Spring Break in Traverse City

If you have time, consider dropping by Handz On Art, a paint your own pottery studio. There is no hourly charge so take your time, relax and have fun. 

Sugar 2 Salt is a delightful breakfast adventure. Arrive early to snag a table. Will it be the Bread Pudding with crisp pork belly and hollandaise or the Risotto with Bacon and Basil Walnut Pesto?

One of the Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America, Trattoria Stella specializes in house-made pastas, fresh cheeses, charcuterie, breads and desserts.  A perfect choice for date night or a trip with the girls.

TART Trail

If bike riding is up your alley, check out the TART Trail system.

The main TART trail stretches from East Bay into downtown Traverse City and runs up the Leelanau Peninsula, making it easy to access with bikes, rollerblades or strollers.

You can even rent bikes and do a pedal-powered wine tour if you’d like.

Ride the trail and you’ll roll past sweeping bay views, parks, playgrounds, ice cream shops and more.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located west of Traverse and along the shores of Lake Michigan, is a treasure to behold.

Majestic lake views, fantastic hiking, and sweeping dune panoramas await you.

A national park pass is required for entry to the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The Empire Bluff hiking trail is probably my favorite hike, especially at sunset.

It’s an out-and-back 1.5-mile hike that starts with a climb and then takes you over a rolling, wooded pathway. Once you reach the Lake Michigan overlook, there’s a boardwalk with great photo ops all around.

If you’re looking for something warm and satisfying, The Good Bowl, a Traverse City restaurant focused on Vietnamese cuisine, is the perfect solution.  

This is the spot for guac in Traverse City.

And the word is out about Mama Lu’s. Arrive early to get a table or be ready to wait a bit.

Once you’re seated, fill your table with tacos (Pescado and Beef), guacamole & the deliciously salty tortilla chips, and finally, the infamous Street Corn.

Once home, you’ll be dreaming of this meal for months to come.

One thing that I crave when it comes to an amazing date night experience? Ambiance. Give me the linen tablecloths, candles, quiet conversation…I want it all.

And count on Amical to deliver a beautiful, warm space to relax. And cook up unique dishes, like Jerusalem Artichoke soup and Miso-Marinated Hanger Steak, from the NOPI Middle Eastern cookbook, to take you on a fun culinary adventure.

The Low Bar is where I want to be every Friday night. And if you’re in town for a romantic escape or a girlfriend’s getaway, we think you’ll want to be there, too.

A speakeasy under 7 Monks Taproom, the Low Bar is a swanky place to cap off your evening. We loved sitting in one of the small, intimate seating areas they have scattered all over the Low Bar.

The extensive menu had my Bourbon-loving husband doing a happy dance. And I was thankful for our bartender who made narrowing down my choices easier. I’ll be back for the upscale vibes and the Cerberus cocktail soon.

Sleder’s is the oldest restaurant in Michigan! Opened in 1882, Sleder’s has been serving up family food for generations.

This is where you go when you want a great burger. Big portions all around ensure that no one leaves hungry. Count on down-to-earth friendly service that you’d expect from a place like this.

I loved the Cherry Tree Inn’s pool – it’s right next to the hot tub, so I could leisurely unwind while keeping one eye on the kids. We brought our youngest’s life jacket along and that gave even more peace of mind.

The Cherry Tree Inn was great for our family, not just because of the pool, but because it had enough room for us to relax and unwind.

Rooms at the Cherry Tree Inn were spacious enough for all five of us; we could get a studio room with two queen beds and add a roll-away bed without any difficulty.

There’s a nice little waiting room in the lobby area with a fireplace and a wonderful selection of coffee and tea available all day long, as well.

Great Wolf Lodge is the only Michigan Hotel Waterpark in Traverse City.

It’s a fantastic place to stay if you have kids along and are looking for a family spring break getaway.

Bonus: Kids of all ages love trying to master the MagiQuest game here.

Stay at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa with or without kids. Kids will enjoy the water play areas. Adults will savor the outdoor, adults-only hot tub.

The resort has a variety of rooms, suites, and condos available, plus onsite restaurants and shopping.

Choose to stay at Crystal Mountain in the late spring for skiing, friendly staff, a variety of activities, spacious accommodations, and amenities that provide what your family needs to relax and have fun together.