re: Traverse City area this August

OMG! About my favorite place in the country to visit! So much to see and do. We try to go up that area once/year or near Cheboygan.

My comments will be limited to the Traverse City area, although if you want to drive up to other great cities on the lake like Petosky or Charlevoix you'd enjoy them. Great shops, restaurants etc.

Things to do off the top of my head...

Go see / hike Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore (Sea?? )

Tube or Canoe on the nearby Platte River.

Travel to amazing wineries on Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula.

Places:

Do you want a hotel or a rental house? A rental house on the water will go for at least $1000 a night if they’re even available this late (summer of 2025 is already booking up). A hotel option for kids is the Great Wolf Lodge. I’ve never been in it but it has an indoor waterpark. No views, though.

Restaurants:

Traverse City Guide!

Fine Dining: Blu. For something unique, try Stella, it's in an old mental hospital!

You'd love the small lakeside town of Leland! Get a "Chubby Mary" at The Cove!