This was an adorable place to stop and visit. So pretty especial during the fall time. We had fun…read moregoing here and enjoying the scenery.

First off their parking situation is a joke. There's basically NO parking lot. You park along the…read moreside of the road. The lighthouse is very nice it just kinda demands attention sitting on top of a small hill. I didn't go inside for the $5 tour due to it was too busy for my taste. The gift center / museum display was another building. The display was very nice with lots of information. The beach portion was spectacular. A nice long beach. To the right in front of lighthouse there's a heavy duty metal seawall. The lake crashing into it creates a very enjoyable sight and occasionally a weird noise. Plus the lighthouse towering over you is great. Overall a 4 1/2 star review, losing the half due to the crazy parking situation. I'll round up though to the full 5. Would I return? Absolutely! There is no reason the parking is so stupid. The area behind it is Government land. Put in a frickin parking lot for crying out loud.

We are visiting from another state. This was my first time visiting here. I loved the atmosphere as…read moresoon as we walked up to the entrance doors. It is very lovely inside. It is very clean, all the employees and volunteers are absolutely wonderful they are helpful, informative and extremely friendly. The prices are also very reasonable. Even the refreshments are at a moderate price. I highly recommend coming to watch a movie here if you're a local or visiting like we are. Great service, great building and fun times!

I was able to see a movie here with my sons and grandson over the 4th of July week…read more Much more reasonable than the bigger theaters for both admission and concession. Comfortable and clean to enjoy a movie. What's not to love?

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. .

Beautiful place to visit I can't wait to go back in the summer. It's a very serene place to visit.read more

Be prepared for a 1.8 mile walk out to the lighthouse from the main lot at the State Park. We…read moredidn't realize there wasn't any "driving up" there. But, we were there. The walk was paved and easy, and it was a lovely day. We happened to go on the last day of the season. The beach is lovely and we paid the $8 each to climb the tower. It was worth it, but at over 100 ft it was quite the climb. The view is gorgeous and worth the climb.

Beautiful 207 ft brick light house that is easily accessible, even in a wheelchair along the paved…read moreshort path. Stunning views, sand will get you if wind is whipping around like today, gusts of 28 mph. Worth the little out of the way to see this well maintained beauty in Michigan.

A bit off the beaten path but a pleasure to visit. Beautiful lighthouse only a short, easy walk…read morefrom the parking lot. Breathtaking view.

This children's museum is amazing. It's the definition of small but mighty: It doesn't look like…read moremuch from the outside, or even when you first step inside. But as you explore through it, you'll see that it has way more magic hiding in every corner than you first thought. Sandcastles Children's Museum is three stories of fun. We took our 7 and 11 year old boys, and the 11 year old had just as much fun as his younger brother. That said, I would say that this museum is best suited for kids who are preschoolers through around 10 years old. One of the best parts of this museum is that it subtly references popular Ludington icons and landmarks. You'll see a play SS Badger ship, popular local restaurants on the second floor, and lots of other things that pay homage to the beach town in which the museum resides. One of our favorite spots in the museum is located on the third floor. It's there that you'll find a mini stage with several real, full-sized instruments that kids are invited to play. There are steel drums, ukuleles, guitars, pianos and lots of other instruments to try out. There's also a TV where you can watch yourself jamming on the instruments. All throughout the museum, you'll find things to play with, like a sand pit with digger toys, a play farm, play grocery store and restaurant, a veterinary office, a post office, craft station, rock climbing wall, science station, theatre stage with costumes, and lots more. There is just so much fun stuff for kids, and my children were occupied for hours.

A delightful spot to spend the day with wild kids. So many thoughtful exhibits with loads of hands…read moreon activities. My 4 year old loved the maternity ward and the 1.5 year old loved the grocery store. Loved our time at the museum. We also loved the mask requirement for all. A great way to feel safe in a world where people are getting so sick. Thank you!

So I love that this had a guide to take up on tour and he knew what he was talking about and…read moreprofessional, I would highly recommend it,you get to go all over the ship ,please remember this is a tour for people who can't climb stairs but it was great .

We've visited a few time now. Each time we learn a little more. The guides are all very nice and…read moresuper informative. We love seeing the old items all around the ship, like the old radios, reading lamps, cameras and the furniture. It is a very lovely ship. I hope to one day be able to spend the night on it. We will for sure come back for another tour sometime in the future.

Stop what you're doing and book a stay at the Dempsey Manor. It's an old Victorian home that has…read morepassed hands a few times, and currently is a bed-and-breakfast, one of the most charming and cute that I've ever seen. Stayed here for one night during a Northwest Michigan nature getaway. Jan and Jim are both super hip kind folks that gladly take care of your every need or want. Jan was very accommodating with my vegan lifestyle and made me a delicious breakfast. The rooms are all decorated different, with lots of original and traditional Victorian decor. Lots of opportunity to learn about the history of the home, the prior owners, and the town. Plenty of literature. The sunroom is fantastic! There's really so much to say, but I'll leave it at-trust this five star review and book your stay here, ASAP!

I didn't get to stay here yet because I did t make a reservation early enough, but I still got to…read morego in for a tour. For a fifteen dollar donation I got to enjoy two hours of Jim's hospitality, meeting the cats and the talkative parrot Josefina - Jose for short. The collections are really impressive, the architecture is both stunning and cozy. I wish I could hang out with Jim and Jan for the whole weekend just learning about them, the house and the collections. I learned a lot!

We took a 90 minute tour through the commons and the state hospital. This tour had the best mix of…read morearchitectural and anecdotal history of the Asylum. Every part of this place was absolutely gorgeous. The beauty in the decaying of some of the buildings from the harsh winter, and the strength of these buildings still standing strong definitely evokes emotion. Our tour guide Sean was absolutely awesome. He knew so much, but also made it fun with his own anecdotes. A true TC native that knows his stuff! I highly recommend doing a tour if you're in TC. I'd go back to see the twilight tour too!

Love the shops at Grand Traverse! We did the Asylum Tour at…read morenight, and honestly, I was a little underwhelmed. The folks who did it were just ok (a younger girl in her 20s and a guy in his 50s). So, if you're going to the shops, walk around and try the coffee place and grab some TC shirts, but don't come back for the evening tour.