Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip to Traverse City and The Flats at Front + Union
Your Vacation Awaits
You’re clearly well-traveled since you booked a getaway to one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023, Northern Michigan. Excellent choice; we love our town, too! If you’ve been here before, you already know downtown Traverse City is the most charming, enchanting place you could ever stroll through with a latte in hand and only steps from the beach of West Bay. As you get packed (and excited) for your trip, here are some handy-dandy things to know before you go.
Parking and Other Must-Haves at The Flats
Do you know what really puts a damper on your vacation kick-off? Spending the first hour driving in circles looking for parking before you can even check into your rental! Great news–because you’re the savvy traveler who booked with The Flats, you have a parking space behind the building reserved just for you. Park and unload in minutes so you can get straight into leisure mode. The full-service elevator to all floors makes bringing in luggage, strollers, the family, and groceries easy–even for the over-packers. (Don’t worry; you’ll get an email with all the parking and keyless entry details before your arrival.)
You’ll find your full kitchen well-stocked with everything you need for breakfast with the family or to host a dinner party, from plates and utensils to coffee (Higher Grounds Trading Co.) and a wine key. Once you’re settled, you can find them in the borrowing closet or nearby shops if you discover you forgot something. Take a gander at our full list of amenities curated to make your stay as effortless as possible. To make your arrival even more welcoming, you can pre-order fresh flowers from Lilies of the Alley.
What to Pack
If you’re anything like us, when you’re packing, you first check the weather forecast for your destination. Smart move. What you may not know about Traverse City and Northern Michigan weather, in general, is that you can have a blizzard one day, and two days later, it can be eighty-two degrees. (True story from March of 2013.) Okay, it’s not usually that extreme. Still, it varies, and the temperatures and wind can be very different from one location to the next, thanks to all the glorious, shimmering waters surrounding us.
The trick is layers. Even in the warmer months, you’ll want a light linen button-down or sweatshirt to throw on over your tank top in the early mornings and evenings. Some of our favorite layering items to have on hand for the gals are breezy tops, a light jacket, and a scarf that can be a stylish accessory or thrown over the shoulders for sun protection or to take a chill off. Most of the guys we know get the layering job done with a smart hoodie or a snazzy jacket.
Aside from that, pack appropriate items for your activities, like swimsuits, hiking shoes, event attire, or ski gear if you’re visiting in winter. Most restaurants don’t have dress codes, so you won’t get turned away for your garb, but you won't be alone if you’re the dress-for-dinner type. The bars and restaurants are full of stylish patrons.
Tips for Getting Around the Traverse City Area
Northern Michigan covers a lot of ground, from lakeshores and biking trails to wineries and shopping. It’s tempting to pack in as much as possible, but if you want to actually relax on your vacation, lighten up your itinerary just a smidge so you’re not scrambling from one thing to the next. You may find that you don't want to leave once you’re at the beach or that getting from one place to the next takes longer than you expect. There’s no expressway! You’ll be driving on beautiful roads past orchards, vineyards, and idyllic tree-lined streets, so enjoy the drive.
Staying in the heart of downtown Traverse City at The Flats means just about anything you can think of is within walking or biking distance, including beaches, TART trails, freshly brewed coffee, delicious food, craft cocktails, home and clothing boutiques, groceries, spa treatments, and the marina. From May through October, you can enjoy a quintessential stroll to the Sarah Hardy Farmer’s Market, just a block away. If you’re going a little bit further but don’t want to drive or arrived by flight, taxis, Lyft, and Uber are always nearby to pick you up.
