Areas & Neighborhoods in Traverse City
Downtown
The center of Traverse City rests between the shores of the bay and Boardman Lake, with rows of storefronts that date back to the 19th century divided by a small river from the lakefront marina. Inland from the boardwalk and the walking trail that runs through Clinch Park, the area’s hotels and restaurants offer prime locations right beside the water.
Central
Named in the early days of the city before its borders expanded, the district now stands in the southwest end of town and has some of Traverse City’s oldest buildings. Rows of historic homes are framed by little stores and diners, with the woodlands of Kids Creek and the shops of Grand Traverse Commons waiting on the other side of Division Street.
Slabtown
Stretching from Grand Traverse Bay into the Hickory Hills Ski Area, Slabtown has a few taverns and B&Bs in the city’s original downtown area. The Traverse Area Recreation Trail runs along West End Beach, while a disc golf course waits on the hillside.
Traverse Heights
The long, tree-filled blocks in between Boardman Lake and Cherry Capital Airport are home to the local library and upscale housing on the lakefront along with plenty of restaurants and coffee houses along the main roads, and the Cherryland Center mall stands just down the street from the runways.
What to See in Traverse City
Surrounded by the bright colors, beaches, and natural beauty of the Great Lakes, Traverse City is a paradise of natural scenery. Both the West and East arms of Grand Traverse Bay reach the edge of the city, with miles of sandy beaches lined by walkways and shrubbery. Not far away, you can see the thick orchards that made the city known as the Cherry Capital of the World. Traverse City also happens to rest at the same latitude as Bordeaux and forms the heart of Michigan’s wine region, where you can find rows of vineyards laid out along the hillsides.
Sightseeing in Traverse City
The lakefront naturally soaks up a lot of attention from visitors to Traverse City, and for good reason. You can board a boat to cruise on open waters that stretch all the way to the national forests of the Upper Peninsula, cast a line out to snare some of the smallmouth bass, or go scuba diving to explore the sunken wrecks hidden beneath the lake.
If you’re looking for things to do while staying dry, there’s plenty of countryside to explore. Take a bicycle out to visit the vineyards and tasting rooms on the Old Mission Peninsula, climb into a hot-air balloon for a terrific look over the sights from the air, or just relax in the campgrounds at Traverse City State Park. The galleries of the Dennos Museum Center feature a rich collection of Inuit sculpture, and a string of museums along the shores highlight the region’s first inhabitants, European colonists, and American pioneers.
