Northern Michigan

The Traverse City Area

Pristine beaches, breweries, wineries, and distilleries, and waterfront living rank Traverse City among the best places in the Midwest to visit, or to live.

A visitor on a beach swing above Grand Traverse Bay
A visitor on a beach swing above Grand Traverse Bay

What Draws Visitors

The Traverse City area holds some of the most spectacular beaches and recreation in the Midwest: miles of sandy shoreline, top-rated breweries, wineries, and distilleries, and dining that draws visitors on its own.

Families at a haying demonstration in the Sleeping Bear farm district
Families at a haying demonstration in the Sleeping Bear farm district NPS, Public domain

A top ten place to live

Why People Stay

The area regularly ranks among the best places in the country to live, for much the same reasons a visitor notices first: a spectacular natural environment, communities that are among the safest in the nation, housing costs lower than most metro areas, and miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

The choice ranges from quiet historic neighborhoods to country living minutes from downtown, to small-town life in one of the neighboring villages.

Painted owl stones and glass flowers outside a turquoise shop in Traverse City
Painted owl stones and glass flowers outside a turquoise shop in Traverse City