Bike the TART Trail
Trail access is a short walk across the street from the lodge, which makes the bike ride through town the easiest fall plan on this page.
Perfectly positioned on East Grand Traverse Bay
Things to do around Traverse City, measured from the lodge
The lodge sits just outside the busy downtown, close enough to get anywhere you want to go. Start with the distances below, which are the lodge's own estimates from the front door, then pick a beach, a tasting room or a trail. If you haven't chosen where to sleep yet, the rooms and suites page sorts bay views from city views.
- Acrossthe streetTART Trail access, a short walk
- 3minutesTraverse City State Park
- 10minutesDowntown and Front Street dining
- 10minutesCherry Capital Airport (TVC)
- 15 to 25minutesOld Mission Peninsula wineries
- 40minutesSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Beaches
Your own sand first, then the city beaches
The lodge has private frontage on East Bay with chairs and umbrellas set out for guests. When you want a different stretch of shoreline, these are the public beaches around town. Remember that neither the lodge beach nor the pool has a lifeguard.
- Clinch Park Beach
- Bryant Park
- Sunset Park
- Haserot Beach
Wine and spirits
Two peninsulas of tasting rooms
The Old Mission Peninsula wineries run 15 to 25 minutes from the lodge. Plan the day around a designated driver, and check each stop for tasting hours before you set out. The in-room wine packages use bottles from MAWBY and Chateau Grand Traverse, so the evening can start before you leave.
- Old Mission Peninsula
- Leelanau Peninsula
- Chateau Grand Traverse
- MAWBY Vineyards
- Mammoth Distilling
Nature
Dunes, drives and a trail across the street
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is about 40 minutes away, so give it a full afternoon. The TART Trail is the easy one: access is a short walk from the lodge, across US 31.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Boardman Lake and River
- Old Mission Peninsula Scenic Drive
- Tunnel of Trees
- TART trail
Events and venues
Festivals to plan a weekend around
The lodge is about ten minutes from downtown. Dates and tickets come from each festival's organizers, so check with them first, then call us about rooms.
Events
- National Cherry Festival
- Traverse City Food and Wine Festival
- Film Festival
- Comedy Festival
Venues
- Interlochen Arts Academy
- The Alluvion
- City Opera House
- Old Town Playhouse
A four-season playground
The lodge is open all year, so pick your season
- SpringLocal wine tasting in the orchard
- SummerSleeping Bear Sand Dunes
- FallBike through town on the TART Trail
- WinterThe igloos at Hop Lot
Fall getaways on East Grand Traverse Bay
Fall in Traverse City
Three ways to spend an autumn weekend, all within reach of the lodge. The Lodge Living blog has longer guides to fall color tours and October in town.
Take a scenic drive
Old Mission Peninsula Scenic Drive and the Tunnel of Trees are both on the nature list above. The Old Mission wineries sit 15 to 25 minutes away, so a drive and a tasting fit into one outing.
Stay on the bay
Every hotel room has an electric fireplace, the indoor pool and hot tub are open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM, and the beachfront firepits face the sunset. See hotel rooms or the condominium suites, or look at the photo gallery first.
Stay close to all of it
Book the base camp
Call the front desk to match a room or suite to your plans. Book direct for the Best Rate Guaranteed.