Traverse City "up North" in Michigan (con't)
Traverse City also has the kind of resort town entrance along Hwy. 31 that is choc a block with motels, marine stores, campgrounds and family recreation areas.But then you enter downtown Traverse City itself. In fact the downtown is separated from the beach strip and Hwy. 31 – which turns into a boulevard as it winds its way along the bay and heads west to the beautiful Leelanau peninsula, site of many Michigan wineries. Between Hwy. 31 and downtown is something that makes Traverse City not just another town. There is in fact a canal. Well, it looks like a canal but it’s actually the Boardman River. There are boardwalks, appropriately enough, on either side. Picturesque indeed! South of the river is the downtown area. Traverse City has only about 15,000 people but a metropolitan area of 140,000, and the downtown seems like it’s a fitting size for that larger population. That makes it diversified and interesting. There are numerous restaurants, pubs and coffee shops – most of which are about as cool as any you’d find in Ann Arbor. There are also plenty of gift shops, including numerous ones selling all kinds of cherry concoctions – from syrup to jellies to salsa. Cherries, you see, is kind of what originally put this place on the map. The region produces more cherries than any other in the U.S. During the first week of July you can indulge to your heart’s content in the National Cherry Festival. In more recent times – seven years to be exact – tourists have been drawn to the area for filmmaker Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival. Moore may be a radical leftist but the entire city, it seems, takes part as volunteers for the week long film extravaganza and in otherwise supporting the festival, whether they be Democrats or Republicans. Paul Laporte, past president of the Rotary Club, said “there’s really a lot of community spirit in this.” The Boardman River in fact winds its way through the town, creating pretty parks on each side and there are some upscale condos that look ideal for a place to spend a few weeks of the summer. Or even the fall. Traverse City has numerous special fall deals and events. Check them out at www.TraverseCity.com WindsorOntarioNews.com |
