EXPLORING OLD MISSION PENINSULA MICHIGAN

Nothing beats fall in Northern Michigan (although I am tempted to argue that all seasons there are equally amazing). Right now the leaves are at their peak color and the temperature is dipping low enough to feel like winter is close but not cold enough to keep you inside.

I’ve been lucky to spend a good deal of time up in the Traverse City area this fall and one of the best ways to spend the day is exploring Old Mission Peninsula. Old Mission Peninsula is a 19-mile stretch of land that divides the Grand Traverse Bay up in Northern Michigan. The peninsula is full of restaurants, wineries and stunning views of tropical looking turquoise waters. I’m always blown away by the views no matter how many times I visit.

On our recent trip, we started our day by checking out Bryant Park, a playground right at the base of the peninsula. We figured we would be spending quite a bit of time in the car so we should let our three year-old get some wiggles out ahead of time.

We were pleasantly surprised by the park! It has a beautiful view of the water, it was clean, had a lot of playground equipment we have never seen before and most importantly in these current-covid times, it was empty. We played here for a while before hitting the road and heading north.

One of my favorite things about this area is all the roadside farm and flower stands. We pulled over at several of them to grab pumpkins, fruit and just take in the local scenery. This photogenic little stand from Local Yokels Farm was one of my favorites and we were able to buy tons of pumpkins for under $10.

Keep heading north until you dead-end at the Mission Point Lighthouse park. The Mission Point Lighthouse is only a few hundred yards from the 45th parallel, meaning it’s halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. The unique location and maritime climate make for a vibrant wine-growing community in the area (you’ll pass dozens of wineries as you do this drive).

There’s a little parking lot by the lighthouse and then you can stroll down to the beach. Sometimes it gets a little crowded right by the parking lot and entrance (I was happy to see that the majority of people were masked) but as soon as you pass the lighthouse and walk on the beach it’ll be empty. Head north a few hundred feet and you’ll find the cutest little swing. Because the water is so high this year the swing is almost right at the water’s edge which makes it super fun for littles. Hang out here for a while and then jump back in your car and head for the Mission Peninsula General Store, the cutest little shop full of candies, baked goods and a random assortment of stuff to snack on.

Once you hit up the general store you can leisurely make your way south again. We took lots of little roads and dead-ends to enjoy the views. Overall it’s really a perfect way to spend an hour or two, or stop by some of the wineries and restaurants and make a full day of it.