Top 5 Traverse City Adventure Tours: Unforgettable Experiences
Traverse City, Michigan, is, like, just such a gem for vacationers after that kind of spot where the outdoors calls out your name, offering, actually, an array of adventures that are tough to beat Experience Traverse City. What puts it over the top? Is that beyond just the beautiful bay and those iconic cherry orchards, a bunch of tours, actually, have popped up. They’re aiming to show visitors what the area’s really about.
1. Kayak or Paddleboard on the Boardman River
Picture yourself gently gliding on super clear waters. That’s basically what you get if you decide to kayak or even paddleboard down the Boardman River Explore kayaking spots. Often calm and often just dreamy, it’s really suitable for almost any skill level, offering, basically, the chance to get really up close with, you know, all kinds of wildlife plus just a view of the verdant shoreline.
Many local outfitters give tours, which are, like, completely outfitted, covering the essentials, and that kind of thing— like equipment rentals—along with some very solid safety instructions, really, so you feel prepared. Often it’s the guidance part that lets you have a deeper peek into what makes this waterway so special, a tour that really helps to open the eyes to the importance of what goes on to preserve it for the future Discover paddleboarding tours.
Going with Paddle TC offers more than a tour; I mean it’s a chill water hangout kind of vibe. They give easy launch spots at Clinch Park plus the Senior Center, basically, making it easy for a quick paddle by yourself to avoid the groups. Their setup rocks if you don’t have a board. What I kind of liked most was that they told stories about the water—basically just tales about the city from what they remembered over time from being there. The views from the water? Total gold. Paddle TC tours.
2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Tour
No visit to Traverse City feels finished until, like, you take a look at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive tends to be where many head straight for to peep sweeping views from high atop massive sand dunes plus, really, the Manitou Islands shimmering just off in the distance Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes.
For something extra, consider hopping on a guided hike, as a matter of fact, so you can learn lots more about all the native plant plus animal species hanging around in this spot, and hear about the region’s history, I would definitely recommend it. These excursions really get you way past just those typical visitor viewpoints to show what Sleeping Bear Dunes is all about; often it showcases why keeping this space safe matters tons Try a guided hike.
I took M-22 Expedition’s sunset tour to see the dunes because, often, they focus specifically to deliver custom times so folks can go, just like your trip needed to bend for something, maybe that early dinner time— so you don’t lose out! We began near Glen Arbor then checked out spots along the Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS and learned random stuff along the way, like basically old tales and the scoop of the day-to-day life here, all straight from local guys. Seeing the sunset on Lake Michigan with all this red then orange everywhere…basically, one of those moments I won’t forget. I definitely tell folks to add that specific sunset venture on the water when they are looking at plans Sunset tours with M-22 Expedition.
3. Wine Tour on Leelanau or Old Mission Peninsula
Traverse City’s known just as much now for viniculture as for its famous cherries, basically with both Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas speckled almost entirely by a collection of award-earning vineyards Explore Leelanau Peninsula wineries.
Signing up for a wine tour allows you really safely explore the local wine trail with zero concerns about driving; actually, the guides usually really do enrich that occasion. They often really shine by what they offer; by giving, for example, really intimate views of making wines locally as you savor distinctive varieties, typically from bright whites through dark reds Explore Old Mission wineries.
Because I picked the guided tour given at Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours with one pal, well, it transformed that afternoon drinking into, really, this super neat dive right down into learning where the wine vibes start around the TC region! Turns out these guys have all their stuff on lock as locals—they bring this personal thing as it felt. Our bus, you know, showed us the heart spots in Old Mission, and frankly, those peeks right from the vineyards? Killer! Oh and, frankly, as you sip? They explain that whole thing involving why the cherry area turned vineland. So basically—book them, you are going to feel all those fun wine vibes without a headache to go along with itBook Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours.
4. Craft Brewery Tour
Past those vines are the local breweries, each just totally individual and sporting an equally individualized line of beers, each offering a whole world of beer culture to explore and all that jazz Take a brewery tour. The tours tend to do all this legwork to let visitors fully indulge safely. Most offer not just the actual drink itself but lots about that method behind it, really putting each sample within what is going on with regional brewers.
With some transportation set up, you visit, often, like, three to five area hot spots; sometimes behind-the-scenes is part of the offering. Basically a few spots do meet-and-greets for beer fans. Basically, seeing the processes alongside meeting faces makes for an enriched view that gives respect towards TC and microbrews Try craft beer.
I called Brew Bus TC basically just because my schedule asked for some wiggle room— and guess what? It seemed awesome just from talking over what was possible to happen. They’re up for small crew things together, just saying. They got me to a few cool spots without making me look for parking and I was basically glad I trusted them, with all those jokes plus anecdotes. Plus there was water aboard that kept the palate new each taste, often making those new kinds taste all exciting! Consider if you have flexibility gaps during travels using their custom package since, in short, all stress fell away, especially from being mobile to sample all dayBrew Bus TC tours.
5. Zipline Adventure Tour
To grab that ultimate adrenaline surge mixed to pure northern MI sights, check if there are TC-centered options; turns out TC really has some neat venues with natural geography perfect just as some spot to, literally, glide within tree tops Traverse City Ziplining!
Safety should stay key, basically each operator ought to go the max and offer training plus oversight and super solid gear prior to hitting those cables More on zipline tours. What rocks: often they present an amazing viewpoint unlike basically those trails we hike!
Because my cousin persuaded our yearly meet to visit the area I booked right with Wildwood Rush; honestly, he never stopped praising their course for two years! Those guys showed they’re, just like, dialed in from gearing, too to ground school— all simple so you get it—to then just letting loose above the canopy that’s so pretty! Oh, plus, they are legit tree fans; actually, our guides gave love to talking ecosystems as we waited turns at stops, super unique touch. Very awesome group shot when complete, plus lots of whooping that moment feet left tree limb platform…Basically: check it out to turn your views over the city plus terrain into something unique if height’s got no hang ups Check out Wildwood Rush.
Often it’s just a lot more than checking out a location by those things; so in fact getting near folks who share the deep love given makes those settings memorable. By some relaxed paddles by rivers past peaks gazed with beer inside it becomes easy spotting all those things great regards this piece near the bay up north.
- Boardman for kayaking
- Go see Sleeping Bear
- Try wines locally
- Drink craft beer from spots you did see
- Go fast by zippers to look below you from peaks