Best Things to Do in Traverse City With Kids this Summer
If you’re visiting Traverse City with children of any age during the warmer months, you won’t run out of places to explore and play. From beaches and bike rides to on-the-water adventures and becoming fairy detectives, these are some of the top activities to enjoy with (or without) the kids in TC.
Tall Ship Manitou
Where else can you sail on a replica of an 1800s cargo schooner? The Tall Ship Manitou sails on West Bay and is similar to those that sailed the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean back then. Sails run for two hours and dock just minutes from downtown Traverse City. Kids especially love the Moomers Ice Cream Sail.
Traverse Tall Ship Company
Moomers Ice Cream
If you prefer your ice cream on dry land, you can visit the award-winning Moomers ice cream shop overlooking the creamery and dairy farm just outside of town. Kids love seeing the cows, and everyone loves choosing from twenty daily flavors.
Fishing
As long as you have a current fishing license, you can throw a line into the countless lakes and rivers of the area, but if you want to catch the big kahuna, you’ll want to get into deeper waters on a boat. The Michigan Charter Boat Association’s directory is a great place to find licensed captains in the area.
Hunt for Petoskey Stones
Northern Michigan is one of the few regions where you can find Petoskey stones. They’re fossilized pre-historic coral that consists of tightly packed, six-sided corallites. Be sure to tell the kids that the center of each of the once-living coral polyps was the mouth and contained tentacles that reached out for food. Look along any shoreline, especially those that are rockier.
The Beach and Splash Pad at Clinch Park
Sure, there are miles and miles of public beaches to explore, but this is the only one with a splash pad, lifeguards on the beach all summer, and just two blocks from The Flats. There’s also a playground, picnic tables, and concessions. It’s a perfect spot to cool off and take a break without needing to pack up the car and drive.
Safe Road and Mountain Biking
The TART bike trail system in Traverse City is wonderful, with point-to-point routes around town, longer paved rides, and the VASA Skillz Loop specifically designed for kids and adults new to mountain biking. Norte Youth Cycling hosts weekly Community Slow Rolls with themes like Superhero Night and even Karaoke Night (yep, they bring a speaker and sing while they ride). Slow Rolls finish at The Little Fleet, where the whole family can convene for a delicious food truck dinner.
The Flats offers complimentary bike storage with your stay.
Fairy Houses
There’s much to see at the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. There are nine lush gardens, a stone labyrinth, and a trailhead leading into the nearby woods, where you’ll find magical fairy houses the community has lovingly built. The trails, gardens, and tiny houses are free to explore and are a delight to find–and don’t worry, they’re meant to be found, so you won’t be disappointed in your search.
Fruit and Flower Picking
What better way to explore local agriculture with kids than getting a little dirty? The rewards are worth the work; no fruit tastes better than one you’ve picked yourself! Our TC favorites are on the Old Mission Peninsula at Buchan’s Blueberry Hill for blueberries from mid-July to August (they also make incredible ice cream!) and Old Mission Flowers, where you can pick a bouquet of seasonal blooms from Mother’s Day through Labor Day.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The dune climb is a must-visit and fun for all ages. Kids especially love to frolic and run full-blast back down the dune. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is worth planning a day trip around, and we have a guide for that right here.
Mission Point Lighthouse
Make a day of it on the peninsula and explore this historic lighthouse on the 45th parallel. Take a peek back in time, climb to the top for a view over the water, pack a blanket, and picnic on the beach or in the shade.
Kids’ Matinees Downtown
The State Theater shows $1 kids’ movies every Saturday—you can’t beat that! The schedule offers a mix of recent features like The Lego Batman Movie and classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Pizza
Everyone loves pizza, and just across the alley behind The Flats is our top pick, Charles and Reid. Their Detroit-style pizza stands out from any ol’ pizza joint. The handmade (square) dough is topped with homemade sauce, brick cheese, and a variety of toppings and weekly specials. They also have specialty sandwiches and fresh seasonal salads made with quality products from local vendors.