Travel Guide: Torch Lake Michigan Things To Do, Restaurants to eat at, and places to stay. Here is our 5 Day Itinerary for Torch Lake, Traverse City and the surrounding area.
Earlier this year, I had seen a post on Instagram of Torch Lake and was absolutely blown away by the beautiful crystal clear waters. I honestly was shocked that this lake was in Michigan because I didn’t know anything like this existed in the Midwest. I’ve lived in Wisconsin my entire life and the lakes definitely don’t look like that here LOL!
So from there, we planned our whole vacation around Torch Lake, the third most beautiful lake in the world, according to National Geographic. We did some research on the area, and the largest nearby city, was Traverse City, a beautiful beach town, known for its wineries and vineyards, outdoor activities, dining, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Everything we wanted to do while we were in Northern Michigan was about 40 minutes away from Traverse City, so that’s why we decided to stay there. I am so glad we did because I already want to go back! It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to.
In this post, I’ll share an overview of the best Traverse City and Torch Lake Michigan things to do, where to stay and where to eat while you’re here!
Travel Guide: Traverse City and Torch Lake Michigan Things To Do 2022
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Where to Stay
We stayed in Traverse City, MI, which was just 30 minutes away from the Southern-most point of Torch Lake. It was such a perfect location because we were so close to everything we wanted to do.
Sleeping Bear Dunes was a 40 minute drive, downtown Traverse City was less than 5 minutes, and there were tons and tons of restaurants just minutes from us.
Country Inn and Suites by Radisson, Traverse City, MI
We loved our stay at the Country Inn and Suites! I don’t think we could’ve chosen a better hotel. It was so convenient – so many beaches, restaurants and boutiques were nearby, they had free cookies at all hours of the day, a massive pool and hot tub, a complimentary hot breakfast every morning, spacious guest rooms, and friendly staff. The nightly rates were very reasonable too.
We definitely plan on staying here again next time we come back!
Budget-Friendly Travel Tip: I highly recommend staying at a hotel that has a complimentary breakfast. We saved so much money this way! There’s a decent amount of hotels that have gotten rid of their hot breakfasts, but the Country Inn and Suites had one, which was so convenient.
Where to Eat
Pangeas Pizza
One of our favorite pizza places in Traverse City! They have delicious stone-fired pizzas, appetizers, salads and drinks. We came here after hiking at Sleeping Bear Dunes and were seated right away. I had the Margherita pizza and my fiancé had the Chicken Alfredo pizza. Both were so good!
We sat inside because it had just finished raining, but they have a gorgeous rooftop deck that overlooks the bay and The Boardman River.
7 Monk’s Taproom
This was actually my favorite restaurant we ate at while on vacation. I had the European Grilled Cheese with seasoned shoestring fries and garlic aioli and it was the best grilled cheese I’ve ever eaten! It had french double crème brie, mozzarella and parmesan cheese served on their local parmesan-black pepper sourdough bread.
If you love beer, 7 Monks has 46 beers on tap along with wine and cider. The food and drinks were delicious, however I was kind of disappointed that you didn’t have a waiter. There were QR codes at the tables, so you ordered on your phone, and then they had an outdoor cart for water, so you had to pour it yourself. Not a big deal, but I would’ve liked to be able to ask questions about the menu.
Don’s Drive In
If you’re looking for something quick and affordable, Don’s Drive In is a cute 50’s style diner serving burgers, milkshakes and fries. We came here after driving back from Torch Lake, and it was a nice casual, laidback atmosphere.
To eat, we had a burger, chicken tenders, fries and onion rings. The food was great (this was actually my fiancé’s favorite restaurant here), it came fast and the staff was super friendly.
Other top recommended restaurants near Traverse City:
- Amical
- Trattoria Stella
- Sorellina
- Taproot Cider House
- Artisan
- Red Spire Brunch House
- Milk and Honey
- Moomer’s Ice Cream
Things To Do (what we did)
Rent Electric Bikes from Bayfront Scooters in Traverse City
We rented e-bikes from the Bayfront Scooters’ Traverse City location. There’s also an Elk Rapids, MI location, but we were told that there were better trails around Traverse City. It worked out great because the bike shop was just a short drive (5 minutes) from our hotel.
Riding the e-bikes was probably my favorite part of our entire vacation! It was so fun and the views were incredible. We biked from the Civic Center, through Downtown Traverse City to the Tart trail and then all the way up to Sutton’s Bay. Total, we ended up biking around 38 miles.
I know it sounds like a lot, but it really wasn’t tiring because e-bikes don’t require as much effort. The bikes ride really smooth and we were able to get up to 20mph.
You can choose to either rent bikes for half a day ($50) or a full day ($75) – we did the half day, and it was perfect. It was just enough time for us to make the trek to Sutton’s Bay, take a few breaks along the way, and relax by the waterfront once we got there and then bike back.
If you want more time to relax, eat lunch in Sutton’s Bay and shop in some of the local boutiques, I’d recommend renting bikes for the full day. That way you’re not cutting it close on time. Although, it’s not a strenuous bike ride, it is pretty lengthy. Highly, highly recommend though! It was beautiful.
Wine Tasting
Traverse City is known as the Cherry Capital of the World, so there are tons and tons of amazing wineries and vineyards here. There were a few wineries that we really wanted to visit, but we just didn’t have time. Mari Vineyards was one of them (the views looked absolutely incredible)!
While we didn’t get to go there, we came across Vista Ridge Vineyards in Alden, which was a five minute drive from where we rented paddle boards from. They had a tasting room and deck just a short walk from Alden Harbor on Torch Lake, so after paddle boarding, we stopped in for a wine tasting.
This was actually my first wine tasting I’ve ever done and we had such a good time! The woman that was working was so friendly and helpful. We sat out on the deck and each enjoyed a flight of 4 for $11. Our favorite wines were the Jus’ Peache-Peach and Cumbersum-Cucumber.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
There are so many fun things to do at Sleeping Bear Dunes! I highly, highly recommend adding this to your itinerary if you’re in the Traverse City area.
You honestly could probably spend two days here if you had the time because there are so many different things to do and see. There’s the infamous dune climb (which we did), miles and miles of trails to bike or hike, tubing, sandy beaches, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, and more.
We started our day by tackling the Dune climb. To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was by far the hardest and most challenging hike I’ve ever done in my life. Round trip, the hike is about 3.5 miles and it’s all sand. We did it in about 3.5-4 hours and I was completely exhausted after.
BUT! On the very first lookout area, after the first dune, my boyfriend proposed to me! It was so perfect and even more amazing than I could’ve imagined. We were standing on top of the dune looking out at Glen Lake (about to take a photo), when he got down on one knee. It was SO incredible. I thought he was setting up the phone to take a photo of us, but he really was taking a video of the entire proposal!
Honestly, if we didn’t get engaged at the beginning of the dune climb, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to complete the whole thing. I think we were both just so excited and happy about the engagement, that it kind of made us forget about how difficult the climb was. It was hard, but definitely worth it and I’m so proud we were able to do it!
Things to bring with you to the dunes: SPF, lots of water, snacks, sneakers (I don’t recommend climbing barefoot), a hat and sunglasses
Paddle Boarding on Torch Lake
I mentioned this earlier, but basically our entire vacation was based around Torch Lake, also known as the Caribbean of the North because of its beautiful deep turquoise water.
We rented paddle boards from Alden Marine and Sport, located in Antrim County, MI near the South end of Torch Lake. They offer both one and two person kayaks, stand up paddle boards and pontoon boats here.
Paddle board rentals were $50/day and Alden Marine drops off and picks up the paddle boards from the lake access point. It was so convenient!
One thing to note about the beautiful Torch Lake – there aren’t many public access beaches. Before we came, I was expecting there to be a large beach where we could lay out and sunbathe, but there isn’t really anything like that.
There’s a small sandy area with a few picnic tables at each public access point, but it’s not very large. They’re perfect for launching paddle boards and kayaks from, but not for laying out.
Public Access Points (Southern end):
- Oak Street
- Birch Street
- Maple Street
- Cedar Street
- Pine Street
- Lake Street
Torch Lake is such a popular spot for locals and tourists in the summer months, so expect it to be pretty busy when you visit. We came at the end of August on a day that was overcast and somewhat windy. So, we actually lucked out that there wasn’t a ton of people/boats on the water.
Paddle boarding was a blast! We brought waterproof phone pouches so we could take photos and surprisingly, it was pretty easy to paddle/balance. From shore, it was only a 20 minute paddle to the famous sandbar – which was my favorite part!
It’s so crazy that at the sandbar you can stand in the middle of the lake with the water just barely covering your ankles. The water was shallow the entire time we were paddling to the sandbar, but right after, the water drops off pretty quickly. It has an average depth of 111 feet and maximum depth of 310 feet, making it one of Michigan’s deepest inland lakes.
Shopping in Downtown Traverse City
So many fun shops, boutiques and sidewalk cafes in Downtown Traverse City. After a late lunch/early dinner at Pangea’s Pizza, we spent a couple hours walking the streets of downtown.
It was so cute and actually reminded me a little of State Street in Madison, WI. We loved the Victorian-style storefronts and live music.
While shopping, make sure to stop in Critters and Identity Resort Wear for some souvenirs and t -shirts! We each got a few crewnecks and tees from both stores. If you love lotions and body care, Great Lakes Bath and Body has the best smelling natural bath salts, soaps and lotions.
Watch the Sunset
Clinch Park and Beach is a great place to watch the sunset if you’re near downtown Traverse City! The beach is right across the street from all the shops and restaurants, so after dinner on our last night here we sat by the water and watched the sun go down. It was so pretty!
Other Things To Do
Here are a few more things to do in and around the Traverse City area that you’ll want to add to your vacation itinerary.
- Torch Lake Jet Ski rentals from Sunny Daze
- Boat rentals from Dockside Water Sports – access to Torch Lake
- Holland State Park – the beach is beautiful!
- Ottawa Beach
- Grand Mere State Park
- Muskegon State Park
I hope you loved our travel Traverse City/Torch Lake travel guide! We had the absolute best time here, and I’m not just saying that because we got engaged LOL. Michigan truly has some of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen and some of the nicest people I’ve met.
I know Traverse City is a tourist-heavy town, but honestly all the people we met at our hotel and while hiking, biking, and sightseeing were so nice and helpful.
Torch Lake Michigan Things To Do, Restaurants to Eat at and Places to stay
We came to Traverse City as a couple, but it’s definitely very family-friendly too with plenty of activities for everyone. I can totally see why it’s such a popular tourist destination in the Summer. The pristine blue-green water of the lakes, the beautiful beaches and all the outdoor activities make it the perfect getaway.
Living in Wisconsin our entire life, I’m actually shocked that we both had never been to the state of Michigan before. If you haven’t either, it’s so worth it! Traverse City, MI has easily become one of my favorite places in the US.
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This post shared our top recommended Torch Lake Michigan things to do, restaurants to eat at, and best places to stay.
