Episode Details

Episode 211 of Travel Is Back takes you to Traverse City and the iconic Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan, where cherries, shoreline views, and small-town charm collide. We explore why Traverse City is called the Cherry Capital, savor local cherry pie and farm-to-table dining, and sip Rieslings at Old Mission Peninsula wineries. Highlights include cherry orchards and the annual Cherry Festival, the sweeping overlooks along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the climb and shoreline at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the scenic M-22 coastal drive, and the lively downtown Front Street with breweries and shops. Travel tips cover the best seasons to visit (summer for beaches, fall for colors), arriving through Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), booking summer accommodation early, parking and shuttle advice for dune access, and what to pack for wind and sun on the dunes. We also touch on landmarks like Grand Traverse Bay and nearby lighthouses, plus food recommendations from pie to lakeside seafood. This episode was prepared with the assistance of AI tools, giving us more time to travel and bring you even more destinations. Travel Is Back -- over 200 episodes covering destinations across America and beyond.

Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.