I’ve been coming to Traverse City since I was a kid, and no matter how many places I travel, something about this corner of Michigan keeps pulling me back. Maybe it’s the light on the water at sunset. Maybe it’s the smell of warm pine needles. Maybe it’s just the ritual of it.
This is how I spent a recent weekend up north—hiking, swimming, wine tasting, watching the sun go down over the bay. If you’ve got two or three days in the area, here’s a loose itinerary based on real places I went, and things I actually did.
Day One: Sun, Sand, and Sunset Picnics
Lunch at Farm Club
After pulling into town and unpacking at the cabin, we headed straight to Farm Club. The drive out is pretty enough on its own—gentle hills, cherry orchards, the occasional vintage truck for sale—but Farm Club has its own kind of draw. It’s a brewery, farm, restaurant, and shop, all tucked into the countryside. We ordered cider and trout toast, sat on the patio in the sun, and watched people trickle in with dogs and kids.
Afternoon Hike to Pyramid Point
On the way to Sleeping Bear, we stopped at The Mill in Glen Arbor—a small creekside café and bakery that feels part forest, part fairy tale. I got a matcha and a molasses cookie and ate it outside on a wooden bridge.
The hike to Pyramid Point is short but rewarding. You wind through quiet woods and thickets of green, until the trees suddenly open and you’re hit with one of the best views in Michigan: a sheer drop to turquoise water, the Manitou Islands floating in the distance.
Cool-Down Swim + Scenic Drive Through Port Oneida
We made our way to a nearby beach to cool off—just a quick dip to rinse off the sweat from the hike. Then we took the scenic route home, driving through Port Oneida Rural Historic District. It’s all meadows, faded barns, and sleepy back roads—the kind of place where you roll the windows down and slow way, way up.
Sunset Picnic at Greilickville Harbor
We grabbed some picnic supplies at Tom’s (cheese, crackers, fresh cherries) and parked at Greilickville Harbor just in time for golden hour. There were sailboats drifting by, kids running barefoot on the grass, and that deep pink summer sky that hits different over water. We stayed until the sun dropped behind the hills.
Day Two: Vines, Views, and a Moomers Nightcap
Morning: Bagels + Wine Tasting on Old Mission Peninsula
We grabbed a quick breakfast at Bubbie’s Bagels before heading out to the Old Mission Peninsula—one of the best places to go wine tasting in Michigan, and a great drive on its own.
Brys Estate was our first stop. We split a charcuterie board and a couple glasses of rosé, then wandered into their Secret Garden—a field of lavender, zinnias, and little paths buzzing with bees. It’s a small thing, but I always remember it.
After that, we headed to 2 Lads Winery. Sleek, modern, and perched high above the bay—it’s one of my favorites for the view alone. If you’ve got time, the Mission Point Lighthouse is just up the road.
Dinner at Little Fleet (or Boathouse), Then Ice Cream at Sunset
That night, we kept it casual with dinner at The Little Fleet—a food truck court and bar with plenty of outdoor seating. If you’re feeling fancy, The Boathouse is right on the water and excellent for a more celebratory meal.
We ended the night with a scoop of Moomers from Bardon’s Wonder Freeze and walked over to Sunset Park Beach to watch the last of the light. It’s a simple pleasure, but one that always feels worth the trip.
Day Three: Farmers Markets and One Last Swim
Morning at Sara Hardy Farmers Market
If it’s a Saturday, the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market is the place to be. Stalls brim with fresh flowers, glossy apples, smoked fish, and Michigan-made pantry goods—dried cherries, small-batch jams, herbal teas, maple syrup. It’s the kind of market that feels both everyday and special, like the kind of place you’d want in your own neighborhood.
We wandered through with coffee in hand, picking up a bouquet for the kitchen back home and a few edible souvenirs to stretch the weekend just a little further.
Breakfast from The Outpost
A few blocks away, The Outpost is a local favorite for breakfast sandwiches and strong coffee. We ordered at the counter—housemade bread, just-right eggs, and good hot sauce—and lingered at the shaded picnic tables out front.
It’s not flashy, but it’s good. Comforting. A place that feels lived-in, in the best way.
A Walk Through Brown Bridge Quiet Area
Before heading out of town, we drove a little ways south to Brown Bridge Quiet Area, a lesser-known nature preserve just outside the city limits.
The trail begins in meadowland, where golden grass brushes your legs and butterflies hover in the heat. It winds down into pine groves and along bends in the Boardman River, where the water moves slow and clear over stones.
There were dragonflies, birdsong, and that high-summer hum that fills your ears when everything else goes quiet. It felt like a proper goodbye.
Last Bite: Frank’s 231
Before hitting the road, we stopped at Frank’s 231—a new spot from a former Farm Club chef, now serving heritage-style sausages, buttery pierogis, and local meats on old porcelain plates. It’s casual, a little weird, and seriously good.
I had a brat and fries. Unfussy, satisfying, and the right kind of heavy to keep me full for the drive home.
