October 1, 2025 (Wed.) - Exploring Traverse City, MI.
Today marked our final day in South Boardman, MI, so we set out to explore Traverse City and make the most of it.
Lynn was up early at 7:00 AM, greeted by a stunning pink sunrise which looked like cotton candy! Kirk, true to form, missed the show and rolled out of bed around 10:30 AM. By 11:30, we were out the door in search of breakfast, which led us to Bob Evans in Traverse City—a reliable and satisfying start to the day.
Around 1 PM, we headed north on M-37, the scenic route to Old Mission Point, nestled between the East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay. We stopped at the Old General Store, wandered around the lighthouse, and attempted to walk out into the bay. Unfortunately, the shell-covered bottom was brutal on bare feet—definitely a reminder that water shoes are a must. We gave up on reaching the shallow sandbar and rocks, but the views were still worth it.
For weeks, we’ve been seeing local produce stands for various fruits and veggies. Kirk has been wanting apples and it seems like every time we’ve seen a stand, it was never a good time to stop to check it out. However, en-route while exploring, Kirk spotted a ‘Honey Crisp Apples’ sign. We quickly stopped and checked it out. It was an unmanned stand on the honor system. Money (cash only) gets dropped into a tube! Finally, Kirk got his fresh honey crisp apples and they were delicious!
By 3 PM, we were ready for a change of pace and decided to visit a winery. We were surprised to see so many grapevines along our route. The peninsula is dotted with vineyards, so we chose Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery. We sampled a trio of wines and their spiced hot apple cider, which was a standout. Lunch was a charcuterie board paired with wine, enjoyed on a patio overlooking rows of grapevines and the bay. The board was fantastic, and thanks to our server’s tip, we discovered that cheese and honey make a surprisingly delicious combo. We found a favorite—Cab/Merlot blend—and brought a bottle back with us.
On the way home, we made a spontaneous stop at Costco in Traverse City. What a pleasant surprise—no parking headaches, minimal crowds, and a smooth shopping experience. The only downside? We walked out $250 lighter, mostly in food, which Lynn now has to play fridge Tetris with to make it all fit. We also picked up some clothes and a set of “hotel” sheets.
We returned to the RV around 7:30 PM, tired but content after a full day of exploring.
Later that night, Lynn received more aurora alerts, though this time they came in the middle of the night. Tempting as it was, exhaustion won out. After seeing the northern lights three times already, she decided to stay cozy in bed. Still, it’s pretty amazing to have witnessed such a rare and beautiful phenomenon so many times in just a few short weeks.
Weather – High 73*, Low 50*. Winds 6-9 mph with gusts up to 23 mph. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery – very good.
Notable – Old Mission Point/Lighthouse, Brys Winery, 45th Parallel.
