An Early Fall Getaway to Traverse City, MI

Disclosure: This was a hosted trip, but all opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide.

I LOVE visiting Traverse City during the summer, but early fall is actually my favorite time to visit. During September and October the weather is still lovely and the streets are a little quieter. It’s that perfect time of year to enjoy outdoor or indoor activities, and experience the changing season. I was recently invited to explore Traverse City, MI with some talented content creators and here’s a little recap.

Planning a Getaway to Traverse City, MI

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Look no further than staying at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa when you visit Traverse City. It’s my favorite resort in the area, and truly offers the best accommodations and amenities. Staying in the Tower gives you some incredible views (see below), and the beds are amazing. Whether you’re staying with your family, significant other or having a girls weekend they have many different room options.

If you’re staying at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa I would highly recommend checking out their spa, health club, or golf courses (weather depending). I’ve visited Spa Grand Traverse a few times and had incredible services like the “grand” stone massage. I would also suggest packing some workout clothes and a bathing suit so you can take advantage of the health club. You can play tennis indoors, swim in the indoor pool and so much more! Cory is also a fan of their golf courses at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.

You should also make a reservation for dinner at Aerie Restaurant and Lounge to enjoy a fabulous dinner and view. Trust me the food and views are truly amazing.

Wind Dancer

One of the highlights from this trip to Traverse City was the Wind Dancer sailing tour. I have to admit I was a little nervous I would get seasick (this happens to me often), but I didn’t have any issues. The Wind Dancer offers quite a few different sailing tour options on their 60-foot schooner. We did the Bonobo Sunday sunset tour on Grand Traverse Bay with Bonobo Winery wines and a farm-to-fork meal from Artisan. From the crew, to the wine, to the food, to the views everything was honestly AMAZING. I’ve already been talking to friends and family about doing this next summer because I had such a great time.

You can learn more about the Wind Dancer sailing tours and private charters. If you’re planning a getaway to Traverse City with your family or a group of friends I would highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.

Mammoth Distilling

This was my first time visiting Mammoth Distilling in Traverse City, MI and I’m definitely going back. Their Traverse City cocktail lounge was really fun with live music and great cocktails. I was a big fan of their Mammoth Gin and Tonic. I would highly recommend visiting Mammoth Distilling with friends while you’re in Traverse City.

Mammoth Distilling also has an experience where you can create your own whiskey blend. How cool is that? They invited us to try this experience and it was so much fun (Cory was very jealous). We sampled four selections (see above), and blended them together to create our own custom blend. If you have a friend or significant other who loves bourbon or whiskey this would be a great birthday or holiday gift!

Grand Traverse Pie Company

You can’t visit Traverse City without experiencing a slice of pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company. A warm slice of cherry pie or apple pie is truly a must. Grand Traverse Pie Company opened in Traverse City in 1996 and has since opened 15 shops throughout Michigan and Indiana. They obviously specialize in pies, but they also have a great cafe menu. Their Mediterranean Veggie sandwich was really good! PS you can also order their pies online which would be perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Fustini’s

While you’re shopping downtown Traverse City you need to stop in Fustini’s. Fustini’s has a great selection of oils, vinegars and gifts. We did an olive oil tasting which was so interesting to learn the different flavor notes and aromas in olive oil. This class is offered virtually and I would highly recommend checking it out! Also, with the holidays coming up here are some awesome gift ideas.

Bonobo Winery

Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City is home to 10 different wineries. One of my favorites is Bonobo Winery which was founded by brothers (and Traverse City natives) Todd and Carter Oosterhouse. Bonobo Winery has a beautiful 19-acre vineyard, and amazing views of the bay from their large deck (see below). And not only is the winery stunning, but their wine is really good. Click here to check out their award winning wines including my favorites the Blanc de Blancs and BDX.

What I love most about Bonobo Winery are the experiences they offer. We did a winery tour which I would recommend with a group of friends. It was really cool seeing the entire facility and also seeing the vineyard. Bonobo Winery also offers wine tasting, live music and their wine & food pairings.

Each month Bonobo Winery features a 3 course wine & food pairing. The food at Bonobo is honestly incredible and I would totally do this experience with Cory. They switch up the menu each month to incorporate what’s in season and our September menu was delicious. If you can’t do the wine & food pairing you can also order small plates at Bonobo Winery. I would recommend the chardonnay cheese and pretzel bites and their cheese + charcuterie.