Exploring Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Bay

Most of the last week has found us visiting several towns on the western leg of Grand Traverse Bay – Northport, Suttons Bay and Traverse City. Sadly many cruisers on the loop pass this area on their rush south, so we were not entirely sure what to expect.  Our stops were suggested by Michiganites who cruise this area regularly and their advice has been golden.  We hopped over from Lake Charlevoix to drop the hook in front of Northport just off Lake Michigan at the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay.  The winds blew in a storm which rocked the boat, but did not stop our trip to town.  Between showers we walked the streets of Northport and found a great used bookstore as well as art galleries, a history museum and a rock store. People were friendly and helpful – the Visitor Center lady wanted to give us an umbrella so we wouldn’t get wet on the way back to the boat! In the history museum we learned that we were anchored in front of former location of the turn of the century luxury hotel– it burned in 1908. The house next door is still there although it looks like a few wings have been added. (The lady in the museum also offered her personal washer/dryer when we asked for a Laundromat!)Suttons Bay was similar in size to Northport, but much busier and more colorful. The shops are mostly in repurposed houses – many painted in wild colors. Traverse City itself proved to be a hidden gem.  Friends who are in the know said it was worth the trip, but we were unprepared for the treat. The marina is one short block from the happening main drag chock full of numerous restaurants and shops including big names like Talbots and Chico’s or Orvis which we have not seen for months. The best finds were the deli/markets just a short walk from the docks. Folgarellis on Front Street and, on the other side, Burritt’s Fresh Market  were brimming with specialty items, organic veggies, choice meats and fish, fresh  or smoked, plus cheeses to die for.  Choosing what we could eat before it spoiled was the biggest problem. We walked  through the historic district up to the campus of the old state mental hospital that is being reborn as the Traverse City Commons - a multi-use commercial and residential park. There we found the brick oven bakery to test our willpower. And of course, being Traverse City (the purported cherry capital of the world), all varieties of cherries were everywhere. Sadly, we had to leave before the start of the week long film festival – the schedule was impressive – multiple venues with offerings from 9 in the morning to the after dark show on the blow up screen at the bay front park next to the marina. With a 150,000 visitors attending this event, we were not too sorry to miss the crowds, but for film fans this is the place to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also found a couple antique stores and several independent bookstores. Bookstores do seem to be as popular as the art galleries around here.  Every little town has one or even two and in bigger towns like Traverse City, both new and used stores dotted the main street. Books were everywhere even in the antique stores and upscale boutiques. We also noticed lots of reading activities – and prominent ads for the local libraries.  Spending time in a community of readers is just about perfect for Erben Renewal.