A Weekend Away at the Grand Traverse Commons

When visiting Traverse City, the range of activities to experience is vast, with everything from fine dining to wine tastings to hiking (and more!) to enjoy. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin, especially when visiting the region for the first time.

While we love a weekend spent frolicking on the Sleeping Bear Dunes or tasting wine on Old Mission Peninsula, some getaways are better suited to a quiet weekend in one neighborhood, walking to local restaurants and sipping on wine in the sun. If you’re looking for a unique, slow way to savor Traverse City, consider a weekend spent at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Stay in one of our Roost North Rental condos onsite, and walk to restaurants, bars, shopping, and hiking trails.

Check out a recommended weekend itinerary below! It includes recommendations for a full weekend spent at the Grand Traverse Commons, but of course you could plan a day away at the beach or hiking the dunes before coming back to dine at the incredible restaurants within the Commons. Read on for ideas on how to spend your weekend in Traverse City!

A Weekend at the Grand Traverse Commons

Friday
3pm: check into your Roost North Rental
4pm: enjoy a walk around the grounds or play bocce ball in the Piazza
5pm: Happy hour @ Left Foot Charley’s Urban Wine Bar
7pm: Dinner @ Stella Trattoria; be sure to make a reservation!

Saturday
9am: get a coffee at Higher Grounds
9:30am: hike the wooded trails at the Commons to start your day
10:30am: brunch at Red Spire Brunch House
noon: wander the Mercato shops in the Commons (in the winter, check out the Saturday morning farmer’s market!)
2pm: take a guided walking tour of the former Traverse City State Hospital on the grounds of the commons (make your reservations here)
4pm: rest & refresh in your Roost North Rental
6pm: dinner at Pepenero
8pm: grab an after-dinner beer at Earthen Ales

Sunday
9am: breakfast at S2S Sugar 2 Salt
10am: do some final shopping in the Mercato
11am: grab a coffee and pastry for the road from Cuppa Joe’s

There is so much to explore at the Grand Traverse Commons, and we are happy to offer two vacation rentals in the historic Building 50 for you to call home during your stay. Whether you are coming for a romantic couples’ getaway, a work retreat, or vacation with your best friends, Roost North is happy to host you.

Settle in and enjoy some RNR.

A Winter Weekend at the A-frame

Northern Michigan is often regaled for its warm summer beaches and wooded campgrounds; a summer playground. And while summer in northern Michigan feels like paradise, the region’s beauty is prolific year-round.

Winter has a magic of its own, and winter recreation is abundant. From cross-country skiing to sipping beers in an igloo, tubing on snowy hills to listening to a live band play at a local dive bar, Traverse City in the winter might just be your new favorite.

One of our newest properties, the Roost A-Frame, shines in the winter. Nestled against a nature preserve and with easy access to area snowmobile trails, it’s the perfect spot to cozy up for a winter’s getaway.

The A-Frame is equipped with everything you’ll need for a comfy weekend, including kid’s toys and books, so bring the family! Head out the back door and you’ll find yourself on part of the Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve, a 200+ nature preserve that has beautifully wooded trails.

While tucked back in the woods, the A-Frame is just ten minutes from the quaint village of Lake Ann, where you’ll find a brewery that makes you feel right at home. Order a pizza or sandwich from the Stone Oven, and take it next door to the Lake Ann Brewery to enjoy with a locally brewed beer or house-made seltzer.

We hope to host you this year at Roost North, your home away from home no matter the season!