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Travel Tips – Up North, MI

travel tips

Traverse City, Leelanau County, MI

Wineries/Beer/Distilleries/Bars:

  • Traverse City Whiskey Co. – TC
  • Northern Latitudes Distillery  – Lake Leelanau
  • L.Mawby Winery / Big Little -several wineries, beautiful view. Sutton’s Bay favorite winery!!!
  • Tandem Ciders – cider. Sutton’s Bay Area-Favorite setting, vibe and cider!!!
  • Greenbird Cellars – Northport. Very quaint! One of my favorites!!!
  • Hop Lot – Beer. Cider. Sparkling rose. Sutton’s Bay (go early in the day/for lunch or early afternoon. Fills up fast after 3/4pm. Fun and family friendly. 
  • Left Foot Charlie’s – Beer. Same area as Stella. Commons neighborhood. – TC
  • The Garage (bar) – Northport
  • Bluebird – Great bar and pizza
  • It’s Knot Just a Bar

Eating:

  • Friendly’s Happy Hour Tavern – casual, pub style restaurant between Leland and Northport. Good place to play cards on a rainy day!Kemp’s – then go south ocean drive on west side
  • Tribune- Favorite breakfast spot — great food! Put your name down (always a wait) for a table while you walk around town. -Northport.
  • The Cove – lunch or dinner. Outdoor seating with a view of Fishtown. Good for Whitefish Pate dip! Cherry chicken salad. Whitefish taco wraps. -Leland/Fishtown
  • The Riverside – Dinner. Nice dining. Make reservations. Request deck. Great salads and entrees. Picturesque on the river. -Leland
  • Sandwiches or take out for a picnic: The Cheese Shop in Fishtown or Trish’s Dishes (also food or espresso style coffees here)
  • Martha’s – Old House on Main Street. Solid, nice sitdown restaurant for lunch or dinner food!
  • Sutton’s Bay
  • Art’s Tavern – Good burgers, tater tots, fun divey vibe. Good pub. Always packed. -Glen Arbor
  • The Commons is a cool area to check out! 
  • Trattoria Stella’s – Amazing pizza. It’s really dark inside so not always my choice but good for a rainy day. In a cool development of an old area of TC called The Commons for walking around and shopping. – TC
  • Mama Lu’s – casual but really good Mexican- on Front St. – TC

Hiking:

  • Clay Cliffs – 15 minute walk through forest to a beautiful view of Lake MI and return through a field overlooking Lake Leelanau.
  • Pyramid Point – 20 minute hike through forest/dune to beautiful view of Lake MI, south and North Manitou and Fox islands.
  • Empire Bluffs – 15 minute walk through forest to two stunning views. After: Go to Grocer’s Daughter for homemade chocolates, fudgesicles, the best chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever tasted. Favorite beach- North Bar is right near here.

Beaches:

  • Christmas Cove (nearest to Northport)
  • Glen Haven beach & the Cannery Boat Museum (just past Glen Arbor)
  • North Bar Beach – favorite all time beach past a little lake (Empire)
  • North Beach. South Beach. Or Van’s Beach (Leland)
  • Peterson Park; Christmas Cove – Northport

Shopping:

  • Tamarack Gallery – Omena
  • Leland Gal (friend Maggie is owner) – Fishtown
  • Duneberrys (Lilly Pulitzer style) – Leland
  • Ben Maier ceramics (Childhood friend) – Leland
  • Cute clothing stores in Glen Arbor on Main Street
  • Ella’s (haute couture clothes)  – Front Street – Traverse City
  • Kali’s Cottons (clothes downstairs, housewares upstairs)
  • Wood & Cloth (housewares) – Traverse City (next to Alliance and Black Market)

Coffee, etc.:

  • Bohemian Cafe – coffee, sandwiches (new in Northport)
  • Trish’s Dishes – Leland
  • Glen Arbor Coffee Co. (forget name. On main drag) -Glen Arbor
  • Black Market – TC
  • Morsels – coffee by river. cute mini cupcakes – TC
  • 9 Bean Rows – Farm Stand-Sutton’s Bay

Activities:

  • Farmers markets

TBD Summer Dates:

  • Monday – Pop up shops at Leland Gal in Fishtown 5-8 pm
  • Friday – Northport Farmer’s Market. (Hit this while waiting for your table at Tribune for breakfast/brunch.) 9-11 am
  • Glen Arbor Farmer’s Market. 9-11 am

Check Northport concert and event schedule as they have live music and fire dancers on certain nights.

To see Lea’s most up-to-date Travel Tip’s for Up North, Michigan, click here.

Tags: travel tips

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