TCMike
Gender: Male
Age: 56-60
Location:
Member Since: 2009
Last Visit: Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 11:54 AM CST
Profile Views: 0
URL: http://www.resortsandlodges.com/members/TCMike
Age: 56-60
Location:
Member Since: 2009
Last Visit: Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 11:54 AM CST
Profile Views: 0
URL: http://www.resortsandlodges.com/members/TCMike
Expert Information
Area
On the unspoiled northeastern shore of Lake Michigan, there’s a region of deep blue water, pine-scented forests, endless sandy beaches and friendly little towns. It’s called Traverse City -- and it’s like no other place on earth.
Remember how vacations used to be, before our favorite spots filled up with crowds and congestion, high rises and high prices? That’s Traverse City. Largely undiscovered and relatively undeveloped, this unexpected treasure is beginning to attract new admirers who love its serenity and beauty, its surprising sophistication, and its mixture of relaxation, adventure and natural splendor.
Nestled at the edge of clear blue Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is the center of an outdoor paradise. Its wooded hills are crisscrossed with trails for hikers and cyclists, and there are over 20 golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Doak. This is Michigan’s “Golf Coast” -- Golf Digest listed it among the World’s Top 50 Golf Destinations.
With more than 150 inland lakes and hundreds of miles of Lake Michigan shoreline ¬– including the majestic Sleeping Bear Dunes – Traverse City offers endless opportunities for boating, sailing, paddling and fishing.
“Out-of-staters are shocked to find the sandy beaches here as vast as some found along the Florida coast,” writes Boating Life editor Robert Stephens. “… even in-staters are stunned at what they see from a third-story balcony: bay water sectioned into gorgeous lime and emerald-green hues... it has given rise to the area’s nickname: the Northern Caribbean.”
Long known as the “cherry capital of the world,” Traverse City is becoming an acclaimed wine-growing region. In summer dozens of markets and roadside stands are bursting with seasonal treats – and the area’s many restaurants are known for their innovative regional cuisine.
Traverse City’s shady Victorian downtown is a shopper’s dream, and there are dozens of museums, art galleries, theatres and music festivals (including the renowned Interlochen Arts Festival). There’s never a lack of nightlife, and the area’s two casinos – Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek – are always open for business.
Walk a beach by moonlight, or fish a legendary trout stream… Help sail a 19th-century schooner, or explore a century-old lighthouse… Or just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the prettiest places on earth.
Remember how vacations used to be, before our favorite spots filled up with crowds and congestion, high rises and high prices? That’s Traverse City. Largely undiscovered and relatively undeveloped, this unexpected treasure is beginning to attract new admirers who love its serenity and beauty, its surprising sophistication, and its mixture of relaxation, adventure and natural splendor.
Nestled at the edge of clear blue Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is the center of an outdoor paradise. Its wooded hills are crisscrossed with trails for hikers and cyclists, and there are over 20 golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Doak. This is Michigan’s “Golf Coast” -- Golf Digest listed it among the World’s Top 50 Golf Destinations.
With more than 150 inland lakes and hundreds of miles of Lake Michigan shoreline ¬– including the majestic Sleeping Bear Dunes – Traverse City offers endless opportunities for boating, sailing, paddling and fishing.
“Out-of-staters are shocked to find the sandy beaches here as vast as some found along the Florida coast,” writes Boating Life editor Robert Stephens. “… even in-staters are stunned at what they see from a third-story balcony: bay water sectioned into gorgeous lime and emerald-green hues... it has given rise to the area’s nickname: the Northern Caribbean.”
Long known as the “cherry capital of the world,” Traverse City is becoming an acclaimed wine-growing region. In summer dozens of markets and roadside stands are bursting with seasonal treats – and the area’s many restaurants are known for their innovative regional cuisine.
Traverse City’s shady Victorian downtown is a shopper’s dream, and there are dozens of museums, art galleries, theatres and music festivals (including the renowned Interlochen Arts Festival). There’s never a lack of nightlife, and the area’s two casinos – Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek – are always open for business.
Walk a beach by moonlight, or fish a legendary trout stream… Help sail a 19th-century schooner, or explore a century-old lighthouse… Or just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the prettiest places on earth.
Traveler Information
About Me
These days, I’m the media relations guy for the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau, but before that I spent 25 years as a reporter and columnist at the local newspaper, the Traverse City Record-Eagle, a job that frequently took me out into the most remote backroads, forests, beaches and islands of the beautiful Grand Traverse Region. My strategy was pretty simple — just drive, paddle, ski or walk until you’re certain you’re lost, and then find somebody to talk to. It was a great job!
I never intended to live in Traverse City. I grew up in Grand Rapids, spent four years in the Coast Guard in places like Miami Beach, Monterey and San Francisco, and when I finally graduated from college I took a summer job at the Miami Herald. To my surprise, I discovered I didn’t like the tropics nearly as much as I thought I would — and when the Record-Eagle offered me a job I took it, figuring I’d put in a year or two and head off to someplace like Seattle or Portland.
What I discovered very quickly is that this place gets to you in a variety of unexpected ways. The beaches here are as lovely as anyplace else I’ve ever been, the weather is mild all year round — warm enough for swimming in September and cold enough for skiing in December — and just about the time you’re getting tired of one season you get another one every bit as pleasant. The people are laid-back and friendly, the music and arts scene is awesome, and the place still hasn’t gotten so sophisticated that a guy like me feels out of place.
I never intended to live in Traverse City. I grew up in Grand Rapids, spent four years in the Coast Guard in places like Miami Beach, Monterey and San Francisco, and when I finally graduated from college I took a summer job at the Miami Herald. To my surprise, I discovered I didn’t like the tropics nearly as much as I thought I would — and when the Record-Eagle offered me a job I took it, figuring I’d put in a year or two and head off to someplace like Seattle or Portland.
What I discovered very quickly is that this place gets to you in a variety of unexpected ways. The beaches here are as lovely as anyplace else I’ve ever been, the weather is mild all year round — warm enough for swimming in September and cold enough for skiing in December — and just about the time you’re getting tired of one season you get another one every bit as pleasant. The people are laid-back and friendly, the music and arts scene is awesome, and the place still hasn’t gotten so sophisticated that a guy like me feels out of place.
Languages I Speak
English
My Travel Style
Middle of the Road
When Traveling, I
Blend in with the locals
I Usually Travel For
Work
I Travel With
Spouse / Significant Other
A Great Vacation Includes
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
My Favorite Types of Resorts Are
Ecotourism Resorts, Nature Resorts
My Favorite Activities Are
Archeology, Beach Activities, Biking or Bicycling, Canoeing and Paddling, Cross Country Skiing, Cultural Activities, Hiking, Kayaking, Wildlife and Nature, Sailing, Wineries
Amenities I Got to Have Are
