TOUR Don's Guide to TC! - Enjoy Where You Are

Don's Guide to Enjoying TC Like a Local!

Welcome! I'm Don, a lifelong Traverse City resident and wine tour guide. I travel all over the world, so driving guests around our great area is a natural fit for my second career I love sharing experiences and places that are favorites to many of us locals so you can enjoy the TC area to the fullist!

If you wish to go on a tour of some sort, PLEASE call Grand Traverse Tours. You can even request me as your guide…I mean, why not tour like the big dogs do!?!

For a more complete list of local favorites click “Guide to our Area”. For area events to enhance your experience, click “Calendar of Events”.

Don't hesitate sharing my guide with your family and friends that may be visiting the area.

Enjoy your time in TC!

~ Don

Reviews: READ our reviews or leave us one! (here)

Chateau Chantal: (book now)

Old Mission Peninsula Wineries (map)

Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail (map)

Notes for enjoying the TC area

Downtown Traverse City

🍽 Dining
Most local options close by 9pm. Late night food options: Mode's Bum Steer, Lil Bo's

🅿️ Parking (map)
Downtown and surrounding streets have metered parking and are strictly enforced (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm)
*FREE parking on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day

🚻 Public Restrooms (map)

🚲 TART Trails (maps)
A network of multi-use trails in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties as well as a cross-town bike route

⛱️ Clinch Park
Metered parking
Splash Pad turns off at 6pm

🚗 Transportation
Traverse City has both Lyft and Uber as well as various local taxi companies

MY LOCAL FAVORITES

Food

Nittolo’s Little Italy

Classic New York-style Italian eatery

155 Garland St, Traverse City

(reservation) (info)

WHAT YOU HAVE TO TRY: The New York Style Happy Hour is one of the area's best food deals! Great take-out pizzas!

J & S Hamburg

Breakfast, lunch, & dinner diner

1083 W South Airport Rd, Traverse City

WHY I RECOMMEND: Delicious comfort food. Great staff and prices!

Willie’s Rear

Breakfast & lunch diner

1315 W South Airport Rd, Traverse City

Sugar 2 Salt

Locally sourced & seasonally driven breakfast

1371 Gray Dr, Traverse City

WHY I RECOMMEND: Great brunch and desserts!

Mama Lu’s

A modern day taco shop

149 E Front St, Traverse City

WHY I RECOMMEND: Excellent tacos!

Poppycocks

New American cuisine

128 E Front St, Traverse City

WHY I RECOMMEND: Reasonably priced “New-American” food. Can accommodate larger groups.

Charles and Reid

Detroit-style pizza

113 E State St, Traverse City

(231) 252-3497

WHY I RECOMMEND: Delicious Detroit-style pizza! Gluten-free options available.

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Welcome! We're excited to have you as our guest. Our mobile guest experience tool has been curated to share all of the great things our hotel has to offer and guide you to the very best of the Traverse City area. Enjoy!
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Sometimes you just have to escape. Experience a relaxing spa treatment or a food-focused retreat at Spa Evangeline.
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Hotel Jerome—Eat & Drink
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More Favorite Places To Eat

Drink

CRAFT BEERS

Breweries, taprooms, & brew pubs

Traverse City

SOME OF MY FAVORITES: The Filling Station, Right Brain Brewery, Brewery Terra Firma, Rare Bird, & The Workshop

CRAFT COCKTAILS

Distilleries & tasting rooms

Traverse City

MY FAVORITES: TC Whiskey, Northern Latitiudes Distillery, & Old Mission Distilling

OLD MISSION PENINSULA WINE TRAIL

Local wineries & tasting rooms

Old Mission Peninsula

FOR HELP SELECTING YOUR PERFECT WINERIES: Click my mobile number at the bottom of this guide to text me

LEELANAU PENINSULA WINE TRAIL

Local wineries & tasting rooms

Leelanau Peninsula

FOR HELP SELECTING YOUR PERFECT WINERIES: Click my mobile number at the bottom of this guide to text me

BARS

Local bars

Traverse City

SOME OF MY FAVORITES: North Bar(rooftop), The Parlor(music & happy hour), & Low Bar(craft cocktails). LATE NIGHT: Brady's Bar, U&I Lounge, Union St. Station/Dillinger's Pub/Bootleggers & Kilkenny's

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Sometimes you just have to escape. Experience a relaxing spa treatment or a food-focused retreat at Spa Evangeline.
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More Favorite Places To Drink

Things to Do

Grand Traverse Tours

Wine, beer, distillery tours, & transportation

Traverse City, Leelanau Peninsula & Old Mission Peninsula

(231) 947-7433 (reservation) (info)

WHAT I RECOMMEND: Let me take you on a wine tour! ;)

Discovery Cruises

West Grand Traverse Bay tours & cruises

13170 S West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City

(reservation) (info)

WHAT WE RECOMMEND: Happy Hour on the Water!!!

Nauti-Cat Cruises

4 unique West Grand Traverse Bay cruises

615 E Front St, Traverse City

(231) 947-1730 (reservation) (info)(deal)

LOCAL'S TIP: Pack some snacks to enjoy onboard. Don't miss the Cat-Nip!!!

MI Sauna

Finnish Sauna experience

Traverse City State Park Beach

(231) 620-1326 (website)

LOCAL'S TIP: Check out the Wednesday sessions. For an extra exhilirating experience, try it in the winter!

TART Trails

Multi-use recreation & transportation trails

Traverse City & Leelanau Peninsula

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Miles of sandy beaches, hiking, lakes & dunes along Lake…

6748 S Dune Hwy, Glen Arbor

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Welcome! We're excited to have you as our guest. Our mobile guest experience tool has been curated to share all of the great things our hotel has to offer and guide you to the very best of the Traverse City area. Enjoy!
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Sometimes you just have to escape. Experience a relaxing spa treatment or a food-focused retreat at Spa Evangeline.
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More Favorite Things To Do

Shopping

Burritt’s Fresh Markets

Specialty grocery, wine, fresh meat & fish

509 W Front St, Traverse City

(231) 946-3300 (info)

WHY WE RECOMMEND: TC's place for fresh seafood and hand cut fresh Black Angus steaks! Great wine selection and delicious house prepared foods for easy meals.

Cherry Republic

Cherry products & gifts

154 E Front St, Traverse City

Local's tip: Make sure to sample the cherry salsa and BBQ sauces!

Oryana

Health food & specialty grocery store

260 E 10th St, Traverse City

Sara Hardy Farmers Market

Local produce, baked goods, flowers, & more

Cass St & E Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City

LOCAL'S TIP: Open Saturdays 730am-12pm(May-Oct) & Wednesdays 8am-12pm(June-Oct)

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Historic place to eat, drink, shop, tour, & more

830 Cottageview Dr, Traverse City

WHY I RECOMMEND: This former Traverse City State Hopsital has great restaurants, a winery, brewery, shops & so much more!

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Introduction
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Welcome! We're excited to have you as our guest. Our mobile guest experience tool has been curated to share all of the great things our hotel has to offer and guide you to the very best of the Traverse City area. Enjoy!
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Experiences
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Sometimes you just have to escape. Experience a relaxing spa treatment or a food-focused retreat at Spa Evangeline.
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Hotel Jerome—Eat & Drink
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From morning to night, we are serving up delightful dining experiences with perfectly crafted cocktails and wine pairings.
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More Favorite Places To Shop

Services/Rentals

Grand Traverse Tours

Transportation services and guided tours

Traverse City, Leelanau, & Old Mission

(231) 947-7433 (website)

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Introduction
Introduction Title*

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Introduction Text*
Welcome! We're excited to have you as our guest. Our mobile guest experience tool has been curated to share all of the great things our hotel has to offer and guide you to the very best of the Traverse City area. Enjoy!
50 word limit
Experiences
Experiences Image (600 x 700 pixels)
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Experiences Sub Title

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Experiences Text*
Sometimes you just have to escape. Experience a relaxing spa treatment or a food-focused retreat at Spa Evangeline.
50 word limit
Hotel Jerome—Eat & Drink
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From morning to night, we are serving up delightful dining experiences with perfectly crafted cocktails and wine pairings.
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Wellness
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Events
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