One big reason to Visit Up North- Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Bay is located off Lake Michigan in Northern Michigan. The bay is 32 miles long, 10 miles wide, and up to 620 feet deep in spots. It is divided into two arms by the Old Mission Peninsula which is divided into East and West Grand Traverse Bay.

Traverse City is situated at the south end of the bay where the Boardman River empties into the west arm. Cherry orchards line the bay region, giving rise to Traverse City’s claim to be the Cherry Capital of the World. Several nationally known companies offer cherry-based products made with Northern Michigan tart cherries including Traverse Bay Farms, Cherry Central, Fruit Advantage, American Spoon and Cherry Republic.

The East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay from the east, with the Old Mission Peninsula in the background. Hills of the Leelanau Peninsula are faintly visible on the horizon.The Grand Traverse Bay includes several important smaller bays: Northport Bay, Suttons Bay, Omena Bay, Bowers Harbor, and Old Mission Bay. Northport Bay, located at the northwest corner of Grand Traverse Bay is about 10 miles (16 km) long and 4 miles (6.4 km) wide. Northport Bay open to the east, except inside the arms at each end, with the Leelanau Peninsula on the West side. There are several shoals in Northport Bay marked by buoys. Bellows Island, a low gravel island covered by shrubs and located near the middle of Northport Bay, is owned by the Nature Conservancy; it is primarily known as a bird rookery, and is sometimes locally called Gull Island.

Besides cherries, the surrounding countryside produces grapes and is one of the centers of the Michigan wine industry. Known for its shimmering blue water and golden sand beaches, the Grand Traverse Bay region is a popular vacation destination.

Come for the adventure and stay for the beauty of this amazing area in Northern Michigan. Need a place to stay? Visit Up North Vacation Rentals offers many homes cottages and condos in every price range. Check us out at www.visitupnorth.com or give us a call at 800-901-8922.