Best Places to Stay in Traverse City for Couples (Downtown Vs. Waterfront)

The blend of natural countryside and sophisticated city life makes Traverse City one of our nation’s top vacation destinations for couples.

Romantic Setting with Waterfront Views and Small-Town Charm

Enjoy the romantic side of Traverse City while walking hand in hand along the Boardman River Boardwalk, with the water flowing quietly on either side of the boardwalk. Quiet, peaceful, and offering shaded areas with trees that turn vibrant colors in the fall, this is just one of the areas that showcase the small-town charm that will make you fall in love.

Year-Round Activities for Couples’ Getaways

Traverse City is a town that experiences all four seasons, but there are things you can experience year-round during your couple’s getaway, including a visit to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Today, a community space, the historic buildings that are now filled with shops and restaurants were once a state asylum, offering a unique perspective on your wanderings. We understand how unusual this transformation is, and The Village even offers tours that highlight its unique past.

• Guided Historic Walking Tour – Lasting 2 hours, this tour delves into the history of the Village and its transformation.

• Asylum Twilight Tour – This evening adventure lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours, taking visitors through the halls and rooms of the asylum. It’s the closest thing The Village offers to a Ghost Tour and is quite fascinating.

• Taste of The Village Tour – This tour explores the history of The Village and includes stops in neighborhood breweries and wineries.

While the tourists in Traverse City are exploring new activities in the city, you will find plenty of locals relaxing at the beach. Traverse City is situated right on the edge of Lake Michigan, where you can find one of the biggest lakes in the world right in front of you. The lake is so big that you will feel like you are standing on the shore of an ocean and not a lake. There are several spots in the area where you will find locals hanging out by the water. Clinch Park is one such place that is the perfect combination of lakeshore and park. Clinch Park is often the area’s most popular beach with over 1,500 feet of beautiful sand. Set up a spot where you can soak up the sunshine or jump into the water so you can cool off and splash around. Clinch Park has everything that your family will want to stay entertained. The park features a splash pad for the little ones, and there are concession stands to help keep the hunger away, allowing you to stay in the area longer. You will also find picnic tables, playground equipment, restrooms, and more. There is no better spot for a little time by the beach.

Variety of Cozy and Luxury Vacation Rentals

The variety of cozy and luxury vacation rentals we offer at Elevated Stays is, of course, our favorite part of Traverse City, and we suspect it will be yours as well. Cozy condos, luxurious cabins, and charming bungalows are available in our beautiful hometown, and all welcome guests with warmth and style. The only question you may have is whether you would prefer to stay in the vibrant, bustling downtown area or in the waterfront areas, where privacy and seclusion are more readily available. We’ll break that down for you, too.

City life, no matter the city, is known for offering everything you want to see or do within walking distance. Traverse City is no exception.

Easy Access to Restaurants, Wine Bars, and Shopping

Your Elevated Stays retreat does offer a fully equipped kitchen, but the restaurants of downtown, including Modern Bird, are so appealing you won’t be able to resist their charms. Modern Bird, a chef-driven restaurant focused on farm-to-table goodness, offers a menu of healthy dishes that taste great. Its casual vibe, outdoor patio, and elevated menu options will offer a romantic dining experience. We recommend splurging and trying their 14-day-aged striploin.

• Address: 541 W Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684

• Hours: 5 PM to 9 PM Tuesday-Saturday

• Menu

Napa Valley isn’t the only wine country in the US, and the wines sampled at Left Foot Charley deserve to be celebrated. Located inside The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, this wonderful spot offers tastings in its barrel room or out on its lovely garden terrace. The grapes are local, and the wines are made in-house, and every sip will be your favorite! If you fall in love with a specific bottle, their online shop ships to all states that allow alcohol shipping.

• Address: 806 Red Dr Ste 100, Traverse City, MI 49684

• Hours: 12 PM to 7 PM Tuesday-Saturday

• 12 PM to 6 PM Sunday-Monday

Ideal for Couples Who Want a Vibrant Atmosphere

Traverse City is a town of contrasts, and the downtown area reflects that to perfection. Bustling but laidback. Sophisticated yet relaxed. Trendy yet historic. All these phrases describe the downtown area perfectly, and couples who aren’t locked into one specific vibe will appreciate the vibrant atmosphere it exudes.

Types of Vacation Rentals Available in Downtown

Are you starting to like what you hear about downtown Traverse City? Wait until you walk through our Elevated Stays downtown rentals; you will never want to leave! Cozy and sophisticated, warm and modern, relaxing and on trend. Yes, there are more contrasts in our downtown condos and other rentals!

Now, let’s take a few minutes to walk through our waterfront and bay view rentals and see if you don’t fall in love with these spaces as well. We may be making your final choice a little harder to pin down, but isn’t it nice to know there's no wrong choice with Elevated Stays?

Wake Up to Views of Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Bay is actually an arm of Lake Michigan, a fact that surprises many people. The arm splits into two, divided by the Old Mission Peninsula, and the waters are a major influence on our climate. If your rental offers views of Grand Traverse Bay, you may wake up to clear waters, breathtaking sunrises, and graceful boats sailing across its calm surface on sunny days.

Direct Access to Beaches and Outdoor Activities

Our retreats will provide direct access to the bay's beaches (6 in total) and all the outdoor activities you expect from lakefront beaches. Clinch Park Beach, on the west side of Grand Traverse Bay, is a popular spot in downtown Traverse City, where you might participate in activities such as kayaking or sunning yourself on its 1,500 feet of sandy beach. East Bay Park (on the east side of Grand Traverse Bay) is a beautiful, family-friendly beach, offering shallower waters, a playground, and shaded picnic areas.

Best Rental Types for a Peaceful Stay

Waterfront rentals are known to offer the peace and serenity that accompany any large body of water.

You remember the Old Mission Peninsula and how it cuts Traverse Bay in two? It is also where wine country meets waterfront living, accenting your Michigan vacation experience.

Staying Close to Traverse City’s Top Wineries

We know quite a few people who are happiest near a winery, and if you are one of them, we offer rentals near wineries as well! Hawthorne Vineyards is perhaps the best-known winery on the Old Mission Peninsula, offering impressive lake views and a tasting room that will be your newest obsession. One of our favorite things about this wonderful winery is knowing that the views of water, wooded areas, and vineyards will never change. It is protected land here, and that makes us happy.

• Address: 1000 Camino Maria Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686

• Hours: 11 AM to 7 PM (6 PM Sunday)

• Make a Reservation

Ideal for Couples Planning Wine Tasting Trips

The Traverse City area is home to over 40 wineries and tasting rooms, making it the ideal getaway for a couple’s wine tasting trip. The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail leads guests to 10 different wineries in the area, including Chateau Grand Traverse and Chateau Chantal Winery. Each winery on the wine trail is close to the next, enabling “explorers” to visit all 10 in one day. A designated driver is recommended.

If you want to drink freely without worry, the Magic Shuttle offers both public and private wine trail tours. We especially love this company’s affordability.

• Address: 10850 E Traverse Hwy Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI 49684

• Phone: (231) 492-6144

• Book Your Tour

Benefits of Booking a Nearby Vacation Rental

We don’t know about you, but when we spend a day drinking, we find ourselves ready to crawl into bed quite quickly. Choosing one of our Elevated Stays rentals near the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail will enable you to be home and in bed almost as soon as you are ready to be!

You are probably already starting to see the differences between the downtown and waterfront areas, but sometimes seeing it in plain words makes the choice easier.

Lively Vs. Relaxed Travel Styles

Guests who prefer to be where the action is and enjoy knowing that the best restaurants and bars are generally within walking distance will be happiest in our downtown rentals. With a sophisticated style that matches the area's vibe, we promise you won’t be disappointed if you choose this option.

However, if you are the type of couple who likes to take things easy, who prefers a good hike to a stroll through town, the waterfront is where you might want to stay. Calm, private, and so very peaceful, life on the water is wonderful.

Proximity to Attractions Vs. Privacy and Space

As discussed previously, our downtown rentals offer close proximity to local attractions, enabling visitors to step out their front door and be at the Coin Slot, for example, after a brief walk. What is the Coin Slot, you ask? It’s a secret local hangout, known for its chill vibe, full bar (over 200 rotating cans), and its selection of vintage arcade, pinball, and other games.

If it’s privacy and perhaps a tad more space you are interested in, however, choosing a waterfront rental may offer all that you need to enjoy a romantic couple’s getaway. Offering stunning views of Traverse City’s most popular landmark, Grand Traverse Bay, our rentals promise peace and serenity, as well as privacy and space.

Budget Considerations and Rental Types

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to worry about a budget, but you work hard for your money, and your vacation budget is very important to the success of your getaway. We offer rentals that are sure to fit into almost every budget and travel style.

Our city condos are cozy yet spacious, reasonably priced, and decorated with modern style. Our waterfront cabins offer a quirky vibe, more rooms, and often come with fire pits surrounded by chairs in the backyard. Also reasonably priced, they may cost more than the condos simply because they are larger.

Balconies, Views, and Outdoor Spaces

The balconies and views are self-explanatory, but we can’t forget to mention the outdoor spaces of our waterfront rentals. Here is where you will find fire pits, large decks with additional seating, and expansive yards with wooded areas, grassy spaces, and more.

Open Layouts and Comfortable Living Areas

Some rentals will offer not just living rooms, but family rooms, libraries, and even game rooms with more comfortable places to sit and relax.

Amenities That Elevate the Stay

Amenities make the difference, and in our properties, in the downtown area and on the waterfront, you will find all the important ones, plus some romantic extras. Fireplaces for warm and snuggly nights, deep tubs perfect for soaking away the aches and pains earned from romantic hikes, and premium beds that are rumored to be the most comfortable in the state of Michigan.

Spoiler alert. Every time of year is the best time to visit Traverse City, but some are better for specific activities. We’ve provided some examples below.

• Summer for Beaches and Outdoor Activities – Kayaking in Grand Traverse Bay, sunning yourself on the sandy beaches of Haserot Beach Park, and hiking along the Boardman Lake Trail are some wonderful summer activities.

• Fall for Wine and Scenic Foliage – Wine tasting is good any time of the year, but in the fall, sipping a fine red while enjoying cool weather and the fiery fall foliage of the trees that surround the wineries.

• Winter for Quiet Cozy Getaways – Snuggling in front of a roaring fire, sipping hot cocoa as the sun sets over the bay, and playing games in the game rooms of our Elevated Stays sanctuaries will keep you feeling cozy during a winter stay.

There will always be the age-old question of why a vacation rental is the way to go when traveling, but the list below should put any uncertainty to rest.

• More Space and Privacy Than Hotels

• Personalized Experiences and Home Comforts

• Prime Locations Near Key Attractions

Elevated Stays is proud to present the perfect couple’s rental for your couple’s getaway in Traverse City. We make it easy to find the property that best fits your relationship. Contact us to reserve your favorite retreat today!