3 Best Sights in Traverse City, Michigan

Visual and performing-arts exhibits here range from historical art to contemporary works by artists of statewide, national, and international stature. The museum's Power Family Inuit Gallery, a permanent display of sculptures, prints (including stonecut and chine-collé), tapestries, and drawings by the Inuit artists of the Canadian Arctic, is among the largest and most historically complete collection anywhere. An outdoor sculpture garden features works by Michigan artists. Also at the museum are a hands-on children's gallery—the Thomas A. Rutkowski Discovery Gallery—a movie theater showing Thursday-night films, periodic performances in the Milliken Auditorium, and an impressive gift shop.

One of Michigan's few remaining stands of virgin pine is protected in this 187-acre state park, adjacent to the esteemed Interlochen Center for the Arts, and 15 miles southwest of Traverse City. Snug between Green Lake and Duck Lake, it also has picnic areas, a campground, and activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing, while the mile-long Interlochen-Pines Nature Trail is suited for hiking and cross-country skiing. Established in 1917, the park was Michigan's first state park.

A replica of the tall ships that once traveled along Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay during the 1800s, Schooner Manitou is 114 feet tall and one of the largest tall ships currently operating on the Great Lakes. Activities on the 59-passenger ship include daily two-hour sails (at noon, and in the afternoon and evening) and a unique, floating, bed-and-breakfast concept with room for 24 guests (in 12 cabins) and including a full breakfast. The evening sail includes a picnic dinner. During September, multiday windjammer sails are offered.