Traverse City Real Estate Blog: Michigan: Traverse City

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Jon Becker - Century 21 Northland

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#68 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

Wilderness Canoe Trips

Summer is not complete without a canoe trip. Nothing relaxes the mind and body quite like a leisurely ride down a gently cascading river. If this sounds like your kind of day, consider an excursion to Wilderness Canoe Trips on the Manistee River. Located just 18 miles south of Traverse City, WCT (Wilderness Canoe Trips) provides guests with a variety of water travel including canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes. Travelers will drift down the Big Manistee River, which is rapid free, but teeming with spectacular sights from dense forests to abundant wildlife. Watch carefully and you may see deer, raccoons, otters, beavers and more fish than the eye can follow as it darts beneath the glittering water.

A Package for Every Family

Wilderness Canoe Trips is not a standard package. Instead they provide an array of trips for every family or groups' specific needs. The Family Fun Trip is offered especially for families with small children or beginners. The trip lasts anywhere from 2 hours to all day and can include canoes, kayaks, rafts or tubes, along a section of river with many shallow areas that meanders through a wildlife sanctuary. High Rollaway Trips are great for overnight canoe trips. Guests can stop at swimming and picnic areas and camp in primitive camp areas above the Harvey Bridge. The Anglers Adventure Trip is a several day excursion perfect for fishermen.

More Information

Wilderness Canoe Trips runs from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Visitors can make reservations or simply walk-in for their adventure. If you want a longer trip, WCT offers up to seven-day canoe trips and guests can camp almost anywhere along the river because the surrounding land is all State or Federally owned. Camping is rustic, so remember to pack all the enmities (food, water, tent etc). For more information including trips, prices and location, visit Wilderness Canoe Trips' website @ http://www.wildernesscanoetripsonline.com/

#69 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

Horizon Bookstore

Most people don't consider a visit to the bookstore a major to-do on vacation, unless of course, they're looking for a steamy romance to flip through on the beach. However, some bookstores go above and beyond the call of duty when providing great reads for residents and tourists alike. Horizon Books in Traverse City, Michigan is one such store. Horizon is no average bookstore; it's a three-level community that draws book patrons, writing groups, coffee lovers, popular authors and much more. If you're considering a visit to the Cherry Capital of the World, swing into downtown and check out Horizon Bookstore, there's no end to what may lay in store for you there.

A "Third Place"

Owner Vic Herman strives to make Horizon Books a "Third Place," a term coined by author Ray Oldenburg in his book ‘The Great Good Place.' A "third place" Oldenburg explains, is the location that people spend most of their time if they're not at home (first place) or work (second place). Anyone who has visited Horizon can clearly see its ‘third place' marker in many people's lives. From the front lobby café to the basement seating and shelves, people rarely just pass through the store. They come with computers, notebooks, friends and kids to relax, order a coffee and chat. They stay to warm up by the fireplace, listen to live poetry readings or watch an author signing. With all the activities you might think it's easy to overlook the books, but au contraire, the shelves are lined with everything from spiritual enlightenment to slow cooker recipes, there is a title, toy or gift for every delight.

Events and Activities

The many events offered at Horizon Bookstore in Traverse City, allow visitors to combine entertainment with book shopping. On June 13^th, Horizon will host two separate author signings. The first, at 1 pm, is Doug Stanton, author of the new paperback ‘Horse Soldiers' among others. At 3 pm, patrons can see Elizabeth Buzzelli as she talks about and signs copies of her new novel ‘Dead Sleeping Shaman.' On June 14^th, in honor of Father' Day, Horizon will host kids' Story Hour with stories pertaining to Father's Day and an opportunity to make gifts for dad. Horizon Bookstores are also located in Petoskey and Cadillac. For more information about the bookstore, visit their website @  http://www.horizonbooks.com/.

#70 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

Great Lakes Children's Museum

Many families covet their short, but intensely sweet, vacation time. When June rolls around and the final bell tolls for the children of the family, a summer vacation (away from the Xbox) is surely in order. This year, consider sprucing up that camping trip by taking your wee ones to the Great Lakes Children Museum, located in Traverse City. The Museum goes beyond entertainment and offers children and adults the opportunity to learn about the world around them in a hands-on environment.

A Vision Realized

The Museum began as a nonprofit corporation in 1998; however, it took three years for the Museum's founders to raise the money necessary to fully realize their dream. In 2001, a five thousand square-feet site was renovated and became the Great Lakes Children's Museum. Today, the Museum is open to the public seven-days a week and offers families a range of activities from Interactive Story Time (a story followed by an activity to enhance the story) to Toddler Time (a two-hour session for toddlers to interact and learn).

Interactive Play

Visitors to the museum can plan on a variety of activities designed to heighten the senses and provide fun learning opportunities for kids. The Water Table Exhibit allows guests to interact with moving water, directing it in different ways and learning about channeling and flow rates. The Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters is a brightly colored playhouse, which helps children learn about lighthouses and the role that they once played in society. Additionally, patrons can plan group visits to the museum, hold their child's birthday party there or shop at the Museum Store. Visit the Great Lakes Children's Museum website for more information at http://www.greatlakeskids.org/

#71 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

The Manitou Islands

In summer, the longer days and starry nights hardly prove adequate for a vacation in Northern Michigan. It pays, to plan ahead and know which locations can truly fill every minute of your time. A trip to the North or South Manitou Islands, a short, but dazzling drive from Traverse City, may be the ultimate destination. Step aboard the Manitou Island Transit, in Leland, and cruise the tossing waves of Lake Michigan. The trip takes one hour to reach North Manitou Island and one and a half hours to reach South Manitou, but don't close your eyes or you'll miss the sugary sands of Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore and the Manitou Passage.

South Manitou

South Manitou Island, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, is an uninhabited island that draws visitors for its smooth sandy beaches, sparkling waters and extraordinary northern white cedars. The cedars, known as the Valley of the Giants, stand over 100 feet tall and are considered some of the oldest cedars in the world. The shipwreck, the Francisco Morazon, is a popular destination by boat or snorkel and can occasionally be seen from the beach.

North Manitou

North Manitou Island, the larger of the two, is any nature lover's playground. Hike charted trails, stroll 20 miles of shoreline or consider a camping expedition, but keep in mind, there are no vehicles on the island so campers must ‘hike in' to their sites. Visitors can climb steep dunes, visit a ghost forest (caused by sand shifts) or lounge in the Pot Holes.

Wilderness Spectacular

Visitors to either island have several options. Consider a day trip to South Manitou, which includes four and a half hours on the island. Four open-air vehicles offer guided tours of the island with a bit of history and a feast of scenery. Camping on South Manitou is permitted at three campgrounds: the Bay, Weather Station and Popple. For North Manitou Campers, over 15,000 acres of forest is at their disposal; campers can choose to set up anywhere they please. At both islands, visitors can hike dunes, backpack trails, snorkel shipwrecks and camp. For more information please visit http://www.leelanau.com/manitou/index.html.

#72 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

The Dennos Museum Center

These days it's pretty rare to stumble upon seal skin stencil prints or ancient tools used by the Inuit, but do not fret, in Traverse City you can. The Dennos Museum Center, on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College, brings culture, from the past - present and future, to Traverse City residents and visitors. The museum offers audiences a chance to view exhibitions focused on visual arts, sciences and performing arts.

Visual Food for Thought

The Museum opened in 1991 and features three exhibit galleries, a sculpture court, a hands-on Discovery gallery, an Inuit art gallery and the Milliken Auditorium. The Inuit Gallery presents a variety of artifacts including stencils, lithographs, tapestries, sculptures and tools from the Baffin Island area of Nunavut, Canada. The Discovery gallery reveals several interactive exhibits such as an Anti-Gravity Mirror and Hubble Space Telescope Theater. The powerful collection of outdoor sculptures can be found at the Dennos Museum and in several other areas around NMC's Campus.

Other Collections

Visit the museum and gaze upon The Underground Railroad: Vermont and the Fugitive Slave which includes 16 block prints intended to provoke discussions about this painful time in history. Visitors call also see the Varanasi Exhibit (photographs by Larry Snider), ConTEXTure (the chemistry created between a sculptor and a poet) and Kim Kauffman's Camera-less Photo Collage. The Dennos Museum Center is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. Special events at the museum include WCMU Community Cinema (free screenings of independent films), Ballet, Etc (Ballet students showcase their talents) and the international Affairs Forum (featuring notable speakers). For more information on tickets costs and upcoming exhibits, visit the museum's website @ http://www.dennosmuseum.org/index.html.

Keep in mind that right now is the perfect time to purchase a vacation or permanent home in Traverse City, MI. Contact Tom Ramsey, Grand Traverse realtor, for any home buying or selling questions that you may have.

#73 Things to Do In Northern Michigan - Traverse City - Grand Traverse Region

Farmers Markets

In summer, produce rules. Who can fight the craving for bowls of rich black cherries or taut skinned tomatoes fresh off the vine? Not many, which is why Traverse City residents love their farmers markets, almost, as much as their beaches and bays. Drive down any country road and pass a myriad of stands offering homegrown spinach, corn, apples and even pies. Abundance is the word that comes to mind when you see tables heaped with strawberries and fresh flowers. Therefore, any trip to Traverse City must include a sampling of the regions exquisite, locally grown, foods.

Vegetables are the food of the earth; fruit seems more the food of the heavens.  ~Sepal Felicivant

Choosing to visit a farmers market is easy, figuring out which market to visit is a bit more challenging. Traverse City offers an array of markets that sell everything from cucumbers to crafts. View the list below to see some Grand Traverse specific markets and their specialties:

Farmers Market at the Village at Grand Traverse Common

Location: in the Mercato at the Grand Traverse Commons

What: Local farmers offer fresh apples, greens and other crops. Also find delicious jams, artisan cheeses, fresh milk and cream, eggs and free-range meats.

When: Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Interlochen Farmers Market

Location: at Earth and Hearth, South of Interlochen Corners on MI-137

What: Local produce and locally produced crafts.

When: Sundays 9 am - 2 pm

Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market

Location: Downtown Traverse City, parking lot along Grandview Parkway

What: Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, soaps, meats and coffee.

When: Saturdays from 8 am to Noon.

The Market at Railroad Place

Location: Traverse City Railway Station, corner of 8^th and Woodmere.

What: Local produce, baked goods and products by local artists and craftsmen.

When: Saturdays 8 am - 2 pm.

Regardless of your final selection, visits to Traverse City are made more memorable when local cuisine is involved. For more information on farmers markets in and around Traverse City, visit: http://upnorthfoodies.com/farmersmarkets/.

Step Aboard the Tall Ship Manitou

The Tall Ship Manitou has sailed Lake Michigan’s West Bay since 1991 and continues to delight passengers who step aboard the majestic schooner. The Manitou replicates an 1800’s cargo schooner, the type which once sailed the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean. The 62-passenger ship sails out of Traverse City Michigan and provides guests with a truly extraordinary experience on one of Michigan’s largest sailing ships. The Manitou, designed specifically for passenger service, measures 114 feet in length and weighs over one hundred tons.

A Haven in the Lake

The Tall Ship Manitou offers Traverse City visitors and residents a refuge from modern day living. Aboard the great ship, technology is discouraged and visitors will not find themselves watching late night sitcoms or surfing the Internet. Instead, the Manitou advocates a slower pace - giving each passenger a chance to relax, feel the rhythm of the tides and revel in the fresh Northern Michigan air. Sails include an array of destinations that vary according to wind and weather conditions. The ship may dock at St James on Beaver Island (a historic fishing village) or the remote Manitou Islands. The Ship menu emphasizes health and strives to include fresh fruit and produce and lavish home cooked meals.

Cruises for Everyone

Passengers on the Manitou have several options when considering a sail. The Ship travels in two-hour cruises, seven days a week, and sails out of Traverse City. Specialty sails include Wine Tasting Cruises, Entertainment Night, Moomer’s Ice Cream Sails and Microbrew and Pizza Nights. Guests can also opt for a Bed and Breakfast Cruise, which entails accomadations in one of 12 privates cabins, a two-hour eveing cruise and a delicious morning breakfast. The Tall Ship Manitou offers other event cruises such as the Women’s Wellness Cruise. Guests on this cruise experience on board yoga, meditation, life coach sessions, massage and a natura foods discussion. Finally, Traverse City visitors can charter the Manitou for weddings, family reunions, birthday parties and business functions. For information on cruise schedules, ticket costs and other Tall Ship Manitou history visit their website @ http://www.tallshipsailing.com/index.html.


From the Manitou’s sun drenched decks, you may get a glimpse of Lake Michigan shoreline that simply stays with you. If so, consider contacting Tom Ramsey, Grand Traverse Realtor, to view those breathtaking properties that you sail by aboard the Tall Ship Manitou.

National Writer’s Series

Visitors to Traverse City Michigan often want more than a dose of nature in their summer vacation. Traverse City also attracts culture lovers who flock to the northern Michigan City to eat gourmet food, peruse artist galleries and attend events designed to enrich the mind. The National Writer’s Series is a perfect evening for those Traverse City residents and visitors who have a hankering for literary pursuits. The Series brings talented authors to Traverse City to spend an evening having “up close and personal” literature based discussions that frequently includes the audience.

An Intimate Literary Evening

The Traverse City National Writer’s Series was founded by Doug Stanton (New York Times best-selling author and Traverse City native), Ann Stanton (investigative journalist) and Grant Parsons (attorney) in 2009. The series partnered with major editors and publishers as well as schools, libraries, book stores and writer’s groups to bring the world’s finest literature to Traverse City. Every month, a new author journeys to the beautifully restored Traverse City Opera House to join a ‘dinner party’ of sorts. The evening generally includes an on-stage interview with the author by a guest host, a period of discussion and time for audience questions and answers.

Authors at the Traverse City Opera House

A visit to the Traverse City Opera House, to attend a National Writer’s Series Event, is the ideal addition to any summer evening. Previous authors have included Mary Karr, Bryan Gruley, Amy Alkon, Rhoda Janzen, Tom Brokaw and more. Guests enjoy amazing architecture in the turn of the century Opera House (one of Michigan’s three oldest Victorian Opera House still intact). After the literary discussion - the evening concludes with a post-event reception, which includes complimentary deserts from Morsels of Traverse City, a cash bar and personal book signings. Don’t miss Thomas Lynch (poet – author – and funeral director) who will appear on June 2nd for “An Evening with Thomas Lynch.” Joining him is author Jerry Dennis (novels include “ Place on the Water” and “Living the Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas”). The evening begins at 7 pm and tickets can be purchased online or at the Traverse City Opera House Box Office. Upcoming guests include Thomas Lynch, Audrey Niffenegger, Mario Batali, Walter Kim, Woody Harrelson, Colin Beavan, Peter Mathlessen and David Finkel. For more information visit the National Writer’s Series website @ http://www.nationalwritersseries.org/.
 
If you’re time in Traverse City has made you realize that this gorgeous Northern Michigan Area has more to offer than a weekend trip, consider purchasing a vacation home or a new residence. Tom Ramsey, Grand Traverse Realtor, can show you homes that are just a stone’s throw from all that the city has to offer.