A Postcard from Traverse City, Michigan
Driving past the flowering cherry trees, we felt we had found the sweetest place possible. Then we came back for skiing, and knew a second home here was just what we needed to create a sustainable vacation for years to come.
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Traverse City Property Listings
About Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is the number one tourist destination of Michigan with its unsurpassed beauty and countless activities. Listed as one of the top ten places to live by Outside magazine, Traverse City features over 250 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with many inland rivers and freshwater dunes that are surrounded by mountainous peaks, verdant meadows and hardwood forests.
It is also home to the finest Midwest skiing, fishing and championship golfing. Located in the northwest corner of Michigan's lower peninsula, there is a large selection of Michigan's finest vacation homes, rentals and lake vacation resorts. Outdoor activities run all season long, from summer festivals, to the beauty of fall, a snowy winter, and crisp, fresh spring. Calling itself the Cherry Capital of the world, Traverse City has incredible beauty in the spring.
Local History
The area was settled by Native American Indians around 1400. The French controlled the area in the 100's, the British in the 1700s and the first US pioneers and missionaries arrived in the 1800s. Lumber was the big industry, which stripped the land, clearing the way for the cherry trees and golf courses.
An Average Lifestyle in Traverse City, Michigan
The lifestyle of a place often evolves from its roots, and since farming was a big part of the area, you still feel the influence. People love the land, and still enjoy living out on big spaces if they can. There is a somewhat conservative tone to the area, lightened up by the presence of the university. The place has a youthful, active feel to it.
Housing:
There are definitely two locations in Traverse City: the suburbs and downtown. The good news is that developers are embracing New Urbanism downtown, increasing the ability to live, work and play without driving. In terms of sales, from 2003 through March 2006, the average number of days on the market for homes downtown versus outlying areas was always less. Sometimes comparative homes downtown sold 67 percent faster than their country counterparts.
Downtown isn't cheap. New condos are in the mid $300K mark.
Options: Single family homes, condos, senior living, mobile homes
Things to Do in Traverse City
- Fishing
- Golf
- Skiing
- Cherry Festival
- Hiking/biking
- Swimming
- Canoeing
- Downhill Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- X-Country Skiing
- Beaches
- Sightseeing
- Gambling
Cultural Activities in Traverse City
- National Cherry Festival
- Visit over nine art galleries
- Old Town Playhouse Theater
- Traverse Symphony Orchestra
- Concerts
- Wine tours
Near-By Excursions
Location: On Lake Michigan
Elevation: 599
Size: 8.4
Distance to other major cities:
Grand Rapids, Mi: 124
Milwaukee, Wi: 199
Chicago: 249
Getting To Traverse City, Michigan:
Fly to Cherry Capital Airport or Pellston Regional Airport
Weather: Four distinct seasons
Annual Average Temperature: High in July of 81; low in January of between 11 and -12
Annual Average Snowfall: Lots! 125-145 inches
Economics and Demographics
Population: City: 15,155; Grand Traverse County: 83,000
Growth Rate: 8.1%
Median Age, 2000: 38.1
Median Household Income: $37,330
Principle Industries: Tourism, Services, agriculture (cherries)
Higher Education
Northwestern Michigan College
More information
Traverse City Info