Vacation! TRAVERSE CITY
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Summer Staples Farmers Markets: Traverse City’s emergent food culture isn’t just a passing trend; it’s firmly rooted in the region’s rich agricultural tradition, which grows more exciting each year as farmers and food artisans with great ideas put their stamp on the scene. Check out the bounty at the city’s two weekly markets: the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays at Cass St. and Grandview Parkway; DOWNTOWNTC.COM) and the Village Outdoor Farmers Market (Mondays at Grand Traverse Commons; THEVILLAGETC.COM).
Rogers Observatory: Northwestern Michigan College’s J. H. Rogers Observatory is the area’s best spot for guided stargazing. Twice-monthly public viewing nights run just $2 for individuals and $5 for families, 1753 BIRMLEY RD., TC, 231.946.1787, NMC.EDU. Ranch Rudolf: The Boardman River meanders through a thickly forested valley, serving up quietude and wildlife just a short jaunt from Traverse City. The river runs clear and cold and, in some places, is fairly swift—but it’s kind to paddlers of all skill levels. Rent canoes, kayaks or tubes at Ranch Rudolf, 6841 BROWN BRIDGE RD., TC, 231.947.9529, RANCHRUDOLF.COM.
CARLY PASZEK
State Theatre: One of the crown jewels of Traverse City’s cultural scene, the State Theatre (233 E. FRONT ST.) is also one of the region’s best historic preservation stories. Saved nearly a decade ago from an uncertain, shuttered future, the 1916-built single-screen theater now gleams as a volunteer-run, state-of-the-art cinema boasting an unmatched lineup of art-house and foreign films, and even 25-cent classic and children’s matinees. Last year, in another big win for the region, the State saved another historic TC landmark—the WPA6 MyNorth.com
era Con Foster building in Clinch Park—and renovated it into a jewel-box-sized, first-run movie theater: the 170-seat Bijou by the Bay, 181 E. GRANDVIEW PKWY., 231.947.4800, STATETHEATRETC.ORG.
Traverse City Beach Bums: This Frontier League ball club is a beloved part of Traverse City’s summertime traditions. Reasonable ticket prices, between-inning kids games, giveaways, fireworks, and shenanigans from the team’s mascot bears make this a perfect family-friendly outing. For a sweet date-night, there’s nothing more romantic than taking advantage of the park’s laid-back outfield lawn seating. Simply bring your own blanket and a jacket for the late innings, and make it your own field of dreams, Wuerfel Park, 333 STADIUM DR., TC 231.943.0100, TRAVERSECITYBEACHBUMS.COM.
U-Pick: In one of the world’s prime fruit-growing regions, spending a few hours in a U-pick berry patch or orchard is simply a summertime must. Look for strawberries in June, cherries, blueberries and raspberries in August, peaches in late summer, apples in fall. Visit LOCALDIFFERENCE.ORG for a searchable directory of the area’s U-picks.
Ice Cream: It’s not truly summer unless there’s ice cream involved. TC is anchored on either end of town by two vintage-cute walkup ice cream stands: Bardon’s Wonder Freeze to the east (1100 E FRONT ST., TC, 231.941.4326) and Dairy Lodge to the west (405 N. DIVISION ST., TC, 231.941.4374). Downtown, across from the State Theatre, find Cherry Cone (240 E FRONT ST., TC, 231.944.1036). For a destination ice cream experience, take a drive to Moomers, a dairy farm and creamery voted America’s best ice cream by viewers of Good Morning America. A whopping 120 flavors await. 7263 N. LONG LAKE RD., TC, 231.941.4122, MOOMERS.COM.