The definitive guide to Leelanau
Hiking
Great light hike with multiple trails and a variety of sights, including sand dunes, creeks, and more.
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Houdek Dunes Natural Area: The Leelanau Conservancy
5959 N Manitou TrailGreat light hike with multiple trails and a variety of sights, including sand dunes, creeks, and more.
Run by the local land conservancy, Clay Cliffs is another wonderful light hike culminating in a beautiful lookout point for Lake Michigan
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Clay Cliffs Natural Area: The Leelanau Conservancy
4755 N Manitou TrailRun by the local land conservancy, Clay Cliffs is another wonderful light hike culminating in a beautiful lookout point for Lake Michigan
Two loop trails offering varying intensity/distance. Unfortunately this incredible (and incredibly popular) hiking trail was hit by a huge windstorm, knocking down a lot of the trees at its apex, but don't let that deter you. There are absolutely gorgeous views to be had of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake.
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Alligator Hill Trail
Stocking RoadTwo loop trails offering varying intensity/distance. Unfortunately this incredible (and incredibly popular) hiking trail was hit by a huge windstorm, knocking down a lot of the trees at its apex, but don't let that deter you. There are absolutely gorgeous views to be had of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake.
Bay View Trailhead
High TrailThis is a wonderful intermediate hiking loop with great views at the top.
Cycling
This is a great paved bike trail that covers most of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with some very pretty sights along the way. Starting in Glen Arbor and heading Northeast is the easier of two stretches (and ends up at the pristine Bohemian Beach where you can take a dip after an afternoon of cycling).
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Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
Sleeping Bear Heritage TrailThis is a great paved bike trail that covers most of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with some very pretty sights along the way. Starting in Glen Arbor and heading Northeast is the easier of two stretches (and ends up at the pristine Bohemian Beach where you can take a dip after an afternoon of cycling).
This epic former railroad cycling trail spans from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, with multiple vineyards and a family favorite -- Farm Club -- along the way.
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Leelanau Trail
Leelanau TrailThis epic former railroad cycling trail spans from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, with multiple vineyards and a family favorite -- Farm Club -- along the way.
Food scene
This recently-opened farm-to-table restaurant and brewery is wildly popular during the summer (especially at sunset) but not to be missed. The food and drink is excellent, they're family-friendly (though no doggos, unfortunately), and there's plenty of outdoor seating with picnic tables galore.
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Farm Club
10051 Lake Leelanau DriveThis recently-opened farm-to-table restaurant and brewery is wildly popular during the summer (especially at sunset) but not to be missed. The food and drink is excellent, they're family-friendly (though no doggos, unfortunately), and there's plenty of outdoor seating with picnic tables galore.
Founded by a Sicily-born husband and wife team, this is probably my favorite restaurant in the area. They offer great Sicilian cuisine ranging from seafood to pasta and everything in between. Celiac-friendly, they offer gluten-free options for most of their dishes, including homemade GF pasta. Quite expensive, but worth every penny. Be sure to check out their wine list (especially the Tenuta delle Terre Nerre, from grapes grown on the side of Mount Etna).
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PepeNero
700 Cottageview DrFounded by a Sicily-born husband and wife team, this is probably my favorite restaurant in the area. They offer great Sicilian cuisine ranging from seafood to pasta and everything in between. Celiac-friendly, they offer gluten-free options for most of their dishes, including homemade GF pasta. Quite expensive, but worth every penny. Be sure to check out their wine list (especially the Tenuta delle Terre Nerre, from grapes grown on the side of Mount Etna).
Literally adjacent to the house, Pegtown offers one of the best breakfasts on the peninsula, as well as great sandwiches and pizza. Tends to get very busy on the weekend, especially Sunday.
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Pegtown Station
8654 S Maple City RdLiterally adjacent to the house, Pegtown offers one of the best breakfasts on the peninsula, as well as great sandwiches and pizza. Tends to get very busy on the weekend, especially Sunday.
Run by co-owner Alfiero Silveri (formerly of the also excellent Stella in TC), this local favorite taphouse/restaurant is right around the corner from the property. They offer everything from juicy burgers to cobb salads and fantastic tacos. They also have a great selection of local beers, wines, and ciders. Attached to the curling club (see below).
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Broomstack Kitchen and Taphouse
172 W Burdickville RdRun by co-owner Alfiero Silveri (formerly of the also excellent Stella in TC), this local favorite taphouse/restaurant is right around the corner from the property. They offer everything from juicy burgers to cobb salads and fantastic tacos. They also have a great selection of local beers, wines, and ciders. Attached to the curling club (see below).
Little Traverse Inn is a cool gastropub-style restaurant with a lounge area where you can sip cocktails and a dining room where you can enjoy a four course meal in the same evening. Speaking of dining, their menu includes pub-style classics like burgers and shepherd's pie, but also some odd additions such as chicken tikka masala and lamb shish kebabs (all of which are excellent).
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Little Traverse Inn
149 E Harbor HwyLittle Traverse Inn is a cool gastropub-style restaurant with a lounge area where you can sip cocktails and a dining room where you can enjoy a four course meal in the same evening. Speaking of dining, their menu includes pub-style classics like burgers and shepherd's pie, but also some odd additions such as chicken tikka masala and lamb shish kebabs (all of which are excellent).
This elevated surf & turf restaurant/cocktail bar has a wonderful, constantly evolving farm-to-table menu.
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Wren
303 N St Joseph StThis elevated surf & turf restaurant/cocktail bar has a wonderful, constantly evolving farm-to-table menu.
Great sandwiches in historic Fishtown in Leland. Great for a beach picnic. In the summer, be sure to CALL AHEAD (and I cannot emphasize this enough) as they tend to be swamped for at-window orders. Cash only.
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Village Cheese Shanty
199 W River StGreat sandwiches in historic Fishtown in Leland. Great for a beach picnic. In the summer, be sure to CALL AHEAD (and I cannot emphasize this enough) as they tend to be swamped for at-window orders. Cash only.
EXCELLENT Detroit-style pizza and sandwiches at this place. They also have a small market and plenty of to-go beer/wine/liquor. They only make a certain amount of dough every day, so be sure to order well in advance if you want to grab a pizza.
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Market 22
497 E Harbor HwyEXCELLENT Detroit-style pizza and sandwiches at this place. They also have a small market and plenty of to-go beer/wine/liquor. They only make a certain amount of dough every day, so be sure to order well in advance if you want to grab a pizza.
This Northport brunch restaurant has some of the most delicious breakfast food in the county. Their frittata and huevos rancheros are excellent.
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The Tribune Ice Cream & Eatery
110 E Nagonaba StThis Northport brunch restaurant has some of the most delicious breakfast food in the county. Their frittata and huevos rancheros are excellent.
This cash-only greasy spoon-style breakfast/lunch spot is one of my favorites on the peninsula, and is a short drive from Maple City on the eastern shore of Big Glen Lake.
The Foothills Cafe & Motel
7097 S Dunns Farm RdThis cash-only greasy spoon-style breakfast/lunch spot is one of my favorites on the peninsula, and is a short drive from Maple City on the eastern shore of Big Glen Lake.
This unassuming grocery/convenience store also stocks really excellent Indian heat-and-eat food in their frontmost display/fridge. Great for last minute meals you can make in the microwave in a pinch.
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NJ's Grocery
115 W Philip StThis unassuming grocery/convenience store also stocks really excellent Indian heat-and-eat food in their frontmost display/fridge. Great for last minute meals you can make in the microwave in a pinch.
Half farm market, half cafe/pizzeria, 9 bean rows makes some of the best baked goods and has great produce as well as ready-to-eat meals. Their croissant are excellent!
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9 Bean Rows Bakery
9000 E Duck Lake RdHalf farm market, half cafe/pizzeria, 9 bean rows makes some of the best baked goods and has great produce as well as ready-to-eat meals. Their croissant are excellent!
A quaint cafe in Northport serving excellent espresso-based drinks, bagels, and sandwiches amongst many other things.
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New Bohemian Café
110 S Waukazoo StA quaint cafe in Northport serving excellent espresso-based drinks, bagels, and sandwiches amongst many other things.
Great sandwiches and coffee at this place, and Empire is definitely worth a visit while you're out here.
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Shipwreck Cafe
11691 S Lacore RdGreat sandwiches and coffee at this place, and Empire is definitely worth a visit while you're out here.
Really great pizza and a nice selection of wines/beers on draft. They also have a little market for snacks and some local food offerings in coolers.
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Empire Village Inn
11601 S Lacore RdReally great pizza and a nice selection of wines/beers on draft. They also have a little market for snacks and some local food offerings in coolers.
Drinking
A very popular cidery near Suttons Bay, offering both dry and sweet ciders. Plenty of outdoor space and a couple of cornhole sets. This place is a personal favorite of mine, even in the winter months when they offer Solo stoves and plenty of firewood.
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Tandem Cider
2055 N Setterbo RdA very popular cidery near Suttons Bay, offering both dry and sweet ciders. Plenty of outdoor space and a couple of cornhole sets. This place is a personal favorite of mine, even in the winter months when they offer Solo stoves and plenty of firewood.
I would rank this among the best wineries in the Grand Traverse/Leelanau county area. Try their Kerner for a lesser-known dry white varietal, or their Blaufrankisch for a really chalky, light-bodied red. They also offer ciders which I've heard are excellent.
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Left Foot Charley Winery
806 Red DrI would rank this among the best wineries in the Grand Traverse/Leelanau county area. Try their Kerner for a lesser-known dry white varietal, or their Blaufrankisch for a really chalky, light-bodied red. They also offer ciders which I've heard are excellent.
Situated on the west side of south Lake Leelanau, this winery offers delicious wines and a great view of the bay to boot.
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Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery
6530 S Lake Shore DrSituated on the west side of south Lake Leelanau, this winery offers delicious wines and a great view of the bay to boot.
While I can't speak to their ciders, if it's views you're after you can't do much better than this hillside cidery south of Suttons Bay.
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Suttons Bay Ciders
10530 E Hilltop RdWhile I can't speak to their ciders, if it's views you're after you can't do much better than this hillside cidery south of Suttons Bay.
Great mom-and-pop microbrewery in the commons in Traverse City. Usually serving unique seasonal brews including multiple varieties of IPAs.
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Earthen Ales
1371 Gray DrGreat mom-and-pop microbrewery in the commons in Traverse City. Usually serving unique seasonal brews including multiple varieties of IPAs.
Hop Lot is a great local brewery with plentiful outdoor space and a simple but well-executed food menu with BBQ, Burgers, and the like. This place is typically mobbed in the summer.
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Hop Lot Brewing Company
658 S W Bay Shore DrHop Lot is a great local brewery with plentiful outdoor space and a simple but well-executed food menu with BBQ, Burgers, and the like. This place is typically mobbed in the summer.
The Ridge at Verterra
Great local winery offering some unique varietals.
Beaches
Beautiful and accessible, this is one of the locals' favorite beaches. If you make a left at the end of the road, you'll find a nice spot with wide sandy beaches right off Shalda Creek.
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Bohemian Road Beach Good Harbor Bay
Beautiful and accessible, this is one of the locals' favorite beaches. If you make a left at the end of the road, you'll find a nice spot with wide sandy beaches right off Shalda Creek.
Another nice sandy beach on Good Harbor Bay. Really you can just cast a stone and find a beautiful beach up here.
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Good Harbor Bay Beach
Good Harbor Bay TrailAnother nice sandy beach on Good Harbor Bay. Really you can just cast a stone and find a beautiful beach up here.
Often deserted (or nearly) this is a really nice spot with some shade offered and wider than average beaches. For some reason not a lot of people know about this beach, which may be because it's a little off the beaten path.
Sleeping Bear Bay Beach
Often deserted (or nearly) this is a really nice spot with some shade offered and wider than average beaches. For some reason not a lot of people know about this beach, which may be because it's a little off the beaten path.