2 Lads Winery

There is one word that Jumps out at you when you think of 2 Lads Winery, Contemporary! This young, energy efficient multi-level complex gives a new and modern twist to the ancient art of viticulture. With their Gravity-Flow techniques they aim to minimize energy use and handling to produce a more natural wine. 2 Lads offers Wine Tastings, Classes, and dining experiences at their location and information about these events can be found on their website.

Black Star Winery

At Black Star Winery they are most well known for their institution of their bed and breakfast, despite the fact that you could rent a whole Lake Front Cottage on Long Lake for about the same price as one of their rooms, they have attempted to create a unique atmosphere to available to any wine enthusiast who wished to visit or stay with them. They have two separate winery production facilities with adjacent tasting rooms, a distillery and equestrian facilities.

Bower’s Harbor Vineyard

Bower’s Harbor Vineyard is a Family owned and Operated Facility and one of the largest vineyards on Old Mission. There are 5 separate Vineyards with their vast variety of grapes and a tasting room! Also located on the premises is the microbrewery/restaurant the Jolly Pumpkin! This is a located on the West side of the Peninsula and is great location for watching the Sun Set over West Bay!

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

Traditional and classy, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery’s tasting room is constructed of Brick and Mahogany giving it a very sophisticated and classy ambiance. If you are looking to be swept up in a historical setting with surrounded by authentic wine barrels with a baby grand piano in the playing in the corner, this is the spot for you!

Chateau Chantal

Offering cellar tours and wine tastings daily, Chateau Chantal prides itself on its old-world milieu. Also offering an Bed and Breakfast experience (also with comparable rates as those for a Lake Front Cottage on Long Lake) this Old School chateau also provides classes for you to learn how to make wine, and gain a better understanding of the world of viticulture!

Chateau Grand Traverse

This family owned Vineyard offers 18 varieties of wines. Chateau Grand Traverse is the oldest and largest commercial vineyard in Northern Michigan and is one of the most easily recognized wines from Grand Traverse Bay Area. Chateau Grand Traverse was the first vineyard and winery to implement exclusive use of European grape vines in the state. This vineyard is located at a highpoint of the Peninsula giving you a view of both East and West Bay! Offering a variety of tours and access to their Inn this would be a great stop for the casual connoisseur.

Peninsula Cellars

With their minimalistic approach to wine making, the Family owned and operated Peninsula Cellars strives to created exposure of the local atmosphere to their products. Many studies have proven that the tasting pallet can pick up the subtle tastes provided by the soil, air and surrounding vegetation. With a renovated old School house as their tasting room, Peninsula Cellars provides the “Old Mission” setting to their customers while educating them of their vast varieties of wines.

If you do not know which one to choose, remember to make sure to check the Old Mission Peninsula Wines Group page for collective wine tasting events where you can experience all Old Mission Peninsula has to offer!

Traverse City celebrates its rein as Cherry Capital of the world with an annual Cherry Festival! Held over the week of Fourth of July, this amazing festival began in 1926 to celebrate the first cherry harvest of the season and has skyrocketed to a fun filled eight day extravaganza. With 150 events and activities (85 percent of which are free) 500,000 people come from around the world to celebrate CHERRIES! Equipped with a Bayside Music Stage, Junior and Cherry Royale Parades, in addition to the Turtle Races, Princess Tea, and cherry pit spit contest, you can be sure there will be fun for all ages in Traverse City.

Featured events include the Global Wine Pavilion- The three night event, Thursday, July 8 through Saturday, July 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. will feature a superb collection of over 90 wines including a variety of local, domestic and international wines; The Million Dollar Hole in One Contest: Golfers will take their best shot at a hole in one on a PGA regulated hole through Friday, July 9.; Ultimate Air Dogs (dog athlete competition); Culinary Events: which includes the Cherries Grand Buffet; A buffet that will showcase recipes prepared by the culinary and catering professionals that feature cherries in every dish; Family Car Shows, Student Art Competitions, Live Music, Teen Volleyball and Bowling contests, a Festival of Races (15k, 5k, or 5k walk), and an air show performed over Grand Traverse West Bay featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels! Come see these festivities and more and let you and your family be a part of the Cherry Celebration! For more information on the Cherry Festival click here.

In addition to Front Street, Traverse City also has a great selection of shopping malls:

Grand Traverse Mall

Featuring a beautiful carousel for children to ride around, the Grand Traverse Mall is the largest mall in the Traverse City area featuring over 100 stores. Originally opened in 1992, the Grand Traverse Mall has attracted well-known stores.

Grand Traverse Resort Tower Gallery of Shops

Located on the lobby level of the Grand Traverse Resort Tower, this gallery of shops stretches for over 20,000 square feet. The Gallery of Shops is complete with over a dozen upscale shops featuring regional, national and international gifts, arts and crafts, men’s, women’s and children’s apparel.

The Cherryland Center

The Cherryland Center features Younkers (a major department store), Sears, Big K-Mart and also Tom’s Food Market. Located on the east side of Traverse City, the Cherryland Center also features many smaller shops as well.

Downtown Traverse City and Old Town

What makes Downtown and Old Town Traverse City so unique is not the shops, but the atmosphere. Enjoy walking up and down tree-lined streets and stopping at each local shop to browse a beauitful collection of arts, crafts, jewelry, music, toys, antiques, books, furniture, food and other merchandise. There are more than 100 specialty stores located along the street. There is also a beautiful assortment of attractions located Downtown, including the restored City Opera House on Front Street. You can also view the original fire station, and Ladies Library.

Grand Traverse Crossing

Offering shoppers access to major national stores such as Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, Staples, Home Depot and Borders Books and Records (12 stores in all), the Grand Traverse Crossing is a beautiful shopping scene. Extensively landscaped with flowers, bushes, trees, fountains and man-made streams.