Winter Activities in Traverse City
The holidays are over and it’s starting to feel like the sun only makes a rare appearance a few times a month. Not to mention the days are so short it seems like there’s no time to do anything. It would be easy to let the seasonal depression take over and the months pass by, but in our opinion, there’s so much you can still do out and about, you just need the right clothes! Welcome to our Winter Guide to Traverse City!
Winter Events:
Suds & Snow - Once a year you can join locals for a fun afternoon of food, drinks & winter festivities in the woods behind Timber Ridge. With live music & a ton of booze, this 21+ event is one you don’t want to miss!
Vine to Wine Tour - Held on Saturdays throughout the winter, join Grand Traverse Bike Tours for a guided snowshoe to 3 wineries! Snowshoe rentals & lunch are included, and there are two route lengths to choose from based on what you’re looking for!
Winterlochen - Once a year, Interlochen hosts their annual winter festival. This family friendly event features wacky outdoor activities like human snow bowling & frozen fish toss… the best part? It’s free!
Skiing / Snowboarding:
Hit the Slopes - Just because we don’t have mountains like Colorado doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time on the slopes! If you’re looking for something close to town, Mt. Holiday & Hickory Hills both offer fun runs for a very low price. If you’re looking for something a bit bigger, Crystal Mountain & Boyne Mountain are just a short drive away!
Cross Country Skiing - If cross country skiing is more up your alley, you have to check out the Vasa! With groomed loops from 3k - 25k long, there’s something for every experience level.
Ice Skating:
Indoor Rinks - Traverse City has two indoor ice rinks, Howe Ice Arena & Centre Ice. Both offer open skate sessions throughout the year along with equipment rentals!
Outdoor Rinks - The city also opens two outdoor ice rinks in the winter months (mid Jan - March). One in F&M park and the other at Thirlby Field. If you’re venturing to Sutton’s Bay we’d recommend checking out their outdoor rink as well. While they don’t offer skate rental they do have tons of free hockey sticks & pucks to mess around with!
Skate the Lake - Lake Michigan & Grand Traverse Bay rarely freeze over enough to skate on, but there are tons of other inland lakes around the area that do freeze enough to be able to enjoy this activity! Make sure the ice is at least 5” thick before standing on it, and have fun enjoying what Michigan has to offer!
Downtown Traverse City
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons - State hospital turned shopping plaza, the Grand Traverse Commons offers tons of cute shops and restaurants all indoors. Tour the tunnels if you’re interested in learning more about the history!
See a Movie - Both the State Theatre & Bijou by the Bay offer select movies throughout the winter. After grabbing dinner at your favorite spot, enjoy the ambiance at one of these cozy theatres!
Take an Art Class - If you’re feeling artsy, there are tons of classes you can take around TC! Handz on Art allows you to paint your own pottery, or if you’re interested in painting decor for your home, check out Board & Brush or Hang Workshop!