I was having trouble with my Libby app. Kelly at the Woodmere branch was phenomenal. It took an…read morehour and a half but she was successful in the end. I can't thank her enough for her persistence in figuring out the problem. Great job Kelly

Library visit #2 of our trip! This large library is a stone's throw from the downtown Traverse City…read morearea and features a small-ish kids section with a cute boat play installation, small aquarium, friendly staff, clean family bathroom, computers and more. My son and I passed an hour here reading books and playing a puzzle on the computer. The entrance to the library felt like it could use a little more light and energy but once you make your way to the kids section it's more inviting. They also have a little free library out front.

Great catalog of books, movies, dvd's, and Kindle books. Very helpful and friendly staff.read more

Fyi, still masking here. Still a decent selection for their smaller size. I prefer their friends of…read morethe library book pricing, too. 3 for a dollar is appreciated when you tear through books as Mom & I do.

This place was absolutely amazing--an old asylum from 1885-1989 turned into housing, shopping,…read morerestaurants, and offices while maintaining the original structure. I love what they were able to do instead of letting it sit abandoned and decay. The history of mental asylums is so interesting, and they offer 2 hour tours for $30 for those ages 12+. I definitely recommend the tour if you are into history, psychology or healthcare. The tour guide was great, and obviously a true expert in all things regarding the Traverse City State Hospital. The background and experience he had with it made him very trustworthy. He was also just a very funny and friendly guy. The tour takes you outside plus certain areas inside to showcase the restoration process. It also takes you inside of an abandoned and decayed men's cottage. You can only enter this building through the tour. Inside, the guide will show you around and you'll be able to see all the empty rooms and dining area and learn about the history of how they lived. You'll also go up into the attic to see all the pipes. Before the tour ends, the guide takes you into the old brick steam tunnels (which can also only be accessed during this tour). The tunnels are spooky and our guide even turned off the lights for us to experience it in the dark, plus try to catch some photos of orbs with the flash on our phones lol. Overall, it was a super interesting tour and I would definitely come back to do the one at night.

Huge property about 3 miles from downtown travers. A lot of shops and dining to explore while…read morewaiting for your tour. I came for a twilight asylum tour and heard great things about Trattoria Stella so came early for dinner at their bar. Love the dark vibe. Opens between 4-5 depending on day. The property is rather spread out so may be a bit hard to go back and forth of any difficulties walking. The hallways do seem wheelchair accessible.

The Mercato is a collection of shops in the now repurposed Traverse City State Hospital. I wouldn't…read morereally call it a mall, but I guess by definition it fits? Anyway, the shops are teeny tiny but pack a wallop by being beautifully curated and uniquely configured. I think I purchased more here than I have at any other shopping excursion I've had all year. They've got a shop dedicated to alpaca wool goods, a more gentleman focused shop called the Haberdashery, a pet boutique, a used bookstore, a toy store, and many others including my favorite of them all, Moonstruck Gardens, which is packed full of delightful art, stickers, home decor, and more. They also have dining options and a coffee shop if you're thirsty or a little peckish. The layout can be a little confusing but there's plenty of signage to help you along the way. But the beauty of it is just exploring and finding the fun around every corner.

What a fascinating place. The building and grounds are lovely. First of all the building is a…read morerefurbishment asylum. Some say haunted. They did a lovely job restoring this property. There are lovely specialty shops and a few restaurants. One of the restaurants is one of the most highly rated in town. The shops have some interesting handy craft work .. wood, pottery. Jewelry. Decorative glass. .

Take Peninsula Drive. Imagine the lake shoreline meandering…read morealongside you as you drive. Imagine the reds, yellows, greens, and browns of the tree leaves cradling the sky. Imagine deserted sand and the setting sun. Imagine just the right amount of chill in the air. Imagine the radio crooning Adele and Keith Urban. Imagine the window half down. Imagine stopping and sitting on the beaches, watching the water. Imagine the wind blowing in your hair. Imagine the cyclists rocketing past you. Imagine doing 90 up the empty roads, chasing remaining sunlight. Imagine dusk creeping up on you as you arrive at the lighthouse. Imagine the peninsula, and blue water all around the rocky beach. Imagine your shoes sinking in the damp sand. Imagine the wind, again. Imagine the quiet, the kind of quiet that makes you remember who you are. Imagine the quiet, the kind of quiet that makes you realize the beauty of silence. Imagine the ending scene of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Think about the time that he drove you to the beach in the dead of winter. Imagine apple orchards and vineyards guarding the gathering dark on the drive back. Imagine the Michigan stars. When they tell you that the drive to Mission Point is worth it, believe them.

This is the Mission Point Lighthouse and also part of the state park district. This is a quaint…read morelittle lighthouse, situated at the end of the Old Mission Peninsula. The drive up here is absolutely beautiful and well worth the trip. The lighthouse is on a little hill that overlooks the lake with a couple nice places to sit and enjoy the scenery. The charge is $4 to go up the top, which we declined to do, as the place is tiny and super cramped inside. We did though, walk all the way out to the end of the peninsula. It is a bit of a hike, so wear some good shoes. The walk is worth it though, and there are some cool things to see along the way. It takes about an hour there and back, and make sure to stop and throw a rock on the pile!

We enjoyed stopping here. Pretty beach area to see especially during fall time. We also liked the…read moreplayground that was available mu daughter has fun playing here and it's not too far from the chocolate store.

A man who loved…read morelighthouses Robert Manning was a man who loved the sea and sailing and often remarked to his friends that he wished a lighthouse was in the Empire area to aid small boats in navigating the tricky and sometimes treacherous waters around the town. So after Mr Manning passed away his friends and family got together and collected enough funds to construct this 38 foot lighthouse. The lighthouse was lit in 1990 and stands in Lake Michigan State Park and is an active aid to navigation. You can go right up to the lighthouse but visitors are not allowed inside. The lighthouse is constructed of some kind of plaster and looks very attractive. The Robert H. Memorial Lighthouse is a wonderful tribute to a man that loved the sea. And it continues to help mariners navigator the waters just like lighthouses have done for centuries.

For what they do, they do a good job. Nobody's favorite place, the DMV. I had to renew my license,…read moreso wait in one preliminary line so they can figure out why you're there, then they'll give you a number and something to fill out (depending on why you are there, of course). Then, you get to wait for them to help however many people are ahead of you until it's your turn. Bring a book, tablet, or, the ever present mobile device and it will, hopefully, be relatively painless.