There is no better way to have a summer vacation than a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For us, that meant making the 4 ½ drive North to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Michigan. This was our first visit to the 900 acre resort and I can honestly say that it will not be our last. Located in one of the most beautiful regions of Michigan, this resort gave us the opportunity to play and relax and that is just what we needed!
As we made our way into town, we could see the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa’s glass tower in the distance. Surrounded by well-manicured grounds and championship golf courses, the size of the resort took our breath away. Not only were we excited about seeing the resort for the first time, we also could not wait to get out of the car, stretch our legs and check in to our room. Resort check-in was a breeze and we were given information about activities and amenities at the resort. The lobby area was beautiful, with many places to sit and relax, a bar, fireplace, water fountain feature, and quick access to the gallery of shops. This was going to be a wonderful place to stay!
I was so pleased to find our accommodations to be very spacious, with enough room for the four of us to be comfortable and a spectacular view of Grand Traverse Bay. I was excited to find, in our large bathroom, a huge garden-style tub with jets. There was ample counter space, a small refrigerator and wet bar area that was perfect for traveling with the kids. I had a place to keep Liam’s chocolate milk and Ryan’s bottled water cold. (These two boys have to have their favorite drinks on hand!) Once we unpacked, it was time to explore the resort.
First, we hit the gallery of shops located on the lobby level of the resort. Cute boutiques with children’s items, resort apparel, and more lined the hallways. Our favorite find was Dylan’s Candy Bar! Sweet treats everywhere, from bulk candies to ice cream made fresh every day. The boys enjoyed Dylan’s on a number of occasions during our stay, and Mom and Dad didn’t mind the free samples of the different ice cream flavors. Yum!
I knew it wouldn’t be long until the boys asked to hit the pool and hit it we did! I think we spent more time at the indoor water playground than we did anywhere else and it was quickly deemed their favorite part of the resort. With two swimming pools, hot tubs, an interactive water play area, a water slide and more, my boys were smiling ear to ear. Despite the fantastic weather outdoors, I could not drag my kids away from the climbing nets and waterslide. There are many water options for families (i.e., outdoor pool or private beach house located on the Grand Traverse Bay) but my kids were sold on the indoor slide so that is where we swam and splashed for three days.
After our first evening in the pool area, we were invited to dine in Aerie. This spectacular restaurant occupies the 16th floor of the glass tower with stunning views of the resort grounds and Grand Traverse Bay. If the views don’t make this a top-notch location, the food will. The crab cake appetizer with blueberry pineapple salsa was, by far, the best we have ever had. If you ask Liam, the 14oz New York Strip was a perfect choice. There were many food choices, making it easy for all of us to find something we wanted. I absolutely recommend the Salmon with Hazelnut Miso and Ryan, well, he loved the chicken fingers. We were so grateful to have a find dining experience were we could unwind over a delicious meal as a family. I cannot say enough about the service. The people at Aerie were so accommodating to our boys needs and made us feel welcome. It was a highlight of our entire trip!
During our stay, we also enjoyed the breakfast at Sweetwater American Bistro and ordered a yummy pizza from Jack’s Sports Bar, which we shared in our room while we watched the NBA finals. It was great to have a few meal options when we didn’t feel like heading out. My husband and I were please to find that we could even get our morning Starbucks right inside the resort.
One of my favorite locations within the Grand Traverse Resort was the 7,000 sq.ft. Spa Grand Traverse. I could not wait to wake up the first morning and head down to visit the spa. I was greeted warmly by spa manager, Dawn Olsen, and provided a tour of the spa facilities. The atmosphere was complete relaxation, with comfortable spaces to unwind. A stone fireplace surrounded by loungers, cool beverages and homemade granola awaits guests who can choose from a comprehensive menu of luxurious spa treatments. I opted for the 50 minute Bamboo Massage and let me just say, it was magnificent. After my treatment, I was able to utilize the sauna and showers before heading back to my room. It was a stellar way to start my day. Next time, I may have to have my hair and nails done as well.
If you are looking for more, the resort offers a 100,000 sq. ft. Health Club with something for everyone. Tee time or spa appointment? Choose from in-room babysitting, The Cub House licensed childcare facility and Camp Traverse during the summer for ages 6-12 can keep your children safe, happy and busy. We opted to visit some of the local wineries so Ryan and Liam spent a day at Camp Traverse. Here they made friends, learned Karate, played games, swam and made t-shirts. They boys had so much fun in camp they still can’t stop talking about doing it again. Jeremy, their camp counselor, did a wonderful job of explaining the process to us so that we felt comfortable having them stay, as well as took care of making sure they had their sunscreen on and had a blast. When we almost forgot to pick up the t-shirts they made, Jeremy tracked them down for us. The boys felt special and that made us extremely happy. Besides the children’s portion of the health club, here you will find indoor tennis courts and fitness facilities, with classes and lessons being offered.
While the boys were having fun at Camp Traverse, my husband and I ventured over to the Old Mission peninsula to visit some of the local wineries, specifically our favorite one, Bowers Harbor Vineyard. Bowers Harbor is a boutique winery that won my heart years ago. We love the place so much that when we moved from Michigan to Florida we arranged to have our wines shipped to us. Now that we have moved back, we could not wait to head back and see how things had changed in the last four years. We were excited to see familiar faces, including their furry greeter, Brix, a Bernese Mountain Dog who strolls the grounds and is the face of the absolutely delicious bubby that bears his name. The tasting room is comfortable and spacious, with a beautiful view of the bay and spectacular wines. We spent time tasting and chatting with Kristy, who had been our email winery contact for years and introduced us to their newest addition, Hard Ciders. It was so nice to spend time on the patio and relax, knowing the kids were enjoying their “kid time” while we enjoyed our “grown up time”. A trip to the Traverse City area is not complete without a stop at Bowers Harbor Vineyard.
Once we checked out of the resort, we headed west to visit a few more spots. I figured since we were already up there, why not! First, we stopped in Traverse City at Moomers, the popular, family owned dairy farm to have some homemade ice cream. After some delicious ice cream, we headed over to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Just a short 45 minute drive away from the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore which was named the “Most Beautiful Place in America” on ABC’s Good Morning America. With its 64 miles of beaches and more than 50,000 acres of land, it is a Northern Michigan must do! After a quick stop at the visitor’s center in Empire to purchase our pass (only $10 for a 7 day pass) and learn more about the dunes, we headed to the scenic loop. It was a wonderful drive where we stopped at various points to soak in the views, including the Lake Michigan overlook where you can walk out onto an observation deck and stand more than 400 feet above the lake. The view was majestic and intimidating and beautiful. I was a little, well, a lot, scared of how high it was, but I am so glad I walked out there. It was a magnificent sight!
The scenic drive was fun, but the boys were itching to get down to the lake and get wet. We headed south of Empire to find a secluded stretch of beach that came highly recommended. While it was far off the road, the beach at Esch Road was well worth it. When we stepped onto the sand it felt like we were in another land, with the dunes in the background and the ripple of Otter Creek flowing into Lake Michigan. We spent hours enjoying the clear waters of Lake Michigan, with only three other families on the beach the entire time we were there. Despite the cold water temperatures, we managed to splash around and collect colorful rocks. It was a beautiful end to a fantastic getaway. We were almost too relaxed to make the drive home!
While we loved our two night media review stay at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and the time we visited the area, we could easily have stayed a week and not run out of things to do or opportunities to relax. The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is the perfect place for families and couples to get away and enjoy Northern Michigan. The only disappointment is that we ran out of time to explore. We can’t wait to go back!
Visit the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa website at http://www.grandtraverseresort.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GrandTraverseResort
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GTResort
Disclosure: As a contributing columnist for Mami of Multiples, Kamy Moss, was on a media review trip of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, however, opinions expressed here are clearly her own.
Kamy Moss, Family Living Contributor & Central Florida Family and Travel Contributing Columnist
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The resort looks wonderful. We have extended family in Iowa and Michigan so we will be checking it out. Thanks for sharing!