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It is a rare vacation destination that can make me feel simultaneously spoiled (an excellent quality in any relaxing vacation) and so absolutely comfortable, I feel as if I’ve stumbled upon my home in an alternate universe. I found both in Traverse City, Michigan.

Traverse City Michigan Vacation Guide—National Cherry Festival

A few weeks ago, the National Cherry Festival and Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City’s regional airport) invited me and four other travel bloggers to experience a taste of Pure Michigan. We headed to Traverse City, located along Lake Michigan’s northeast shores. In addition to experiencing major annual events like the National Cherry Festival and Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, we also had the opportunity to check out area highlights that are available all summer long: fabulous food, gorgeous walks along the beach, and an incredible wine trail. (YES WINE!)

Black Star Farms winery in Suttons Bay, Michigan

Whether you are looking for a family-friendly travel destination, a spot for a girls’ weekend, or a romantic getaway, Traverse City has something to offer. Here are a few of the highlights from our trip, as well as helpful resources to help you plan your own.


Traverse City: GETTING THERE

Flying into Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport was officially the most pleasant airport experience of my life. I flew directly from Chicago (the airport also offers direct, non-stop flights from Newark, LaGuardia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver, and Detroit) and stepped off of the plane into a charming, clean, and convenient waiting area.

Traverse City, Michigan Cherry Capital Airport

The airport has a relaxing lounge where you can wait for your flight (or pick up a friend), free wifi, a little patio so you can relax outside if it’s a nice day, and a full-service café offering from scratch-fare and local products.


Traverse City: WHERE TO STAY

We had the privilege to stay at the newly opened Hotel Indigo, located right in the heart of downtown Traverse City. The rooms were spacious and clean, the showers MASSIVE, and the service friendly and courteous. I loved the modern rustic décor, the location, and the breezy rooftop bar.

Hotel Indigo in Traverse City Michigan

Hotel Indigo’s rooftop bar overlooks Lake Michigan, the Cherry Festival grounds, and downtown Traverse City. We stopped by every day of the trip, even if it was just for a few minutes take in the scenery before dinner.


NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL: The Highlights

The National Cherry Festival takes place in Traverse City the first week of every July. Michigan is the leading producer of tart cherries, and the festival celebrates this ruby gem of a fruit.

National Cherry Festival in Traverse City

We toured a working family cherry farm to see the production in action, attended the Cherry Royal Parade, visited the fairgrounds, listened to live music and comedy, and sampled a wide-variety of local cherry products (cherry salsa, cherry mustard, cherry lemonade, cherry ice cream, cherry butter, and of course, cherry pie!).

National Cherry Festival Sites and Activities

The National Cherry Festival would be a dream family vacation. There are activities for kids and adults sprinkled throughout downtown and the surrounding area.


SO, WHAT’S WITH THOSE TART CHERRIES?

Northern Michigan is proud of its tart cherries, and it has every right to be. One of the neatest parts of the trip was learning about the positive health benefits tart cherries offer. They truly are a super fruit! From reducing inflammation, to improving sleep, to assisting with exercise recovery, tart cherries are a nutritional powerhouse. (Find more about cherry nutritional information, as well as tips to enjoy them year-round here).

Tart Cherries are a Nutritional Powerhouse

One of the biggest advocates for the health benefits of tart cherries we met was Michelle of Cherry Works. Years ago, Michelle started making a tart cherry concentrate for friends and family, because she noticed the positive health benefits (like improved sleep and less joint discomfort) it made in her life. It began as a hobby, but then blossomed into a business. Her cherry concentrate and other Cherry Works products are now available on Amazon (just look at the positive reviews!), as well as Whole Foods and many other specialty grocery stores throughout the country. If you buy them on her website, cherryworks.net, you can also enjoy 20% off with the coupon code TRYCHERRYWORKS (thanks Michelle!).

Michelle, owner of Cherry Works

Our visit with Michelle—who cooked us a beautiful cherry-centric breakfast—was inspiring and uplifting. Like everyone we met in Traverse City, her passion for the region and it’s cherry crop was contagious.


MORE THAN A PIE

Thanks to Michelle and the many cherry-centric culinary offerings throughout the Festival, I experienced a delicious array of ways to enjoy tart cherries, but the most classic is still a tart cherry pie. Sweet cherry pie, I do love you, but it’s the more robust, flavorful TART cherry pie that I crave. You’ll find some of the best in Traverse City at Grand Traverse Pie Company.

Grand Traverse Pie Company—a must visit for the National Cherry Festival

In addition to making a killer array of pies (the ginger-ale infused Vernor’s Cherry was my favorite), Grand Traverse Pie exemplifies what it means to contribute to a community. We enjoyed a fabulous breakfast with Mike (pictured above), Grand Traverse Pie’s founder and CEO. Hearing the devotion with which he spoke about his employees and the company’s dedication to being a positive community partner was nothing short of inspiring. By the time we finished our breakfast (which, yes, included giant slices of tart cherry pie), I was ready to move to Traverse City, roll up my sleeves, and become a Grand Traverse Pie company baker.

Craving pie but not tart cherries to be found? Grand Traverse also ships around the country.


Traverse City: EATS

If you are a food lover, Traverse City will be your paradise. No matter what time of year you visit, you will find a large array of top-notch local restaurants. We enjoyed some of the best dining I’ve experienced anywhere in the country.

Alliance

Our dinner at Alliance was nothing short of remarkable. The menu for this airy downtown restaurant changes every single day to reflect the local produce, meat, and fish the chef acquires at market that morning. Dishes are sized to share, and we tried (I kid you not) the entire Alliance menu. I was in awe.
Alliance Restaurant in Traverse City Michigan

Every dish was a masterpiece. Not only did the food look beautiful—it tasted exquisite. Every dish carefully balanced color, flavor, and texture. From a fresh cucumber and watermelon salad with a delicate sauce and refreshing cucumber granita, to a smoky, freshly caught halibut, to a butternut squash salad with caramelized nuts, every plate wowed me more than the one before it. We loved Alliance so much, we came back a second night to see the menu—and to order another round of its fabulous cocktails.

Boathouse

Looking for a fabulous, 5-star meal, epic scenery, and fantastic service? You’ve found your spot at Boathouse, an elegant restaurant on the shore of Lake Michigan. This is the restaurant’s backyard view:

Boathouse Restaurant outside Traverse City, Michigan

And the food—oh my. Lobster! Steak! A cauliflower risotto that I still dream about at night! Boathouse wowed us with its classic steakhouse elegance, superb food, and bright, airy setting.

Boathouse Restaurant Traverse City Michigan

Swoooooon.

The Parlor

Want to feel like a local in a hip environment, while sipping a killer cocktail and noshing on creative small plates? Head to The Parlor.

The Parlor in Traverse City Michigan

I loved the hip vibe and modern twists on classic comfort food The Parlor offered. Your must try: the mac and cheese. Thank me later.

The Little Fleet

In addition to fine dining, Traverse City also offers a fun collection of casual dining options, my favorite of which was The Little Fleet.

The Little Fleet—a great place to eat during the National Cherry Festival

An open lot filled with food trucks, picnic benches, and an open air bar, The Little Fleet is the ideal spot to grab lunch on a nice day. Our group balanced a few quinoa salads with smoky tacos and Michigan craft brews. 


THE WINE TRAIL

Northern Michigan is home to a fantastic spread of high-quality, affordable wineries. Dreaming of going to Napa but can’t swing the price tag? This is your spot! Tastings are all around $5, and I was so impressed by the quality of the wine.

We had the privilege to complete tastings at two wineries, and I am plotting to go back for either a romantic weekend with Ben or a gal’s trip, because there are so many more I want to try.

Black Star Farms

Black Star Farms Winery

If you can only go to a few wineries, make sure Black Star Farms is on your list, and you absolutely must stay for lunch. Their wood oven pizzas are incredible. I actually visited Black Star Farms last year, but was so smitten with the food and wine, I wanted to return. It was even better than I remembered.

Shady Lane Cellars

Shady Lane Cellars Traverse City

For a glass of wine with a view, visit Shady Lane Cellars. I could have spent hours there relaxing and soaking in the scenery—with a glass in wine of hand, naturally.


GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

In addition to the National Cherry Festival, Traverse City is also home to two other major festivals, the Traverse City Film Festival (which I hope to attend some day!) and the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.

Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

We spent our last morning at the Equestrian Festival, and I was introduced to a whole new world of sport and entertainment. I knew absolutely nothing about riding prior to the event, and I enjoyed learning about the dedication it takes to train and show a horse, as well as watching the riders compete.

Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

We had a lovely lunch overlooking the fields, visited with a trainer, and were awed by the beauty of the horses themselves.


TRAVERSE CITY’S GREATEST TREASURE

Traverse City has A LOT to offer. From festivals, to wineries, to shopping, to fine and casual dining alike, the area is more filled with activities than I could hope to touch in four months, let alone in four days. It’s greatest treasure of all, however, you won’t find in a travel brochure—it’s the people that truly make Traverse City the remarkable destination it is.

Highlights of the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City Michigan

From Michelle, to Mike, to the cherry farmers, to restaurant and winery owners, to the queen of the Cherry Royal parade, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) with whom we crossed paths was in Traverse City for one very specific reason: they love Traverse City and northern Michigan.

The passion in northern Michigan is contagious. Come visit Traverse City, walk alone Lake Michigan, and see if you don’t catch it too!

National Cherry Festival Visitor Group

THANK YOU to the National Cherry Festival and Cherry Capital Airport for hosting our group: Becky, Amanda, Rachel, myself, and Lauren. It meant so much to spend four beautiful days days with these women, who I am blessed to call friends.

Lake Michigan in Traverse City—National Cherry Festival

Dear Traverse City: I hope to see you again soon.

Our trip was hosted by the National Cherry Festival, Cherry Capital Airport, and mentioned restaurants. No other compensation was received, and as always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for letting me share this special experience with you!

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. We just got back from Traverse City! Not at the cherry festival, but we used your recommendations for our stay and they were spot on. Thank you! Hoping to come back in the summer next time.

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