I’ve heard that a trip to Traverse City is lovely every season but winter. If you do find yourself Up North during the colder months, you should expect snow as well as beaches, forests, dunes, and plenty of local breweries and wineries. A road trip from Maryland also affords the opportunity to make a few other unique stops along the way.
There’s a gentleness in Michigan that you just can’t replicate.
Jennifer Granholm – former Governor
This 2020 trip was my second time to my husband’s home state and my first Thanksgiving away from home. We made our first in Cleveland, Ohio to see the village from Christmas movie classic, A Christmas Story. You can tour and stay overnight at Ralphie’s actual house, visit the Bumpus House and fire station, and take a look at the museum and gift shop across the street.
Arriving in Michigan, we were greeted by a snowstorm which somehow seemed perfectly fitting. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where sandy bluffs tower over Lake Michigan, was the highlight of this trip. We also made a great visit to historic Leland Fish Town, located on the Leelanau Peninsula, it is one of the only operating commercial fishing villages in Michigan and full of charm.
A stop at Bronner’s on the way back, the world’s largest Christmas store, helped get us in the holiday spirit. If you’re a Foo Fighters fan, the drive back home is a nice surprise in the tiny town of Warren, Ohio, birthplace of Dave Grohl, where the world’s largest drumsticks can be found in Dave Grohl Alley. I love it when towns find reasons to get you to pull off the freeway.
Many restaurants and businesses were shut down because of the pandemic but we still had a Thanksgiving to remember with all four of our kids.
4-Day Travel Itinerary With Kids
| Day | To | From | Mode | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Trip Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Wed | A Christmas Story House & Museum, Cleveland, OH | FredCo, MD (Home) | Car | 8:00AM | 1:00PM | A must-stop if you are A Christmas Story fan. You can stay overnight in the house, take a tour or visit the museum/gift shop across the street. |
| Sugar Beach Resort, Traverse City, MI | Cleveland, OH | Car | 2:00PM | 8:00PM | A great waterfront hotel along the sandy beach of Lake Michigan and about 10 minutes from downtown shopping. We booked the largest suite they had with a full kitchen so we could prepare Thanksgiving dinner. | |
| Cherry Republic Traverse City, MI | Sugar Beach Resort | Car | 10:00AM | 10:10AM | A must-stop because Traverse City is the cherry capital of the world! Traverse City produces 75% of the world’s tart cherries! | |
| Grand Traverse Pie Company, Traverse City, MI | Cherry Republic | Walk | 10:30AM | 10:40AM | A must-stop for a cherry pie on Thanksgiving, or any day of the week! | |
| 2 Thurs | Leland Fish Town Leland, MI | Traverse City, MI | Car | 10:00AM | 10:40AM | Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Fishtown still operates as one of the only working commercial fishing villages in the state. |
| 45 Parallel, Leland, MI | Leland Fish Town | Car | 12:00PM | 12:10PM | The 45th Parallel is a circle of latitude that runs around the earth. It is the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. You can find it just outside of Leland on the way back to Traverse City. | |
| Biggby Coffee Traverse City, MI | Leland, MI | Car | 12:15PM | 12:45PM | My husband always has to make a stop for Biggby Coffee when we’re in Michigan. | |
| 3 Fri | Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Traverse City, MI | Car | 11:00AM | 11:35AM | A must-stop when you find yourself Up North. |
| 4 Sat | Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, MI | Traverse City, MI | Car | 8:00AM | 10:45AM | A must stop at the world’s largest Christmas store. |
| Dave Grohl Alley, Warren, OH | Frankenmuth, MI | Car | 12:00PM | 4:15PM | Home to the world’s largest drumsticks! Off the beaten path stop for fans of the Foo Fighters or Nirvana. Also a great place to stretch after a long car ride. | |
| Home (FredCo, MD) | Warren, OH | Car | 5:00PM | 9:30PM |
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