Things to do in Traverse City
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Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission PeninsulaA 5-hour guided wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City visits four wineries — Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor, Brys Estate and Bonobo — with a local guide, premium shuttle bus and cooler for the day. Wine tastings are purchased individually at each stop; the tour is shared, not private, and a 20% gratuity for the driver is recommended.Is it for me?You're traveling with a group and don't want to drive between tastings — the shuttle bus and guide handle the route and timing, so you focus on the wines and the views instead of the roads.
Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries in a Luxury SUV, Not a BusA wine tour of Traverse City's Old Mission Peninsula visiting 4 wineries in a luxury SUV (private or join-in public option) with a local expert guide and complimentary bottle included. You tell the guide which wineries you want to visit or let them match you to the right wines for your taste. The vehicle is air-conditioned, the pace is yours, and the tour runs 4 to 5 hours.Is it for me?Book the private option if your group wants to request specific wineries and have the vehicle to yourselves; the public join-in option works for couples and small groups who want the same expert guide and luxury SUV at a lower price by sharing the ride with other wine tourists.
Traverse City: Leelanau Wine Tour with Exclusive TastingsYou’ll ride out from downtown Traverse City for a laid-back day trip through Leelanau Peninsula’s best wineries—with exclusive access and plenty of time to linger at each stop. Taste local wines straight from the source, chat with winemakers, and soak up those Michigan views while your guide handles all the details. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and maybe a new favorite bottle—or two—to bring home.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: 3 Wineries at SunsetA 4-hour sunset wine tour on Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City stops at three of Michigan's highest-rated wineries, with a limo-style bus, air-conditioned cabin and local guide included. You pay for tastings at each winery (typically $5–$28 per tasting flight or glass), and the driver handles the winding country roads while you watch the light change over the bay. Minimum age is 21; gratuity of 15–20% for the driver is recommended.Is it for me?Book this tour for a free evening in Traverse City when you want to taste wines from the 45th parallel without driving or coordinating between stops—the bus handles the winding roads and the timing, and you choose what to taste at each winery.
Sunset Sail from Traverse City: Wine, Food & Bay ViewsA 2.5-hour sunset sail on the schooner Wind Dancer in Grand Traverse Bay, departing from downtown Traverse City with a live captain and crew who share the area's history. You board at The Delamar Resort kiosk, receive complimentary wine, cocktails, local beer and cider, and eat locally sourced charcuterie and snacks as the light fades over the water. Children from age 14 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying downtown or without a car—the kiosk is walkable on Front Street and the sail departs from there, keeping your evening to one fixed 2.5-hour window with food and drinks included.
Designated Driver Wine Tour: We Drive Your CarA designated driver service in wine country where you supply the vehicle and the driver handles the wheel for five hours of tastings at stops you choose. The itinerary is yours to build and change on the fly; tasting fees are separate, and the minimum age is 21. A 100% guarantee protects you against a DUI on the tour.Is it for me?The driver speaks English and knows the region, so you can follow suggestions or make changes without any back-and-forth—the day moves at your pace and your interests, not a guide's script.
Traverse City: Grand Traverse Bay Sail with Local Food & DrinksYou’ll board a classic schooner in Traverse City, sail across Grand Traverse Bay with local guides, sample regional food and drinks (wine, beer, spirits), help raise the sails if you want—and soak up Michigan’s colors and stories along the way. Expect laughter, fresh lake air, maybe even new friends by journey’s end.
Traverse City: Historical Ghost Lantern Tour & Ghost HuntingYou walk downtown Traverse City by lantern light with a local guide, hearing the documented history of Front Street, the Perry Hannah House, and the Carnegie Library alongside the hauntings reported there. The tour includes an optional ghost-hunting equipment intro at the city's first cemetery grounds before ending at Perry Hannah Circle. Plan parking time and bring weather-appropriate clothing; the entire experience is outdoors and takes two to three hours.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want Traverse City's real history told alongside its ghost stories, not a pure paranormal investigation — the guide is local and knows the difference, which is what makes the hauntings feel grounded rather than theatrical.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: Luxury SUV No BusesA wine and distillery tasting tour on Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City, where you ride in a luxury SUV instead of a charter bus and sample wines at three to four wineries plus an optional distillery stop. The guide is a local wine expert who adjusts the route based on what you want to taste, and a complimentary bottle comes home with you. Tastings are included; food, wine flights and bottles for purchase are extra.Is it for me?Choose the public tour if you're comfortable meeting other wine drinkers and want a set route; pick the private or group option if you'd rather control which wineries you visit or prefer a smaller group. The SUV format and flexible stops are what set this apart from the larger tour buses that run the same peninsula.
Traverse City Rickshaw Tour: Downtown, Commons & Local LifeYou’ll ride through Traverse City’s best neighborhoods by rickshaw—Front Street’s bakeries, Warehouse District’s street art, Grand Traverse Commons’ history—with a local guide who shares stories as you go. Expect unexpected details: bakery smells drifting by, laughter over windblown hair, and that feeling of being part of town life even if it’s just for an hour.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour in Traverse CityA wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula in a Cadillac Escalade, not a party bus, with stops at 4 wineries chosen by you and your guide. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours from downtown Traverse City pickup, includes wine samples at each stop, and pairs the tasting with views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays. Groups of couples ride together; groups of 6 or more get their own vehicle. Minimum age 21.Is it for me?Choose the private Escalade if your group wants the full vehicle and the guide's attention to yourselves. Join the public tour if you're comfortable sharing the ride with another couple or small group—it costs less and the experience is the same. Groups of 6 or more automatically get their own vehicle, so the size of your party decides which option makes sense.
Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries in a Luxury SUVA wine tour of Traverse City's Old Mission Peninsula stops at four wineries in a luxury GMC Yukon or Suburban, with pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City. Wine samples are included; tastings, flights, bottles and food are available for purchase at each winery. Tours run 4 to 5 hours depending on the group's pace, and groups of six or more ride in their own vehicle and receive a complimentary bottle of wine. Expert local guides lead the tour and can customize stops based on availability and preference.Is it for me?Book the semi-private option if you're a couple or small group who want expert wine guidance and bay views without the party-bus crowd. Choose the private vehicle if your group is six or more and you want to set your own pace and customize which wineries you visit.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: 3 Wineries, No Party BusA wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula departing from downtown Traverse City in a luxury SUV—not a party bus—with an expert guide, three winery stops, and views of Grand Traverse Bay's East and West arms. The vehicle seats small groups or couples, and wine samples are included at each stop. Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Traverse City; the tour runs 3 to 4 hours, with afternoon and sunset departures available depending on the season. You choose between a shared public tour, a private SUV for your group, or joining a public tour in a luxury vehicle.Is it for me?Book the shared public tour if you're a couple or small group and want to split the cost with other wine drinkers; choose the private SUV option if your group of six or more wants the vehicle to yourselves and the flexibility to linger at a winery or adjust the stops. The afternoon departure works if you want three wineries without waiting for sunset; the sunset timing is worth it if you want to end the day on the water with the light changing over the bay.
Traverse City Wine Tour: Old Mission Peninsula in Luxury SUVsA wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City that visits 4 wineries in a luxury Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon, with an expert guide who customizes stops based on your preferences. You choose which wineries to visit from a list of 9 on the peninsula; wine samples are included, though tastings, bottles, flights and food are available for purchase at each stop. Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Traverse City. Groups of 6 or fewer share a vehicle; larger groups get a second vehicle. A complimentary bottle of wine is included for your group.Is it for me?Choose the public tour if you're comfortable meeting other wine travelers and want to keep the cost down; pick the private option if your group wants the vehicle and guide to yourselves. Either way, you're steering the itinerary—tell the guide which wineries matter to you, and the route follows your interests instead of a fixed schedule.
Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries in Luxury SUVsA wine tasting tour of Traverse City's Old Mission Peninsula visiting up to 4 wineries in air-conditioned luxury SUVs, led by local wine guides. Every reservation includes a complimentary bottle of wine. Tours run 4 to 5 hours depending on group pace; private tours let you choose your stops and timing, while semi-private tours combine small groups in the same vehicle. Minimum age 21.Is it for me?Book the semi-private tour to visit 4 wineries with a set itinerary and shared group; choose private if your group wants to select specific wineries, adjust how long you spend at each stop, or customize the pace around dinner plans.
Leelanau Peninsula Wine Tour: VIP SUV, not party busThis is a wine tour of Leelanau Peninsula's best wineries from Traverse City, led by local wine experts in a climate-controlled luxury SUV—not a party bus. You visit four wineries, taste wines at each stop, and can buy flights, glasses or bottles as you go; the tour runs 4.5 hours and groups of couples travel together or small groups get their own vehicle. Minimum age is 21; you choose between a private SUV for your group or joining other wine drinkers in a shared one.Is it for me?Choose the private SUV option if your group wants the vehicle to yourselves and the flexibility to linger at any winery; the join-in tour works well for couples or small groups who don't mind sharing the ride and want a lower price point. Either way, you get expert guides instead of a driver, which is what separates this from the party-bus economy tours.
Traverse City Sailing Cruise: Grand Traverse Bay for 6A private 2-hour sailing cruise on Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City aboard Scout, a yacht that holds up to 6 people. You can sit back and watch the scenery—the historic Park Place Hotel, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and its 224-foot training vessel—or take an active role, helping raise the sails and steering the boat yourself. Complimentary soft drinks and snacks are included; you're welcome to bring your own refreshments as well. The captain and crew answer questions in a casual, welcoming way, and the whole experience is tailored to what your group wants the afternoon to be.Is it for me?The captain speaks English and keeps the pace conversational, so anyone in your group can follow the details and the landmarks without strain. If your group wants to stay hands-off and simply watch the bay unfold, that works just as well—the day is built around what you choose to do, not around a fixed itinerary everyone has to keep up with.
Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: Private Luxury SUV, No BusA private wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City in a spacious GMC Yukon or Suburban with a local expert guide—you choose which wineries to visit and how long to stay at each one. The tour runs about four and a half hours and includes wine samples at up to four wineries; food, bottles and flights are available for purchase. Groups of 1–4 travel in their own vehicle, or groups of 5–7 may share one with another couple.Is it for me?Book the 1–4 person option if you're a couple or small group who want your own vehicle and don't want to share the ride. Choose the 5–7 person option if you're comfortable with another couple in the same SUV and want to split the cost—either way, you set the pace and pick the wineries, which is what separates this from a fixed-route shuttle tour.
Traverse City wine tour: 3 wineries, no party busA semi-private wine tour of Traverse City's Old Mission Peninsula that visits three wineries in a luxury SUV with a live guide, downtown pickup and drop-off, and wine samples included. Groups of six or more typically get a private vehicle and can adjust the itinerary; the tour runs three to four hours depending on group pace. Tastings, bottles and food cost extra at each stop.Is it for me?Book the semi-private tour if you want to taste at three wineries without the party-bus atmosphere and prefer to set your own pace at each stop. Choose the private option if your group is six or larger and wants to pick specific wineries or adjust the itinerary on the day.
Traverse City Wine Tour for First Responders: No Party BusThis is a wine tour in Traverse City, Michigan, run by former and current law enforcement, designed for first responders, military, and their families. You visit four wineries on Old Mission Peninsula in a luxury SUV instead of a tour bus, with wine tastings led by an expert guide; wine samples are included, though flights, bottles, and food cost extra. Groups of six or more typically get their own vehicle and can suggest which wineries to visit.Is it for me?Choose the private SUV option if your group has six or more people and wants to pick which wineries to visit; the semi-private option works if you're a smaller group and prefer to share the cost while still avoiding a crowded bus. Either way, you're riding with people who understand why first responders need a break—the tour is built around that.
