Winter — The “Enchanted Season” in Traverse City [Sponsored]
Traverse City doesn’t go to sleep in December. Instead, it becomes a magnet for skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoe hikers who consider this one of the country’s most beautiful winter destinations – and for visitors who know that this is the best time to sample its cozy indoor hideaways, tempting cuisine and vibrant music scene.
The busy pace of summer and fall has subsided -- but everything you love about Traverse City is still here: great restaurants, charming downtown boutiques, wine tasting on the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, and exhilarating outdoor recreation. And with fewer crowds and great off-season pricing, now is the perfect time to follow your compass to Michigan’s True North!
Instead of struggling through the crowds and waiting in endless lines at the mall, why not relax in Michigan’s most beloved city and explore its many exquisite shops, boutiques and galleries?
Winter snows transform this glacier-carved landscape into a sparkling white playground for skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoe hikers. (The downhill skiing at Shanty Creek is some of the best in the Great Lakes region.)
Every year, families flock to the History Center of Traverse City to watch several rooms filled with delightful and imaginative working model train layouts. This year’s Festival of Trains will be held from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1.
On New Year’s Eve, downtown Traverse City becomes a massive street party with live entertainment, a DJ and surprise visitors – and just before midnight, a large illuminated cherry is lowered to mark the coming year.