Our Traverse City Weekend: Wineries, Downtown Beaches and Sleeping Bear Dunes

Traverse City had been on our travel list for a while, but this was our first time exploring this part of Michigan. We drove from Windsor, Ontario, for a late-May weekend filled with wineries, waterfront walks, small-town stops and our long-awaited first visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes.

We based ourselves in downtown Traverse City, booked a guided wine tour for our first evening and then spent the rest of the weekend exploring at our own pace. The trip included three wineries, a distillery, Mission Point Lighthouse, Front Street, a surprisingly good downtown beach and some of the best views we have experienced in Michigan.

Watch our complete Traverse City weekend below, then keep reading for where we stayed, what we booked and what we would recommend to anyone planning a similar trip.

We booked an Airbnb in downtown Traverse City, which turned out to be an excellent base for the weekend.

Being downtown made the trip much easier. After driving around Old Mission Peninsula during the day, we could park at the Airbnb and walk approximately 10 minutes to Front Street. That meant we could explore the shops, eat downtown and walk beside the water without needing to find another parking spot.

For a short Traverse City visit, we would recommend staying within walking distance of Front Street when possible. You will likely need a vehicle for the wineries, Mission Point Lighthouse and Sleeping Bear Dunes, but being able to leave it behind in the evening is a major advantage.

We arrived on Friday and began the trip with a four-hour sunset wine tour booked through Viator.

The tour was scheduled to take us to two wineries and one distillery aboard the Magic Shuttle Bus. Because there were only four guests in our group, our guide, Todd, believed we could fit in an additional winery. That gave us four stops in total, although travellers should not assume every tour will follow exactly the same itinerary.

The bus departed Traverse City at approximately 5:30 p.m. and headed north through Old Mission Peninsula. The drive itself was part of the experience, with winding roads, vineyard properties and frequent views of the surrounding water.

Our first stop was Hawthorne Vineyards.

The property had a classy indoor tasting area, but the outdoor seating and scenery made the strongest first impression. Hawthorne sits on a high bluff and is known for its views over Grand Traverse Bay.

There were several flight options with a mixture of reds, whites and rosé. We each ordered a flight and an additional glass and stayed for approximately 50 minutes.

We enjoyed the wine and setting, although this was the most expensive stop of our tour. Our total was approximately C$95 for two people at the time of our visit.

Chateau Grand Traverse was approximately 10 minutes from Hawthorne and had a different atmosphere.

We entered through a large wine shop with a walk-up tasting bar before ordering a glass each and a plate of fresh mozzarella, local heirloom tomatoes and bread. We took everything outside to the large patio, where there was live music and a relaxing view of the property.

Chateau Grand Traverse was the first winery established on Old Mission Peninsula and has been operating in the area for more than 50 years.

Our two glasses of wine and shared food plate cost approximately C$48.

This was a particularly good stop for combining wine with something to eat, especially after starting the evening with tastings at Hawthorne.

Bonobo Winery was not originally supposed to be part of our tour, but we were very glad Todd added it.

Of the wineries we visited, Bonobo had our favourite outdoor setting. Its raised patio provided a wide view across the surrounding landscape, which became even better as the sun began to set.

There was also live music from a duo called The Mix Drift, picnic tables below the main deck and a large swing that worked perfectly as a photo stop. Bonobo describes itself as a social gathering place built around wine and the scenery of Old Mission Peninsula, and that matched our experience.

Two glasses of wine cost us approximately C$38, and we were able to take the branded Bonobo glasses home.

This is the winery we would be most eager to revisit for the atmosphere alone.

Our final stop was Old Mission Distilling.

This added something different to the evening after three wineries. Grace explored some of the unique cocktails, while I stayed with wine and enjoyed another glass outside on the covered patio.

The staff were extremely friendly, and the distillery felt more casual than some of the winery tasting rooms. Its current menu includes cocktails, tasting flights, wines and non-alcoholic options.

When the tour ended, the sun was setting and we ordered a final wine to take onto the bus for the ride back.

The guided tour was one of the best decisions we made during the trip. Neither of us needed to drive between stops, we learned more about the peninsula and our small group allowed us to experience an extra winery.

We started Saturday at Bubbie’s Bagels, a very busy local bagel shop that was worth the wait.

After breakfast, we drove back onto Old Mission Peninsula and made a short stop at Brys Estate. Its lavender was not in season during our late-May visit, but we could still walk around part of the property and browse the shop.

From there, we continued as far north as the road would take us.

Mission Point Lighthouse sits at the northern end of Old Mission Peninsula. It was completed in 1870 and is positioned near the 45th parallel, approximately halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

There was free parking close to the lighthouse during our visit, followed by a short walk to the building. Visitors can pay for a self-guided lighthouse tour during its operating season, but we chose to walk around the property and head down to the beach.

The beach had soft sand, peaceful water views and enough room for visitors to spend more than a quick stop. There were also outdoor toilets near the parking area.

We liked Mission Point because it gave the drive up the peninsula a natural ending. You travel until there is nowhere farther to drive and arrive at a lighthouse, wooded trails and a quiet beach.

We only stayed briefly, but a family could easily bring supplies and spend a much longer stretch of the day there.

Mission Point Lighthouse was approximately a 25-minute drive from Traverse City. Once we returned, we parked at our Airbnb and walked downtown.

Front Street is the main commercial area, and our advice is simple: walk the entire street and enter whichever shops catch your attention.

One essential stop is Cherry Republic, where you can sample a surprisingly wide variety of cherry-focused products. Downtown also has numerous restaurants, bars and independent shops to explore.

What surprised us most was the quality of the beach beside downtown. This was not a tiny patch of neglected sand. It was an attractive waterfront area with a walking path and enough space to properly enjoy the beach.

That combination gives Traverse City much of its vacation-town atmosphere. You can shop and eat downtown, then walk only a few minutes to the sand and water.

We finished Saturday with sushi and an evening walk along the waterfront.

On Sunday morning, we checked out of the Airbnb and drove approximately 45 minutes to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

We had wanted to visit for a long time and were excited to finally see it in person.

We paid US$25 for a private vehicle entrance pass. That remains the standard fee listed by the National Park Service, although visitors should check current prices and conditions before travelling.

Our first stop was the Dune Climb.

There is parking, visitor information and a seasonal bookstore at the base. We spoke with a park guide, bought a postcard and received some helpful advice about how to use our limited time.

The first dune is approachable enough that most active visitors can attempt at least part of it. You can climb as far as feels comfortable, enjoy the view and then experience the much easier trip back down.

It is important to understand that reaching Lake Michigan is a much more demanding undertaking. The National Park Service says the full route continues across several dunes and can take most people approximately three hours. Visitors attempting the longer hike should bring plenty of water, sun protection, snacks and appropriate footwear.

For us, climbing part of the main dune was enough to make the stop worthwhile.

The park guide recommended that we continue onto Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, which was an excellent suggestion.

The road is a 7.4-mile one-way loop with 12 informational stops. The National Park Service estimates that visiting every stop can take approximately two hours.

Visitors receive a map that explains the viewpoints and stopping areas. Even without completing every possible walk, the drive provides an accessible way to experience the forests, lakes and dunes.

The main attraction for us was the Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook.

A parking lot and relatively short walk lead to expansive views over the dunes and Lake Michigan. The drop is extremely steep, and although some visitors were making their way down, we were perfectly happy appreciating it from above.

The overlook was the visual highlight of the weekend and the type of view that photographs cannot completely capture.

The wineries are spread throughout the peninsula, and wine is the point of the visit. A guided shuttle allowed both of us to participate without worrying about who would drive.

Our downtown Airbnb made evenings much easier. After a day of driving, it was convenient to walk to Front Street, restaurants and the waterfront.

Mission Point Lighthouse is not a long or complicated visit, but the drive, lighthouse and beach make it a worthwhile addition to a winery-focused day.

We spent the morning and part of the afternoon there, but the park could easily fill an entire day. With more time, we would have explored additional stops and walked farther on some of the trails.

The weather was beautiful during our visit, but attractions such as the lavender fields were not yet in bloom. Seasonal experiences may look very different depending on when you travel.

These are not complete trip costs, but they provide a snapshot of what we spent at several stops:

Wine prices reflect what we personally ordered, including flights, individual glasses and food where noted. Canadian totals were based on the amount charged to us at the time, so exchange rates and current menu prices will vary.

Absolutely.

Traverse City gave us wineries, beaches, a walkable downtown and easy access to some of Michigan’s most impressive scenery within one weekend.

Bonobo Winery is high on our list for a return visit, and we would devote more time to Sleeping Bear Dunes next time. We would also happily stay downtown again because it made exploring Traverse City so straightforward.

For travellers coming from Ontario, this is a manageable road trip that feels meaningfully different from home without requiring a flight or a full week away.

Our first visit gave us a strong introduction to the area, but it also left us with plenty of reasons to return.

More recommendations coming soon.