Traverse City for First-Timers
12 stops · about 6 hours · Updated October 12, 2026
For a first visit to Traverse City, MI, start with food, then make time for parks and the shops on East Front Street. Charles & Reid Detroit Pizza serves deep dish slices, salad, beer, and wine in an easygoing setting. Forrest, A Food Studio combines a natural wine shop with a cozy eatery, while Modern Bird brings seasonal American cooking and local produce to a historic building.
Drinks take several forms here: Oakwood Proper Burgers pairs its burgers and fries with an onsite bar, Nolan’s Cigar Bar offers staff-assisted cigar and drink pairings for guests 21 and older, and The Stillhouse offers whiskey cocktails and distillery tours.
Between meals, Campbell Community Playground has slides and swings, Hannah Park welcomes picnics, children, and dogs, and F and M Park adds a basketball court and seasonal skating rink. For something to take home, the East Front Street stops cover running and walking shoes at Fleet Feet, footwear and clothing at Backcountry North, and men’s denim, tops, shoes, and accessories at Glik’s Men's. Plan ahead for Forrest, where reservations are required, and Modern Bird, where they are recommended.
Eat here first
anytime
Stop 1
Charles & Reid Detroit Pizza
4.9(1026)Traverse City
Charles & Reid Detroit Pizza anchors a first meal with deep dish slices, salad, beer, and wine in an easygoing setting.
Stop 2
Forrest, A Food Studio
5.0(73)Traverse City
Forrest, A Food Studio combines a natural wine shop and cozy eatery with table service, cocktails, coffee, dessert, and an onsite bar.
Stop 3
Modern Bird
4.8(325)Traverse City
Modern Bird brings seasonal American cooking, local produce, craft cocktails, and vegetarian options to a historic building led by chefs Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart.
Have a drink
evening
Stop 4
Oakwood Proper Burgers
4.9(1567)Traverse City
Oakwood Proper Burgers pairs burgers and fries with an onsite bar, happy-hour drinks, a fireplace, and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome.
Stop 5
Nolan's Cigar Bar
4.9(596)Traverse City
Nolan’s Cigar Bar combines premium cigars offered since 1978 with craft cocktails, whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, and staff-assisted cigar and drink pairings.
Stop 6
Traverse City Whiskey Co. - The Stillhouse
4.8(832)Traverse City
The Stillhouse offers craft distillery tours and artisanal whiskey cocktails in a rustic space with a patio and wheelchair-accessible entrance and seating.
See something
anytime
Stop 7
Campbell Community Playground
4.9(53)Traverse City
Campbell Community Playground provides slides and swings for a play stop, plus a public restroom and wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking, and restroom.
Stop 8
Hannah Park
4.8(38)Traverse City
Hannah Park earns a place for picnics on Sixth Street, with a setting that welcomes both children and dogs.
Stop 9
F and M Park
4.7(450)Traverse City
F and M Park combines a train-themed play area, basketball court, picnic tables, and barbecue grill with a seasonal skating rink.
Take something home
anytime
Stop 10
Fleet Feet Traverse City Downtown
4.8(203)Traverse City
Fleet Feet focuses on running and walking shoes, with staff using FitID technology to help customers select footwear and pickup options available.
Stop 11
Backcountry North
4.6(110)Traverse City
Backcountry North is a women-owned small business offering footwear and men’s and women’s clothing, with curbside pickup and a wheelchair-accessible entrance.
Stop 12
Glik's Men's
5.0(1)Traverse City
Glik’s Men's brings men’s clothing, shoes, denim, tops, and accessories together in a family-owned store with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking.
