB. Restaurants, retailers and attractions also stand to benefit from the increase in marketing that comes with greater resources. Riverside Canoes is located on the Platte River in Benzie county, inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Owner Kyle Orr sees the upside potential for Benzie county businesses.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for Benzie county businesses to scale our marketing. By partnering with TCT we gain a larger audience. And the additional dollars collected by the room tax should benefit the Benzie economy greatly, just as the Pure Michigan dollars do for all businesses. We know first hand how many people come from Traverse City to visit us for day trips. This is a win-win for all local economies.”

Impact on the Traveler

Travelers staying in Benzie county will notice the fee assessment increase this season, rising to 5%. That’s the cost of a large ice cream cone on a typical room rate, but for weekly vacation rentals, the hike will be more noticeable. The benefits to both travelers and businesses in the region comes in the form of access to information. Traverse City Tourism will be a broader resource for lodging choices and attraction information. And member properties will have a much larger marketing machine in their corner selling the benefits of Benzie county to travelers from across the globe.

How Can We Help

Traverse Traveler has a variety of marketing opportunities for local businesses to reach travelers staying in hotels. Since Traverse City Tourism will have more buying power to bring visitors to the region, we’re here to make sure they can find out about all this region has to offer.

  • Restaurants, wineries and breweries can feature their menu in our Dining Guide.
  • Our little card displays located in the hotel lobby are the first choice for guests wanting grab-and-go inspiration. And maps. They love the maps.
  • Our visitor channel that plays in-room engages guests through storytelling videos that entertain and inform.
  • The Traverse Traveler app includes all you need to know to navigate the region. It’s all-inclusive so every business has a chance to be seen.

As we mentioned at the start, Traverse Traveler has always had a regional approach to marketing. We represent businesses across Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau and Antrim county on ALL of our marketing platforms. We look forward to working with more Benzie county businesses who would like to reach travelers staying in Traverse City. And vice versa, we will continue to expand our distribution of content in Benzie county. We want to ensure their guests can learn about the amazing businesses that make up our little tip of the Mitten state.

By |2024-12-06T07:09:30-05:00February 5th, 2020|Community, News & Events|0 Comments
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Celebrating 18 Years of Little Cards

We love sharing business stories. Since the Traverse Traveler story began eighteen years ago today, I thought it would be fun to share some of the history behind this little card business and take a look at what has changed from 2001 to today.

Brandy Mealtickets little cards at Bayshore ResortBrandy the little card lady at Traverse Traveler office

How it All Began

In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, I lost my job as a graphic designer for a small ad firm in Traverse City. Getting a new one didn’t seem too likely as the market was struggling to recover. So why not start a business?

Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas was born on November 1, 2001, from a desire to help visitors see northern Michigan the way I do. It began with only six advertisers and 30 little card displays.

I set up a corner office in my basement where I designed the little cards, managed the website, and made sales calls. On the other side of the basement, with the washer/dryer behind me and towers of card boxes all around, I filled displays. When I wasn’t working from home, I was delivering displays to hotels, motels, and resorts across Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau county.

Little card by little card the business grew. The hotels I worked with loved the little card displays because they fit on the front desk. Their guests liked how the cards fit in their pocket or purse. And I loved working with each advertiser to design a card that captured their business on a piece of paper no larger than a bookmark.

For over 13 years, you’d find a dozen displays in the trunk of my car, a semi-permanent groove on my hip where I carried them, and a well-worn path from my garage to my basement where I stored and filled over 70 displays each month.

Mealtickets website homepage 2003Traverse Traveler website screenshot

Little Cards with a Big Name

The DBA I registered when I started the business was Traverse Area Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas. Yep. That’s a mouthful. It was my dad’s idea, actually. He was my entrepreneurial mentor, and he had some aspirations to take this idea “national” someday in the form of a franchise. Mealtickets was in the name to represent the restaurants, because every visitor wants to know where to eat. But how do you sum up all the amazing and unique attractions, retail shops, and other destinations we wanted to represent? Unusual Ideas. So that’s the genesis of the name that debuted on the little card displays.

Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas is a name that is not easy to remember. And yet, those first customers I sold and hotel relationships I built, still refer to the cards as Mealtickets, brought to you by the little card lady.

In 2010 when I decided to create an app to grow our platform I knew it was time for a re-brand. That’s when Traverse Traveler was born. The logo has seen a few updates and Traverse Traveler is now the brand name for all of our traveler marketing products.

Mealtickets home officeTraverse Traveler office

Outgrowing the Basement

My corner office in the basement was home to the little card empire until we sold our house in Lake Ann. We were building a new home closer to Traverse City, and this time I was moving on up. A first-floor office with a view was a top priority. And that’s when I met my partner Jay Gorter.

Jay launched Visitors Media with digital signage in the hotel lobbies and an in-room visitor channel playing all original content. We started out testing one another’s products: I designed a card for his channel ExploreTC, and he put me on camera to produce a Wine Tasting Tips video which helped promote the Traverse Traveler app.

In 2015, after a year of collaboration and working out of the Visitors Media office while my house was being built, we decided to merge our companies. The little cards had a new home at Visitors Media.

Mealtickets card shipmentTraverse Traveler card inventory

Some Things Never Change

I’ve changed the business name. I’ve moved office locations. I’ve changed printers and processes for inventory. But so many things remain the same. I still design the cards (over 150 different designs in these 18 years). We still load up our cars with displays and deliver them to hotels in three counties every month, year-round. And in case you didn’t notice, purple is still my signature color.

After 18 years I’m proud to say these little cards still do a great job at educating travelers on restaurants and attractions to visit. And I’m still proud to be known as the little card lady.

By |2024-12-04T11:21:01-05:00November 1st, 2019|News & Events|2 Comments
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Pure Michigan Tourism Conference Summary

The Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism was held in Traverse City last week. Representatives from convention and visitor bureaus and hospitality professionals from across Michigan gathered to learn about the state of our tourism state.

We had a legislative report from a panel of lobbyists in Lansing. Our keynote speaker addressed the State of the American Traveler. And Dave Lorenz provided an update from Travel Michigan including plans for this year’s Pure Michigan campaign. 

Since I know many of our clients missed out on attending I thought I’d share a recap of the event. Here are some of the hot topics, statistics and strategic plans discussed at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism that caught my attention.

Pure Michigan Legislative Report

Panelists: Michael Krombeen, Partner, Midwest Strategy Group; Matt Sowash, lobbyist, Michigan Legislative Consultants; Justin Winslow, President & CEO, Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association; Evelyn Zois Sweeney, Legislative Consultant, Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates. The panelists discussed topics of legislative interest to the hospitality industry and weighed in on the current climate in Lansing.

Pure Michigan Funding

Governor Whitmer’s proposed budget includes cuts to funding for Pure Michigan. Panelists agreed this is too early in the budget talks to be certain of funding dollars for this year. Lobbyists from Michigan Legislative Consultants agreed they are going to educate and push for as much Pure Michigan funding as they can.

Post-Labor Day Start

This is not only an issue of economic importance, but a workforce issue as well. Currently over 165 districts have waivers for pre-Labor Day start. Legislative discussions are exploring alternative schedules. These include allowing Tues-Thurs classes in August, as well as options for year-round classes.

Snow Days

Legislation has been proposed to allow schools options to deal with the increasing number of snow days. Possibilities include tacking on additional hours to the school day, and snow day forgiveness for Governor-declared emergency days.

Short Term Rentals

Panelists discussed addressing short-term rentals in terms of regulation. The primary goal is to ensure everyone is paying into the same taxes & assessments. They are also seeking some form of registration, possibly by directly licensing platforms, such as AirBnB.

Auto No Fault

This is becoming a hot-button issue for the hospitality industry as employees struggle to afford insurance. Panelists discussed the likelihood of making significant changes this year, with mixed opinions.

State of the American Traveler

Keynote speaker; Erin Francis-Cummings, Destination Analyst

Erin’s presentation, “The State of the Global Traveler – Drawing Wanderlust to Michigan,” presented statistics and trends to watch in 2019 among travelers. Here research reflected the mindset of global travelers, indicated some key demographics to focus on, and gave insight into the changes we’re seeing. Here are a few takeaways that illustrate the current state of the industry.

  • The bad news:  Leisure trips are down from 4.2 trips annually to 3.8 trips, and budgets are down 5.6%. Personal finances, work and the cost of travel are the primary reasons for the decrease.
  • The good news:  Travel is still listed as the second most important leisure activity, just under spending time with friends and family. For younger travelers, however, travel competes with a lot more activities.
  • 4 primary traveler types: Generation Z, the National Park Traveler, Family Travelers and Aspiring Michigan Travelers.

Generation Z

The youngest travelers are that of Generation Z—ages 15-24. To reach this audience you’ll need video. You can find them on Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Believe it or not, they already make up 13.9% of the travel market.

National Park Travelers

This audience tends to be young and travels with their children. They use all types of planning resources. Primary interests include culture and food. They make up 31% of American travelers.

Family Travelers

Representing 47% of American travelers, this is clearly a popular target audience. This group is largely made up of women who frequently travel outside the U.S. This is a very social audience with 50% using Facebook to post both before and after their trips. They like AirBnB and are drawn to cultural and culinary experiences.

Aspiring Michigan Travelers

This is an ethnically diverse audience, largely made up of millennials and Generation X. They like to research travel destinations through travel apps, social media and tourism bureaus. Online video is important and influential.

Only 16% of American travelers aspire to visit Michigan. So how can we compete with other states and attract more travelers to Michigan? (Can you believe we fall behind Ohio!) The number one reason a destination remains top of mind to visitors is because they’ve been there before. The influence of friends and family impacts 65% of travelers. To grow our Michigan brand we need to gain loyalty. We need our visitors to continue to share their love of this region with friends and family—especially if they’ll share it on their social channels.

Michigan Cares for Tourism

This 501c3 non-profit is made up of volunteers from the tourism industry who want to give back to projects across the state of Michigan. They tackle small projects throughout the year and host an annual multi-day volunteer event in a select location. This year’s project is in our own backyard.

Michigan Cares for Tourism is seeking volunteers for the 2019 event at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Leelanau State Park, September 16-17, 2019. There are enough projects for 325 volunteers! To register visit michigancaresfortourism.org. C’mon Traverse City, let’s send some volunteers to help our neighbors. It’s a good excuse to hang out in a park on a Monday and Tuesday in the fall.

To kick off the conference, MC4T held an event at Munson Manor where volunteers donated toiletries, cooked food and tackled painting projects. Check In Michigan, the organization behind the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, donated $10,000 to MC4T, with donations made on behalf of the conference speakers.

Pure Michigan Campaign Update

Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan made his annual trip to the stage to provide an update on the state of our tourism state. He delivered a report on the investment and returns of the 2018 Pure Michigan campaign. Next, he shared a few highlights and top performing projects which earned significant results. And we wrapped up by hearing about some focus points for 2019. Here are a few of the takeaways.

Measurable Results from the $16.5 Million Advertising Investment in Pure Michigan in 2018

  • Influenced 6.4M person-trips
  • $2.5B in visitor spending
  • $153M generated in state taxes
  • $9.28 return on investment

Want to check out all the details? Here’s a link to the Pure Michigan Advertising Effectiveness Study. You can find more about what Travel Michigan is doing for you on Michigan.org. At the bottom of the page click Travel Industry and then look for Research.

Social Media Summary

Nick Nerbonne, MEDC Digital Media Director responsible for Pure Michigan’s social media accounts provided some additional insight during one of the social media sessions. Facebook engagement is down, however user base is still growing. Instagram engagement is up by 75%, due in part to the popularity and use of Instagram stories.

Pure Michigan has been exploring some longer-format feature videos to provide in-depth experiences. They include interviews that explore why people are passionate about these activities.

Two hugely popular social media campaigns were hashtag projects that drove user-generated content. The #FallFilter invited fans to share fall photos. Pure Michigan selected 5 photos each Friday and reposted them. Another campaign debuted on billboards in Chicago seeking images at #LongLiveSummer. The digital billboard published user photos from that hashtag, sharing them on billboards for all to see.

Top social media post subjects in 2018 from Pure Michigan included images of the Mackinac Bridge, fall foliage, wildlife, ice waterfalls, Vernors lighthouse cans and blue ice on the Straits of Mackinac. Favorite fan subjects to share were sunsets, fall colors and Michigan lakes.

Pure Michigan Ad Campaigns and Projects

Pure Michigan partnered with influencers and publications last year to grow its brand awareness. Ginger Zee, meteorologist on Good Morning America and a Michigan native, was part of a social media promotion. They also teamed up with Outside Magazine for an engaging online experience that involved video creation, a landing page and an interactive trail map.

Other notable projects included the Pure Michigan 18 – featuring 18 signature golf holes across the state in a season-long invitation to share your experience playing that hole. And an Urban DNA video series with Jason Hall was created to boost the state’s appeal for travelers seeking a world-class city experience.

We wrapped up with some sneak peeks into plans for 2019. Pure Michigan intends to focus more on digital platforms, targeting millennials, promoting the Upper Peninsula and highlighting our Dark Sky Parks.

Accessibility Takes Center Stage

One other significant takeaway that made me very proud is our state’s focus on accessibility. If there was one buzzword of this year’s conference that would be it. All three winners of the Stars of the Industry award for tourism innovations were programs and organizations supporting accessibility. Pure Michigan is embracing the opportunity to make our state more friendly to people with disabilities. And I for one couldn’t be happier to see it.

With three days of meetings, events and networking there was a lot to take in at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism. It was great to see the new conference center at the Park Place Hotel, and the remodeled Governors’ Hall at the Grand Traverse Resort & Casino. Traverse City Tourism played host to a bustling crowd of tourism professionals from across the state. And I even had a chance to meet a few people who mentioned they tuned in to our channel and saw me on TV!

Now it’s time for us all to return to the business we live every day: celebrating the reasons we choose to call Pure Michigan our home.

By |2024-12-06T05:25:02-05:00March 12th, 2019|Community, Lodging, News & Events|0 Comments
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A Day at the Farmer’s Market

Spend a morning at the farmer’s market in northern Michigan, and you’ll see how lucky we are to live here. But the farmer’s market certainly isn’t just for farmers anymore. It’s a gathering place. It’s where locals and visitors meet the growers and makers.

Did you know

Michigan agriculture is leading the nation in many ways. Here are a few fun facts about how we rank:

  • Fourth in the country as a net exporter of hops
  • Third in the nation for the number of farmers markets (300+)
  • Second most agriculturally diverse state in the Country, next to California
  • First in the Country for the production of blueberries, tart cherries, dry black-beans, picking cucumbers and squash

Picked and Processed 

  • Upward of 1 billion pounds of sugar is produced annually in Michigan
  • Thanks to our local farmers, we are the nation’s leading producer of potatoes for potato chip processing

Buy Michigan Made

The best part about farmer’s markets is the opportunity to buy local. Whether we’re talking fruits or vegetables, beer or wine, soaps or lotions, salt or sugar, buying locally-produced goods supports the area’s economy.

All natural soap in different flavors and colors at Sarah Hardy Farmers Market

Not only do farmer’s markets offer fresh food, local brews, and natural products—they also provide great entertainment! With vendors that are so good you can’t say no, we are used to watching our money turn to fruit and occasionally watch it disappear like magic.

kid performing magic at the Sarah Hardy Farmers Market

Visit a Farmer’s Market in Near You

Here are a few must-stop farmer’s markets in northern Michigan with a variety of vendors that meet weekly

Empire Farmers Market | Empire| Sat 9 am – 1 pm

Fife Lake Farm & Craft Market | Fife Lake | Thurs 4 pm – 7 pm

Frankfort Farmers Market | Frankort | Sat 9 am -1 pm

Glen Arbor Farmers Market | Glen Arbor | Tues 9 am – 1 pm

Interlochen Farmers Market | Traverse City | Sun 9 am – 2 pm

Leland Farmers Market | Downtown Leland | Thus 9 am – 1 pm

Northport Farmers Market | Downtown Northport | Fri 9 am -1 pm

Sara Hardy Farmers Market | Downtown Traverse City | Wed 8 am – 12 pm & Sat 7:30 am – 12 pm

Suttons Bay Farmers Market | Suttons Bay | Sat 9 am – 1 pm

The Village Farmers Market | Traverse City | Sat 10 am – 2 pm

Farm Stands & Markets

In this video we’ve featured two of Traverse City’s family-run farm markets Groleaus Farm Market just south of Traverse City, and Gallaghers Farm Market to the west. Click to get a tour of their markets and hear their stories. These are just two great examples of local farm markets to discover as you explore the highways and back roads of our region.

The list of farm stands, u-pick farms and independent markets in northern Michigan is long. Our friends at Taste the Local Difference have done a great job gathering that info together in one place. For details visit them online.

Be A Traveler

Farm markets aren’t the only way to eat fresh and eat local. Many restaurants in the area support local farmers, so stop infor a meal or a snack. Check out our Dining Guide to browse menus from area eateries or other foodie posts from the Traverse Traveler blog.

Thanks to our summer intern Carley, for the Day at the Market video featured above, which she filmed, edited and post produced. Watch it for a glimpse into her journey through the Sara Hardy Farmer’s Market in downtown Traverse City.

By |2024-12-04T10:05:03-05:00August 8th, 2018|News & Events, Things to Do|0 Comments
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5 Michigan Lighthouses to Visit on National Lighthouse Day

National Lighthouse Day dates back to 1789. On August 7th many moons ago, Congress approved an act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. It was not until 200 years later, in 1989, that this important Act received its day of recognition. Happy National Lighthouse Day! Celebrate today and visit a lighthouse not too far away with our list of 5 Michigan lighthouses to visit.

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

Located on the 45th Parallel, the Old Mission Point Lighthouse is a popular park and playground along the shore. Pack a picnic and spend the day. There are beautiful hiking trails surrounding the lighthouse. It’s also a museum open for tours and in search of volunteer keepers to serve as tour guides. The lighthouse is open daily from May to October, except for Tuesdays, and weekends in November, depending on weather.

Directions: take M-37 to the end of Old Mission peninsula, approximately 22 miles from Front Street in Traverse City.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Point Betsie Lighthouse

The oldest operating light in Michigan—and perhaps the most photographed—Point Betsie is a must-see on a visit to Benzie County. It’s a great spot to hunt for fossils like Petoskey stones and Charlevoix stones. The lighthouse is open Wednesday-Monday for tours in the summer.

Directions: take M-22 to Point Betsie Rd, 4 miles north of the blinking light in Frankfort.

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

Guiding ships safely through the Manitou Passage, the South Manitou Island Lighthouse is an important beacon in Lake Michigan. It’s part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with tours that take you to the top for an incredible panoramic view of National Lakeshore. Open for tours in the summer months, free of charge.

Directions: Get to South Manitou Island by ferry from Leland. The lighthouse is located 0.6 miles from the ranger station and dock.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum

At the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, you’ll find the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum. For a glimpse into our maritime history, take the tour, or better yet, ask about their guest lightkeeper program. The lighthouse and museum are open from the end of March through the end of October and weekends in November.

Directions: 9 miles north of Northport inside Leelanau State Park (entry fee charged)

Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse

Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse

The Frankfort Lighthouse marks the entrance to Betsie Bay, a popular port for fishermen and sailors. You’ll find kids jumping from the pier in the summer, surfers riding the waves well into the fall and storm-watching along the north and south piers when the wind is high. Plus, it’s a spectacular spot to watch the sun say goodnight to Lake Michigan.

Directions: Take M-22 past the blinking light to Main St, then west through downtown to Frankfort Beach.

We Love Our Lighthouses

There you have it—5 Michigan lighthouses to visit on National Lighthouse Day. The importance of lighthouses is hard to ignore, especially when you consider at one time, the beacon of light could be seen across almost all of America’s shoreline.

Have you visited any northern Michigan lighthouses? Let us know your favorite in the comments below.

See you on the beach!

By |2024-12-04T07:00:17-05:00August 7th, 2018|Community, Day Trips, News & Events, Things to Do|2 Comments
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7 Tips for Travelers to the Traverse City Film Festival

It’s time for the annual Traverse City Film Festival. It’s a great chance to discover new movies, attend fun events and enjoy the hospitality of our city. We thought we’d share a few tips on how to be a traveler — not a tourist — during the film festival.

Standby line outcomes pie chart

Film Festival Tips for Travelers

  1. Take advantage of the free festival shuttle provided by BATA. The Bayline will bring you into town from your hotel. And look for details about their festival loop traveling between film venues. The buses are all ADA accessible, air conditioned and have wifi.
  2. Travelers know it pays to be flexible. If you didn’t get tickets to a movie, try the standby line. You just might get in, even if you don’t get to sit with your friends.
  3. Not all the movies are shown at The State and The Bijou. Make sure you know where your movie is playing before you get in line.
  4. Speaking of lines, bring a little patience. Don’t be that tourist who thinks lines are for other people.
  5. As long as you’re here to binge watch, why not be a traveler and venture out to our surrounding communities and take in a movie at The Garden in Frankfort, the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay or check out northern Michigan’s only drive-in movie theater at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In in Honor.
    Film Festival Movies pie chart
  6. The outdoor movies in the Open Space are not to be missed. They’re free, they’re family-friendly and there’s usually something for everyone. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and arrive before dusk to claim your spot on the lawn. Here’s the Open Space lineup for this year:
    Tuesday | Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
    Wednesday | 9 to 5
    Thursday | The Greatest Showman
    Friday | Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
    Saturday | Black Panther
    Sunday | Coco
  7. The Traverse City Film Festival is the perfect excuse to spend the day downtown. Try a new restaurant, grab a drink with some friends, or do a little wine tasting. Our Dining Guide can be a helpful resource if you’re looking to try something new. It’s fun to be a traveler for the day, even if you’re a local.

Check out this year’s TCFF promotional video below:

We hope you use our tips to be a traveler during the Traverse City Film Festival. Enjoy the shows!

By |2024-12-04T09:31:18-05:00July 31st, 2018|Arts & Culture, News & Events, Travel Tips|0 Comments
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Buying Gemstones with Becky Thatcher

Becky Thatcher Designs Glen Arbor

I’ve been a fan of Becky Thatcher Designs since the first day I walked into her Glen Arbor studio and saw her jewelry displayed in cases filled with birch, sand and stones collected from the nearby Lake Michigan shoreline. A pale purple and blue landscape was painted on the walls, and I felt as though I’d never left the beach. From her petoskey stone watches to freshwater pearls and signature rings that blend gold, silver and gemstones, Becky has a gift for crafting exceptional jewelry. She has a passion for sharing her knowledge as well. I thought it would be fun to share a piece of her world with you.

I asked Becky if I could get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of jewelry design for the Traverse Traveler blog, and Becky had the perfect solution.

Invitation to a Gemstone Roundtable

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of joining a gemstone roundtable hosted by Becky Thatcher and gemstone dealers from Mayer & Watt. Twice each year, Becky Thatcher welcomes a handful of guests to join her in experiencing what it’s like to purchase gems directly from dealers who travel the world in search of beautiful stones. This was to be my glimpse behind the scenes of the gem-buying process.

Our presenters, Simon & Laurie Watt of Mayer & Watt, are accomplished gem dealers with whom Becky has worked for many years. Simon has served on the board of the American Gem Trade Association for more than 9 years, and Laurie was one of the first three women in the gem business.

Becky Thatcher Designs, located on Front Street in downtown Traverse CityWe met at the Becky Thatcher Designs store in downtown Traverse City. A lovely light dinner and refreshments awaited while guests mingled and met our hosts. We sat at a long, narrow table carefully prepared for the process of examiningstones for purchase.

For over 30 years, Mayer & Watt have developed relationships with a network of cutters and miners in every corner of the gem world to bring stones to jewelers like Becky. Fairtrade and fair labor are of utmost concern to be sure their products do not fund terror. They specialize in rare and unusual stones, many of which we had the chance to see and to hold.

At the roundtable event we viewed over 150 gemstones which ranged in price from $99 to over $100,000.

The Roundtable Event

Guests were seated around a long table with Simon at the head. He held a box with dozens of simple paper envelopes inside. We were asked to pass the envelopes around the table one by one. The outside was labeled with the name of the stone, the cut, the carat weight and the price. Since all stones were available for purchase, we employed a special process for laying claim to a certain stone.

Guests had an opportunity to view each stone up close as they were passed around the table. To see a stone a second time you call 'dibs' and they placed the stone on a tray in front of you.

As the envelopes passed round the table each guest carefully opened the paper folds to reveal the loose stone(s) inside. Some were single stones and others were cut and sold as a pair. If one of the stones caught our eye and warranted a second look we called “dibs” along with our name and the number on the envelope, then passed it along. Dibs wasn’t a commitment to buy, “just a flirtation,” said Simon. A chance to see the stone again, handle it, and perhaps compare it to another stone that came along.

Stones were packaged in a folded paper envelope, numbered and labeled. Each guest had the opportunity to see the stones unveiled for the first time upon opening the final fold. After viewing we passed them on folded inside just as they had been received.

Love at First Rhodocrosite

I saw amazing gems that evening. Stones I’d never heard of. From Spinel, Chrysoberyl, Nephrite and Alexandrite to the familar Opal, Amethyst, Sapphire and Ruby. But the most unusual name and the most amazing story go hand-in-hand. We waited for the Rhodocrosite. Simon came across this award-winning stone 16 years ago. He offered to buy it and was told to “get in line.” Years went by and he never forgot the beauty of that stone. Just weeks before coming to Michigan he received a call about a special stone for sale. Lo and behold it was one in the same. The stunning Rhodocrosite (shown above) was finally his. You’d think this one would be marked “not for sale” but in the gem business that’s not how it works. The stones are always for sale. “It’s like getting to fall in love all over again,” said Simon. And he hopes someone will fall in love with this beauty.

This amazing gem is a green beryl. What a stunning cut, and surprisingly affordable.

Attending a gemstone roundtable was a fascinating experience. If you’d be interested in seeing this first hand I’d suggest you pay a visit to Becky Thatcher Designs in Glen Arbor, Leland, Harbor Springs, or Traverse City and inquire. Becky will be hosting another roundtable yet this year. It could be a great place to start shopping for Christmas!

But wait, there’s more! Have you heard about Becky’s Tuesday Tea & Talk series? Throughout the summer, she hosts a formal tea in her private garden behind the Glen Arbor store, where Becky’s husband David shares a lecture on gemstones. The topic changes each week. Stop by for high tea in the garden and a glimpse into the world I found fascinating.

By |2024-12-04T10:47:46-05:00August 5th, 2014|Arts & Culture, Business Feature, News & Events|0 Comments
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In Season: Traverse City Cherries, Michigan’s Power Fruit

Cherry Festival is over, but the cherry season has just begun. Local cherries are the gems of the northern Michigan summer. Each year, we anxiously await the arrival of Traverse City cherries— the ruby fruit that brings visitors to the area and keeps many of our businesses running.

Whether you like sweet cherries by the pound, tart cherries for your pies, dried cherries for snacking, cherry wine, or cherry products, you can find it in the Cherry Capitol of the world…Traverse City.

Cherry Fun Facts

  • Michigan grows 75 percent of the US crop of tart cherries and about 20 percent of sweet cherries.
  • Northern Michigan is responsible for 90 percent of the state’s sweet cherry production.
  • There are close to 7000 cherries on the average tart cherry tree, enough for 28 pies.
  • The World Record for spitting a cherry pit is 93 feet 6.5 inches, held by “young gun” Krauss, son of 10-time record holder “pellet gun” Krause.
  • It takes 100 cherries to produce an 8 oz. glass of cherry juice.
  • Ease arthritis pain and inflammation naturally with cherry juice, thanks to the anthocyanins, which give tart cherries their color.
  • Michigan cherry wine is made primarily from Montmorency cherries.
  • Peninsula Cellars is the only area winery to produce a white cherry wine, made from the Emperor Francis cherry.

U-Pick Farms & Farm Stands

Some of my favorite childhood memories are from roaming the U-Pick farms. We’d lug around our galvanized buckets and climb the rickety old wooden ladders to carefully select the largest, juiciest, ripest cherries. When the buckets were full or too heavy to carry, we’d know it was time to go home. It took a long swim in the lake to get rid of the purple stained fingers, but it was worth the memories.

For a list of local U-Pick farms where you can find Traverse City cherries, check out LocalDifference.org.

Buy Traverse City Cherries

If you’re looking to pick up some fresh cherries on your visit up north, there are plenty of options. A drive along the Old Mission or Leelanau Peninsula will offer several roadside opportunities to buy direct from the grower. And you can’t beat the scenic views along the way. Eating fresh-washed cherries from a roadside stand always makes my summer to-do list.

For those of you who prefer your cherry products without the pits, Benjamin Twiggs in Traverse City has everything you could ever need. From cherry-themed merchandise to cherry products of all kinds, you’ll find all your cherry dreams come true at Benjamin Twiggs, the oldest cherry purveyor in Traverse City. And they’ll even ship if you’re craving a taste of Michigan from far away.

Tips and Tricks

  • Cherries with the stems attached will stay fresh longer.
  • To remove cherry stains from fingers and clothing, try a little lemon juice, and rinse with water.
  • For an inexpensive cherry pit remover, try placing a metal pastry tip on your finger and pushing them out. A bobby pin or a bent paper clip can be used to scoop out the pit and only leaves one hole.
By |2024-12-05T15:33:18-05:00July 18th, 2014|Community, Food & Drink, News & Events, Travel Tips|1 Comment
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Celebrate Autism with Free Events in Traverse City

Traverse Traveler is proud to announce several free events this April to celebrate autism, promote awareness, and raise money to purchase iPads for students with autism in our community.

This year we have teamed up with the Northwest Michigan Autism Resource Network (ARN) to bring four free events to the Traverse City community.

April 4: Light up the Lanes at Lucky Jacks  |  4-7 pm

To kick-off Autism Awareness month we’re inviting families of children with autism to a special party at Lucky Jack’s on Garfield Ave where we will “Light it up Blue” in their honor. We’ve planned an evening of fun and games including free bowling, treats, and activities. The eight-lane, private 300 Club at Lucky Jack’s as well as the adjacent party room will be reserved for this special event.

April 14: Film and panel discussion at Bijou by the Bay  |  6 pm

All community members are invited to a free screening of the 2009 documentary, The Horse Boy at the Bijou by the Bay theater. This hit on the film festival circuit chronicles the journey of the Isaacson family as they travel to Mongolia hoping to find a nomadic shaman to heal their five-year-old son’s autism. A moderated panel discussion will follow the movie, offering the community a place to ask questions, dispel myths and learn about how autism affects people in the Grand Traverse area.

April 16: ARN monthly speaker  |  6:30 pm

Karin Chandler, founder of Life Solutions for Autism, will speak on developing a childs skills to enable independence at the regular ARN monthly parent support group meeting. Advocating for and Empowering Children with Autism will be presented at Munson Medical Center room 11 (lower level).

April 27: Sensory-friendly film at The State  |  10 am

Sound and light levels will be moderated for this free showing of one of Thomas the Tank Engines feature-length adventures. Children of all ages will enjoy Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue, while parents relax knowing that if they get a little loud, or need to get up and move, it’s OK.

Donating to iPads for Autism

Traverse Traveler remains committed to our mission of raising funds to help children with autism in our local schools. In the last two years we have raised over $25,000 and purchased 47 iPads for TCAPS students with autism as a partner in education. This year we will continue to raise money for ipads through voluntary donations collected at all events.

Walgreens

In addition, we’re thrilled to announce all four Traverse City area Walgreens stores will collect donations for iPads for autism throughout the month of April.

By |2024-11-28T10:20:10-05:00March 28th, 2014|Archive, Autism, News & Events|0 Comments
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"Light it up Blue" for Autism Awareness April 2 in Downtown Traverse City

Join us as we “Light It Up Blue” on World Autism Awareness Day, a family-friendly event in downtown Traverse City on Tuesday, April 2.

Light It Up Blue begins at 6 PM on April 2 at ECCO, 121 E. Front St., with food and fun activities with a blue theme. Glowing luminaries will be available for purchase for $5, with proceeds to benefit the Traverse City Area Public Schools iPads for Autism program.

Downtown merchants are encouraged to decorate their storefronts in blue in honor of the event. At 7:30 PM, participants will carry the luminaries along Front Street to the Open Space. At the Open Space, participants will place the blueglowing lanterns in the shape of a puzzle piece, another symbol of autism. The event will be captured on video, and an overhead photo with the community will be taken to show Traverse City’s participation in “Light it up Blue.”

Blue luminaries are available for purchase in advance at Old Mission Traders, 215 E. Front St.

If you live in the Traverse City area, we encourage you to come down for this fun event. But even if you can’t, we encourage everyone to Light it up Blue wherever you are. Here’s what you can do:

  • Wear blue clothing, nail polish, or even hair paint.
  • Turn your porch light blue with a bulb from Home Depot. Special bulbs are for sale with proceeds to benefit Autism Speaks.
  • Decorate your door, your yard, or your desk in blue or with puzzle pieces- the symbol of Autism.

Light It Up Blue is a worldwide event where participants seek to light prominent landmarks blue to help raise awareness of autism– a developmental disorder now estimated to affect one in 50 children. In Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge will be lit blue on April 2. Other prominent buildings have included the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Canada.

In Traverse City, “Light It Up Blue” is organized by the Scavenger Hunt for Autism, a fundraising event set for April 13,that will also benefit TCAPS’ iPads for Autism Program.

“We’re excited to add this prelude event this year to further increase autism awareness,” Scavenger Hunt founder Brandy Wheeler said. “Kids, parents, grandparents, and community members of all ages in between are invited to help make the Open Space as blue as the bay.”

For more information on Light it up Blue or the Scavenger Hunt for Autism on April 13, visit www.traversetraveler.com/autism or find us on Facebook.

By |2024-11-27T10:52:59-05:00March 28th, 2013|Archive, Autism, News & Events|0 Comments
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From Unemployed to Entrepreneur — Mealtickets Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

10 Miles Down the Road Less Traveled 

11-1-11 is the anniversary of the day I let go of the 8-5, steady paycheck life and slapped on a new name tag:  Entrepreneur.

I had just lost my graphic design job, after 9/11 collapsed the travel industry, taking with it our ad agency’s biggest client. So there I stood in my Robert Frost moment, facing two roads diverged. I took the road less traveled by. It led to the start of a little card company called Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas.

Now here we are, 10 years later. Still alive, still creating, and still working to promote the Traverse Area to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who travel to northern Michigan each year.

In honor of this milestone, I decided to throw a party to thank my clients and friends in the hospitality industry, without whom my little business wouldn’t have grown.

On November 1, 2011, we’ll mark that moment in time when faced with two roads I took the one less traveled by…and that has made all the difference.

Mealtickets 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

Date:  11-1-11  from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Food & Wine Pairings | Giveaways | Door-prizes | Drink Specials

We’re hosting a Happy Hour reception for our clients and guests to celebrate, with fabulous door prizes, Traverse Traveler swag and a throw-back to old-fashioned social networking: face to face!

Want to join us?

Rate our app on iTunes and you’ll be entered to win a special Traverse Traveler prize pack including a guest invitation to our party!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Rate the app on iTunes

2. Email Brandy at info@mealtickets.com with a copy of your review!

We will draw names from the emails we receive and announce the winners on Friday, October 29th!

This event is by invitation only, so rate the app Today!

By |2024-11-28T10:48:17-05:00October 25th, 2011|Archive, News & Events|0 Comments
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Traverse Traveler App Featured in New Visual Marketing Book

I’m thrilled to announce the Traverse Traveler app will be included in a new creative idea book featuring 99 examples of successful marketing strategies. 

Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, by Anita Campbell & David Langton — To be released on September 29th

Here’s an excerpt from their publisher, Wiley:

“This book is an idea starter. Expect this book to stimulate the senses, inspire and spark ideas,” says Langton. “The 99 handpicked examples in this book are from organizations that have successfully used visual elements in their marketing—with solid results.”

Visual Marketing displays creative marketing campaigns that brought attention to small businesses in unique, compelling, and unexpected ways. 

“We explored every aspect of marketing – from traditional to high tech, “adds Campbell. “We show examples of how print ads and marketing materials are evolving, how social networking sites and the world of mobile apps have redefined how people communicate and how quickly new marketing technology, such as QR codes, come along as technology progresses.”

I’m anxiously awaiting a copy to see the creative ideas from other designers, artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses featured in this collection. I hope you’ll pay a visit to your local bookstore and pick up a copy. It is also available on Amazon and in eBook format for those who love their tablets!

By |2024-11-29T03:25:49-05:00September 20th, 2011|Archive, News & Events|0 Comments
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Wonderful World of Michigan Wine, Beer and Spirits

The beverage business is booming in Michigan. And everyone from visitors to lodging personnel to locals wants to keep up with what’s new in the world of wine, beer and spirits in Northern Michigan. So here are some highlights from our customers in the industry.

right brain breweryRight Brain Brewery

90 lbs of asparagus were grilled and turned into what has become a springtime favorite at RBB: Empire Spear Beer. Don’t worry if you missed it at the Empire Asparagus Festival—it’s on tap at the brewery. And for all the gluten-free customers out there, it’s time to send up a cheer for the first ever gluten-free beer at RBB. “Katy Bar the Door” is an ode to the Red Wings #1 gluten allergy advocate, Mickey Redman. It’s made with roasted chestnuts, local honey, and 100% local hops.

black star farmsBlack Star Farms

Just fresh from bottling is the ’09 Riesling at Black Star Farms. The winemaker’s notes will tell you, “This wine presents classic Riesling aromas of delicate white flowers and stone fruit. Ripe flavors of citrus, peach and apple follow on the palate. It is a lovely off-dry medium bodied white wine.” And if you’re looking for a great date night or a fun place to meet up with friends, why not check out the Matterhorn Grill at Tastes of Black Star Farms inside the Mercado at The Village.Sit around a miniature grill dining on melted Raclette, meats and veggies while sipping something tasty. Yum.

bel lago winery

Bel Lago Vineyard & Winery

Bel Lago Winery’s 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling has been judged BEST WHITE WINE at the 2010 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, held in San Bernardino, CA.  Bel Lago 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling won a Gold Medal and the Best of Class award for Off-Dry Riesling, and then competed against all the other Best of Class White Wine varietal winners and was judged Best White Wine overall. Stop by their tasting room across from beautiful Lake Leelanau and taste for yourself. Congratulations, Bel Lago.

Brian at left foot charley Left Foot Charley

Despite a challenging ’09 growing season, Bryan at Left Foot Charley has pulled together an interesting vintage from their fruits of last year. The ’09 Pinot Blanc is from Island View Vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula. In his ownwords, “Island View came through again in the tough ’09 vintage. We made the crew sort the grapes into golden and green clusters then the two lots were pressed and fermented individually and carefully blended back together to form this complex bright dry wine. Great apple notes with a striking citrus finish. Very limited production—you snooze youlose.” Also, check out their Sparking Hard Apple Cider and The Cobbler; a double fermented cider with a cinnamon flavor. Try it served ala mode with Moomers ice cream on the side.

2 lads winery2 Lads Winery

Bring on the bubbly. 2 Lads is ready to release their 2002 vintage bubbly. “The 2002 Dry Sparkling Wine has been in the cellar doing extended aging en tirage (on the lees). This June will be the last time you will be able to purchase and enjoy this rare and spectacular gem. A non-traditional blend exhibiting an exotic, vibrant bouquet and a seductive mouth feel. When released, this wine will have seen seven years en tirage and is exemplary of Northern Michigan’s potential to be the United States’ preeminent sparkling wine region.“ With less than 500 bottles left in the cage, there’s no time to waste in making a trip up to 2 Lads for a bottle.

peninsula cellarsPeninsula Cellars

In case you missed it, Peninsula Cellars was among several local wineries that made the B-list according to a recent article in Food & Wine magazine. The article certainly reinforced the fact that you can’t judge a winery by its apparent size or location on a map. And it highlighted one of my family’s favorite easy-drinking reds; Detention. Speaking of easy drinking, don’t leave this little schoolhouse without a bottle of Homework, their Pinot Noir Rose.

grand traverse distilleryGrand Traverse Distillery

If you haven’t been out to visit the George and Kent, now’s the time. At their production facility, they’ve expanded the tasting room area to accommodate all the new visitors we’re sending their way. You’ll also find some new spirits that will hopefully raise yours. Check out Ole George Whiskey, 100% Rye whiskey, now available in the tasting room. I also discovered a limited bottling of Chocolate Vodka. Sounds like cocktail hour is going to get crazy this summer at Grand Traverse Distillery.

uncorked wine barUncorked Wine Bar

now closed

If you’ve stepped inside the Cherry Stop lately, you can’t miss what’s going on with Uncorked. In order to create two separate spaces for visitors to enjoy, they are remodeling and moving the wine bar up front. When they’re finished with the upgrade, customers who are there to visit Uncorked will come in a separate entrance that leads straight to the bar, located under a pergola inside the building. The seating and beautiful Grand Traverse Bay views are still in the back. And plans for another Meet the Winemaker event in June are in the works. So stop in for a sample or pick up a bottle of your favorite local wine while you’re shopping downtown Traverse City.

Upcoming Festival and Events

One of the best ways to enjoy summer in Michigan is spending an afternoon at a Wine Festival, Beer Festival, or a combination thereof. So here’s a list of some of the upcoming festivals in Northern Michigan and throughout the state.

May 21-22  |  World Expo of Beer, Frankenmuth, Michigan

May 29  |  Michigan Beer & Brat Festival, Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan

June 12  |  Leland Wine & Food Festival, Leland, Michigan

June 26-27  |  Michigan Wine & Brew Festival, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan

July 23-24  |  Michigan Summer Beer Festival, Ypsilanti, Michigan

August 6  |  Old Mission Peninsula Wine & Food Celebration, Bowers Harbor Park on Old Mission, Traverse City, Michigan

August 14  |  Leelanau Peninsula Wine & Food Festival, Northport, Michigan

August 21  |  Traverse City Wine & Food Festival, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Traverse City, Michigan

August 27-28  |  Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Traverse City, Michigan

By |2024-12-06T10:53:49-05:00May 20th, 2010|Food & Drink, News & Events|1 Comment
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Civil War Monument Dedication

New Plaques for the ‘Old Soldier’ in Grand Traverse County

On the Old Courthouse Lawn at the corners of Washington and Boardman rests the ‘Old Soldier’ monument and the Civil War Naval Cannon.  This morning, August 23, 2008, the Robert Finch Camp No. 14 presented two bronze plaques to Grand Traverse County as part of their Monument Restoration Project. These commemorative plaques explain the history and significance of each monument.

The 100 Pounder Parrot Rifled Naval Cannon served on the U.S.S. Sabine during the Civil War. Commissioned by the U.S. Navy on August 23, 1858, the U.S.S. Sabine played a significant role in the Civil War. Assigned to secure the Federal garrison at Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island to blockade Pensacola Bay, Florida. She joined the Atlantic Squadron and came to the rescue of the transport Governor after a hurricane hit Cape Hatteras. This rescue saves 500 Marines and crew. Some of Sabine’s crew were transferred to the iron-clad U.S.S. Monitor and experienced the clash with the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimac).

U.S.S. Sabine was decommissioned in 1887 after continuing to serve the Navy as a training ship through the end of the War. Her last remaining cannon was donated to Grand Traverse County by Senator William Alden Smith in 1910.

On May 30, 1890, the Mayor of Traverse City, Perry Hannah, welcomed the Civil War Soldier statue to the grounds of the original courthouse on Cass Street. 4,000 citizens and over 300 Civil War veterans attended the unveiling. Exactly 115 years later, to the hour, over 1500 citizens gathered once more to ‘welcome home’ the return of the statue after it received some much needed restoration.

Today, the ‘Old Soldier’ Civil War Monument received a plaque to represent its significance to the community. The Robert Finch Camp, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, organized the fundraising effort to have the original statue repaired and restored. Support from local businesses, charities, and citizens made their effort a success.

This statue represents the 171 volunteers from the Traverse Area who marched in the War. The side of the monument lists the major battlefields where our region’s soldiers fought from 1861 to 1865. Thirty-two local men gave their lives in the conflict.

For more information on the Robert Finch Camp No. 14, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, visit their website.

By |2024-12-06T05:11:30-05:00August 23rd, 2008|News & Events|0 Comments
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