Well, I try to stay away from advertising Traverse City this time of year as it’s finally the time locals get to really enjoy it. But, Oprah magazine has named it one of the 21 Best Winter Getaways for 2020, so I guess the cat is out of the bag. When I moved up to Traverse City a few winters ago, a lot of people told me there is nothing to do here in the winter. I think most people assume locals just hibernate all winter and wait for the summer!
What most people don’t know, is there is just as much to do in the winter in Traverse City as there is to do in the summer. Not only is there a ton to do, but there are also a lot of opportunities to try something new. I have recently discovered some of these Traverse City winter activities and wanted to update my winter blog post!
RESERVE AN IGLOO AT HOP LOT BREWING CO.
*Reservations only, scroll down a few pictures for the link*
A couple of years ago, Hop Lot Brewing Co. introduced their igloos and everyone went crazy. Well, here they are on their third of season having them and people are still going crazy. It’s because they are awesome but they are especially awesome during this global pandemic. These igloos are perfect to rent to have a private, safe and unique space for your friends and family! This is definitely one of my favorite places to visit, plus their food is also awesome!
Each igloo has a small heater inside and holds about eight people comfortably. They also have their fire pits going !
They even light these babies up once the sun goes down. Click this link to reserve your igloo at Hop Lot Brewing Co!
WINTER WINE TOUR WITH TRAVERSE CITY WINE AND BEER TOURS
I worked for this company for almost three years and always recommend taking a wine tour with them, no matter what time of year it is! Most people only think to visit Traverse City for a wine tour during the summer or fall. I believe winter tours are just as much fun and let’s be honest, you won’t need to worry about the cold since the wine will be warming you up.
The best part about booking a winter wine tour is you’ll have a lot of the wineries to yourself. Saturdays can get a bit busy but it still won’t come near how busy it will be on your summer tour. Check out all the options for Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours HERE. Also, I had an opportunity to write a blog post for them about winter wine tours, so click the link to read about the Five Reasons You Should Book at Winter Wine Tour. The seasonal drinks may have changed and things look a little different due to COVID-19 but a wine tour during this time of year is still magical.
WINTER HIKE TO EMPIRE BLUFF TRAILHEAD
Empire Bluff Trailhead is soooo beautiful no matter the time of year. It’s just 40 minutes from Traverse City and you feel like you are in a different world! This is a photo from the half-way point.
Depending on how fast you want to hike, plan for about 30 minutes until you reach the view over Lake Michigan. I recommend wearing warm hiking boots or snowshoes. There are some areas where it can get very icy along the trail.
To learn more about this hike, check out my blog post on the Empire Bluff Trailhead.
VISIT BASE CAMP AT IRON FISH DISTILLERY
This year there is a new way to enjoy one of my favorite distilleries. Iron Fish Distillery has made it possible for you to safely visit the distillery during this global pandemic. They have set up mini tents for you to enjoy! I can’t wait to get out here and check them out! Imagine when all the snow is here how beautiful it will look. I have a feeling this is going to become my new favorite Traverse City winter activity.
If you haven’t been, Iron Fish Distillery has awesome cocktails and food. Click the link to learn more about Base Camp at Iron Fish Distillery.
FAT TIRE BIKING OR CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AT 45 NORTH WINERY
A Traverse City winter activity I tried a couple of winters ago was fat tire biking around the vineyard at 45 North Vineyard and Winery. Lol at this picture of us in our winter gear having no idea how much this trail was about to kick our asses.
We both thought, “1.5-mile loop?T hat isn’t long this won’t be hard.” Welp, I’m here to tell you it is hard and you are definitely going to fall a few times! It takes a while to get used to it but it is such a blast! Then when you are done you can go into the winery to enjoy a glass of cider or wine. Here is photo of the different trails they have at the vineyard.
If you want more information about the trail check out 45 North Recreational Trail Facebook Page.
I hope you enjoyed reading about all the awesome Traverse City winter activities this beautiful town has to offer. I am not the biggest fan of winter so having fun activities like this really keeps me going during the long 7-month winter. Have you tried any of these activities out? What was your favorite?
