Stopped here on a whim to checkout lighthouses during our mini getaway. This beach did not…read moredisappoint! It was so calm and peaceful. Beautiful water. Hardly any people. The people who did visit didn't stay for long so we had the whole beach to ourselves. We had camping chairs in the car so we just put them in the water and sat right in the water and enjoyed the view. They have a gift shop and the only restrooms I noticed were portajohns. We built some rock towers but put the rocks back when we were done because some of the rocks had snail eggs on them.

Gorgeous park at the tip of the Mitten's pinkie finger. I got there shortly before a spectacular…read moresunset where the sky was all lit up with pinks and oranges and purples. I took a short walk where my friends who had camped there the previous night as well showed my the historic lighthouse and some message in a bottle painted sign that was very reminiscent of Steve "ESPO" Powers. I set up my trusty old dome tent and camped on the same site as my friends and nobody said peep about doubling up like that. I left out around 10:30 or so and didn't hit any trails as I had packed some snacks for late but no breakfast. Not much in the way of restaurants or groceries around here so I hit the road. Can't speak to the trails or day use part of the park but the campground and adjacent beach was beautiful.

Visiting the historic Norwegian church (church of Staves) on Washington Island is a quick but…read moreworthwhile stop. It's only a 2-3 minute drive from the lavender field, and we noticed many visitors doing both back-to-back. There's free parking nearby, and it's just a short walk to the wooden church. The interior is simple and charming, and if you take your time, the visit won't take more than a few minutes. They also hold services on certain days, which would be a unique experience to witness. A nice, quick stop while exploring the island.

Very cool old Viking church. Recommended to visit by island adventure company! We only went inside…read morechurch and around it for photos. So cool. We signed guest book. They have weekly sermons here still. Lots of history in the place. It's worth checking out while in area!

The views are great here. The wooded area is nice to walk through. We didnt get a chance to tour…read morethe lighthouse but the whole scenery is so worth it.

This is the cutest lighthouse! Many historical elements and artifacts inside. There is a nice video…read morethat explains the history of the lighthouse as well as plaques with more information. There is also a small Snow Owl exhibit which was a nice added touch! The gift shop has various trinkets for sale. All the staff were friendly and helpful! A nice stop in Traverse City!

such a beautiful drive. I actually live in California so seeing the trees beginning to change…read morecolors was really awesome for me. I was there at the very end of September and they had just started to turn. Peak was going to be in about two weeks however people told me had we waited until peak it would've been bumper-to-bumper. Traffic flowed nicely and it was just a beautiful. Highlights were Legs Inn, a few coffee shops that had some random farmers markets and just the beauty of the trees! I would definitely do this again it didn't matter what time of the year it is!

If you're into scenic drives and you sometimes ignore your GPS and go off-route in order to get to…read morecool spots along the way, Tunnel of Trees is a detour that you should definitely take. It's part of a route that runs along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan around Harbor Springs and it's super calm, has a rural/rustic vibe, and is just generally a really nice drive. It's also in the vicinity of the Good Hart General Store, so if you head this way you'll get a chance to stop there and check out their goods as well. Check it out if you're in the area or passing through. It's worth it!

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. .

Smallest swing bridge in USA hometown proud…read more Alanson is a small town and it's our claim to fame

Beautiful piece of history wonderful fishing spot great staff always opens on time wonderful view…read morebeautiful river what can you ask for more

On a summertime trip Up North, we decided to check out the SkyBridge on Boyne Mountain…read more After a quick sprint through the Bavarian style ski resort below, we boarded the ski lift to the top. As we soared high above the meadows, we saw deer lazily grazing at the edges of the small groves that dotted the way to the top. After exiting the lift at the top, we walked a short distance to the suspension bridge. I'm not a fan of heights, but I felt very secure on the bridge, even at the points where it is furthest from the ground. We were rewarded with a fun apres-ski setup on the other side and access to some meandering trails. We hung out for a short while before taking the lift back down. Definitely a great spot to check out while you're nearby!

My first visit here was in late October and it was breathtakingly beautiful. My wine group and I…read morestarted our day here and had no wait. The fireplace and adult beverages at the top was a nice surprise! We hopped off the 8 person chair lift to a very nice area including bathrooms. Today, however, was a completely different story. I took my girls, husband, and 80 year old father-in-law based on how things were in the fall. No 8 person chair lift. Instead we took 2 person slow as he!! chair lifts to the top on the opposite side, got off where tons off skiers were, and had to walk over their ski path as there was no actual walking path. Not ideal for an 80 year old. There was no fireplace, bathrooms, or beverages in this side. They were, however, on the other side and that was very nice. I don't recommend this place in the early spring. The fall was gorgeous.

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.

It is worth the drive to the end of Leelanau Peninsula to see this historic lighthouse. It seemed a…read morebit much to pay to access the area and to enter the lighthouse. It is a tight squeeze to make it to the top of the lighthouse. The view of Lake Michigan is beautiful!

A beautiful historic lighthouse with a hidden stunning beach off the beaten path! Learned a lot…read moreabout the lighthouse history and the importance of the area in guiding ships to land.