Michigan's Cherry on Top
Bound for the nation's cherry capital on your next work trip? With Traverse City's bayside backdrop, award-winning wineries and ever-growing food and arts scene, finding work/fun balance is never a struggle
Traverse City's State Theatre contributes to the city's historic charm. The theatre, now more than a century old, was revived by the Traverse City Film Festival in 2007.
Travelers stay in Traverse City, Michigan, for its lakeshore, festivals and cherry-blossom-dotted wine country—and for foodies, there’s no shortage of fresh, locally sourced dining options. If you’re lucky enough to land here on business, here’s a quick guide to making the most of your trip.
The city is home to the annual Traverse City Film Festival, which brings filmmakers from around the world to Northern Michigan each July. Enjoy movies in venues all across downtown or beneath a summer sunset on a screen overlooking Grand Traverse Bay. Photo shared by @dzwphoto.
Pho, Pasta and Pie
Roaming Harvest: Farm to Table (or Farm to Food Truck)
This trendy downtown restaurant was founded in 2013 as Roaming Harvest, Traverse City’s first food truck. Catch the roaming version of the restaurant during the summer, or sit down for a farm-to-table-fresh meal year-round at the restaurant on Union Street downtown (just a couple miles down the road from the Cambria hotel). Made with locally grown ingredients, the menu is a melting pot of eclectic comfort food, from pho and falafel to burritos and Korean beef tacos.
Trattoria Stella: La Dulce Vita is Always In Season
Celebrating a work-trip win? Located on the gorgeous grounds of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons—a more than 130-year-old asylum that’s been transformed into a shopping and dining hub—the award-winning Trattoria Stella is one of the best spots for a special meal. The Italian restaurant’s menu rotates daily, and wine lovers can choose from more than 200 bottles.
The Original Grand Traverse Pie Company: Dessert Decision? Easy as Pie
Cherries, apples, and berries of every variety are some of Northern Michigan’s defining crops. So, what’s the best way to sample the sweet bounty the Traverse City region is famous for? You can’t go wrong with pie, and you’ll find the most tempting assortment at The Original Grand Traverse Pie Company on West Front Street. The family-owned bakery has been a hometown favorite for more than 20 years.
All in a Day's Work (and Play)
Sleeping Bear Dunes: Lakeshore Living
If you have a few free hours away from the office, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is worth the drive just west of Traverse City. Here, you’ll be swept up in towering sand dunes perched above clear lake waters, plus miles of scenic coastline dotted with forests, villages, farmsteads and even a historic island lighthouse. Enjoy hiking and cycling trails or take a scenic drive—no matter the season, you’ll encounter spectacular views.
State Theatre: Landmark Performance
Good news for lovers of the stage and screen—downtown Traverse City is home to several standout theaters with storied histories. State Theatre was built in 1916 and was one of the first theaters in Michigan to show movies with sound. Thanks to a renovation by the Traverse City Film Festival in 2007, it’s regained its rep as one of the best places in the city to catch a movie. You’ll find its sister theater, Bijou by the Bay, on the waterfront in Clinch Park. Prefer live performance? Don’t miss the City Opera House, a Victorian-era landmark that regularly hosts world-class touring artists on its stage.
National Cherry Festival: See the Town Through Cherry-Colored Glasses
Spring and summer travelers are in for the region’s signature sweet (or tart) treat. Northern Michigan’s cherry trees begin bursting into bloom in May, peaking around mid-month. Drive along the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas to find cherry orchards with scenic views of Grand Traverse Bay along the way, or rent a bike and cruise the winding backroads through the groves. If you prefer your fruits fermented, this region is also known for its vineyards and wineries. Visiting in July? You’ll be able to taste the fruits of America’s Cherry Capital while enjoying concerts, contests and parades during the National Cherry Festival.
The best way to enjoy the Traverse City area's fruitful bounty? At the city's annual festival! Photo shared by @missvintagetwist.
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