Every summer since I can remember my family spends a week in Glen Arbor, Michigan. We have countless memories in Leelanau County and Traverse City enjoying time together on Little Glen Lake, learning to ride bikes, and climbing Sleeping Bear Dunes. This is a week we look forward to all year long. I’ve had a few requests to share family friendly activities, places to eat and where to shop while up north so scroll down for a guide to Glen Arbor, Leland and Traverse City for a list of my favorite spots.
Glen Arbor:
Kayaking the Crystal River – I’ve been doing this since I was very young and always loved shooting the tube
Pizza from Bear Paw Pizza – The crust on this pizza is delicious (trust me).
Lunch at Cherry Republic – We always get a boomchunka cookie for dessert from Cherry Republic.
Shopping at the Totem Shop – Shopping here always brings back memories, and the kids love it.
Staying at The Homestead – We stay at The Homestead when we stay in Glen Arbor. This resort has great options depending on the size of your family or group.
Climbing Sleeping Bear Dunes – Climbing the dunes is must!
Watching the sunset at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive – The best spot to catch a sunset is Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
Climbing Pyramid Point Trail– One of my favorite views is from this short hike up Pyramid Point.
Dinner at Blu – For a great dinner out with adults I love Blu for amazing food and views.
Ice cream from the Pine Cone – I can’t get enough of Eskimo Kisses ice cream from Pine Cone.
Leland:
Smoked fish dip and fresh fish from Carlson’s – This really is the best you’ll find anywhere for fish up north.
The Fishtown sandwich at Village Cheese Shanty – I could eat this sandwich for lunch every day because the pretzel bread is just that good.
Shopping at Leland Gal and Two Fish Gallery – These are the best spots to find fun items for your home.
Candy from the Dam Candy Store – If you love candy (who doesn’t) this is a great spot in Leland.
Coffee from Blue Boat Coffee – Grab a cup of coffee (they feature Madcap Coffee) while walking around Leland.
Dinner at The Riverside Inn – Head to The Riverside Inn for great seafood options and fun atmosphere for dinner.
Chubby Mary from The Cove – If you love Bloody Marys…this is for you.
Traverse City:
Staying at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa – You can see why I love staying here in this blog post.
Tomato bisque from amical – I’m in love with this soup for lunch.
Dinner at Trattoria Stella – Cory and I love Trattoria Stella for Italian food while we’re up north.
Parasailing with Traverse Bay Parasailing – I had so much fun doing this with Kelli and my brother-in-law.
Brunch at Patisserie Amie – For amazing omelettes don’t miss Patisserie Amie.
Coffee at BLK MRKT – This is a great spot to grab coffee and a scone in the morning.
Lunch at The Little Fleet – Head to The Little Fleet for a fun assortment of food trucks that has something for everyone.
Take a ride on The Nauti-Cat – We had fun doing this as a family last summer.
What are some of your favorite things to do in northern Michigan?
Hi! I started following your blog because we are heading to northern MI in July and spending a night in Grand Rapids, so I was looking for fun things to do in GR (which I’ve found a long list of!). 🙂 So great that you did a post on our other destination for us as well!!
Question – for the kayaking, were you able to use the Homestead kayaks for that trip? Would they help us navigate to that river? Any other tips on how to make the most of the Homestead stay? We splurged on staying there for one night, but staying two nights in TC beforehand. Also – I’m so glad you mentioned Nauti Cat because I was on the fence about booking that for the sunset cruis, but now I will! Thank you!
Hi Eileen! I’m glad you found some fun things to do in Grand Rapids and I’m excited for your trip to northern Michigan. For the kayaking you rent kayaks from Crystal River Outfitters. I’ve never rented kayaks from the Homestead, but I would look at this link for more info: https://www.thehomesteadresort.com/play/activities/boating/
As far as making the most of your stay at the Homestead we love watching the sunset from the beach, swimming in the pools, and golfing at the resort.
I hope you have a great time on the Nauti Cat! We had good weather and really enjoyed the views. Have a wonderful time!