Leaf-Peeping Weekends in Michigan: Traverse City
Northern Michigan’s colors turn from late September to early October, which makes Traverse City an ideal base for a relaxed, early-autumn weekend.
Traverse City sits within easy reach of some of the state’s most photographed landscapes, and by fall, the summer crowds have thinned enough that you can enjoy the season at your own pace. To make the most of the area in a short amount of time, consider this four-day itinerary.
The Best Views
About 30 minutes west of town, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers a blaze of breathtaking autumn colors against the golden dunes and deep-blue waters of Lake Michigan. The 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is the perfect way to experience everything Sleeping Bear Dunes has to offer. The drive winds through strands of sugar maple and beech trees, past sweeping vistas of dunes and Lake Michigan. There are 12 marked stops along the way, including a covered bridge and the famous Lake Michigan Overlook. The drive is open to vehicles seasonally, generally into late October.
Wine Tasting on Two Peninsulas
Two long fingers of land reach north from Traverse City, both packed with stunning fall colors and incredible wineries to explore during harvest season. The Old Mission Peninsula runs 19 miles up the middle of Grand Traverse Bay, past vineyards and orchards to Mission Point Lighthouse at its tip. To the west, the Leelanau Peninsula offers wine tasting rooms and, at the far end near Northport, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Exploring either offers an afternoon full of delightful flavors, beautiful colors and plenty of wonderful stops.
Close to Town
Minutes from downtown on M-72, the family-owned Jacob’s Farm combines tradition with innovative fall activities. The historical farm opens a 10-acre corn maze from mid-August through October, alongside a U-pick orchard, a pumpkin patch, a restaurant and bar, live music on the weekends, and more.
For a different angle on the fall color, Traverse Tall Ship Company runs fall outings on West Grand Traverse Bay aboard the schooner Manitou, the largest in Michigan. Pick from a variety of sailing options, from the leisurely fall voyage to evening outings under the golden rays of the setting sun.
Find more weekend getaways to soak up as much Michigan fall color as possible this season. To see predictions of where and when fall color will peak throughout our two peninsulas, check out the interactive fall color map.