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TRAVERSE CITY – The annual May blossoming of the cherry trees in Traverse City is one of America’s most impressive floral displays. Ironically, it’s a show that few outsiders ever see.

There’s no denying the spectacle itself: 2.6 million blooming cherry trees climbing the steep glacial ridges like battalions of tidy white clouds, their soft lines contrasting with bright new grass, acres of yellow dandelions and the cobalt blue waters of Grand Traverse Bay. But because it takes place in May, several weeks before the start of the formal tourist season, the sight is only witnessed by those who already know what’s in store for them.

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TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Every spring, the forested hills around Grand Traverse Bay begin to fill up with crowds of eager, determined hunters. But none of them have guns.

Most, armed with mesh bags and long sticks, are searching for morel mushrooms – the culinary Holy Grail of the northern woodlands, which attracts literally thousands of gourmands to this area each May. But for others, the quest is more aesthetic: they’re on the lookout for “spring ephemerals” – shy plants that grow, bloom and disappear for a few brief weeks between the end of winter and the start of summer.

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TRAVERSE CITY – Its flavor is indescribable, a delicate spring nuttiness with a firm texture that has been compared to rare prime rib. Sautéed in butter with a pinch of garlic and perhaps a hint of lemon, it’s one of the world’s great taste experiences.

It’s the wild morel, a spring mushroom that grows throughout North America but seems most at home in the hardwood forests of the Great Lakes states. Each year, hundreds of devoted mushroom hunters head to the wooded slopes around Traverse City to search for these “truffles of the North,” combing the hillsides for the well-camouflaged fungi.

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Times might be tough, but Interlochen Center for the Arts (ICA) is apparently bucking the trend and poised for a strong summer.

A couple of weeks after its box office  opened, tickets are selling briskly for headliners The  Steve Miller Band, Styx and Willie Nelson & Friends, says Steve Hoffman, director of marketing and communications  for ICA, which is now in its 45th year of bringing guest  artists to the Grand Traverse region.

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As  assistant travel editor for Midwest Living, Hannah Agran had  heard plenty about Traverse City, particularly as a place  for foodies. But she didn’t fully appreciate the area’s  scenic beauty until her first trip here for a story on the  Midwest’s top food towns.

“It took my breath away,”  says Agran, who came to Traverse City while researching the  story “Five Star Food Towns” in the June 2009 issue. “I’d heard it was beautiful, but I didn’t expect the water to  look like the Caribbean. You know what really stood out to  me? The fruit. I expected to see cherries, but when I went  to the farmers market downtown and saw all those blueberries, apricots and plums, I just died. I’d never been  to a farmers market with such gorgeous  produce.”

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Green Island isn’t that far off of Front St. in downtown Traverse City. But it’s far enough.

“I see people all the time coming to the corner, looking down the street and then turning around,” says Lori Burns, who owns the earth-friendly retail shop a few dozen yards from the busy intersection of Front and Union streets.

But she is encouraged to hear that wayfinding signs are soon coming that will alert visitors that there is indeed stuff to see, do and eat down the street.

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Did you know Traverse City is a world contender in the world of haute chocolate? Mike Norton reveals the local treasures and the people behind them. Read the full article at the Traverse City Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.

Traverse Bay RV Resort’s New Brand and Web site Reflect a Carefree Lifestyle

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Traverse City Record-Eagle
RV Industry News

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – It may be the offseason for Northern Michigan’s RV resorts, but you could definitely say there is something new afoot at Traverse Bay RV Resort.  Aptly described as “North of Ordinary,” Traverse Bay RV Resort recently underwent an extensive rebranding process that Owners and Developers David and Kathy Scheppe hope will better reflect the relaxing-yet-lively lifestyle found here.

The Scheppes say the new logo’s vibrant red flip flops reflect the energy and enthusiasm shared at Traverse Bay. While it is hard to imagine wearing flip flops now in Northern Michigan, one visit in-season opens eyes to gorgeous weather, outdoor beauty, onsite amenities and endless local adventures. Also refreshed is the resort’s new user-friendly Web site, TraverseBayRV.com. It now features a series of video testimonials, photo galleries, news updates and area information. Additionally, the site showcases the resort’s dual emphasis of both for-sale lots and rental options.
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Events this month include the spectacular Fall Color, provided courtesy of mother nature. Call the Fall Color Information Line at (800) 727-5482 or visit the Traverse City website for suggested tour routes.

The farmers’ markets are now selling grapes, apples and pumpkins, as the harvest season draws to a close. Happy Apple Days in Downtown Traverse City will run from October 4-11.  Merchants will have bushels of apples to share with their customers.

Mid-month, don’t miss the Field of Screams Haunted Hayride. Travel in the dark down to the abyss of terror on a tractor-pulled hay wagon through the haunted forest. For information (231) 325-6021. October closes with a parade of little ghosts and goblins as Downtown hosts costume clad children and their parents to trick or treat at participating stores throughout the Downtown area. The event kicks off at 3:30 until 5 pm.  For more information call (231) 922-2050 or www.downtowntc.com

Many owners and guests heard the announcement of “Start Your Engines” and the roar of #41 Reed Sorenson’s Target Dodge NASCAR engine as the “Car of Tomorrow’s” most advanced simulator ever was presented outside the TBRV Main Clubhouse. Ticket buyers as well as interested observers lined up to watch as participants drove the “Car of Tomorrow.”

The crowds gather around the advanced simulator