Traverse Bay RV Resort

We have stayed at this resort for two days...it's a little pricey, but every once in awhile we enjoy the extra amenities a really nice place has...this one has everything! This is like picking up your RV and dropping it down in the middle of a really nice residential neighborhood, only the neighborhood is for RVs. The RV resorts are primarily for people who want to buy a permanent site or seasonal site, but they usually have sites available for people passing through, or for tourists wanting to stay for a few days or even longer. It's $45.00 a night with no discounts unless you are staying for more than a week.

The resort has 50 amp full hookups, cable TV, wi-fi, heated pool and spa, tennis courts, hiking trails, a casino bus available, screened sunroom off the main clubhouse, a nice fitness center, 24 laundry and shower facilities, coach detailing, propane, and planned activities. The main clubhouse has a library, banquet room as well. They currently have 410 sites and are planning more.

store inside the Village at Grand Traverse Commons

The Village Complex-Italianate architecture

I wish we could stay longer to explore Traverse City, but we have to leave tomorrow for Grand Rapids for repairs at the General. We spent today exploring The Village at Grand Traverse Commons with my sister and her husband. This shopping complex has been renovated from dozens of historic buildings formerly known as the Traverse City State Hospital and before that, the Northern Michigan Asylum--a Victorian Italianate architectural complex sitting on a 63 acre site. There are some really cool stores and artists' galleries at the Village--Sweet Asylum--"a sanctuary of treats",  Fixed Gear Gallery--a fixed gear bike shop also selling technical clothing for bike riders, recycled things and other
unusual stuff, Left Foot Charlie--an urban winery! Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery--Michigan's only wood fired bread oven--they are selling artisan breads. There are lots, lots more cool stores! Not only does the Village have wonderful shopping opportunities, there are gorgeous hiking and biking trails nearby running thru a creek and 480 acres of preserved park land. Wow! We'll definitely be back to this area again for a longer period of time...After a delicious gourmet lunch at the North Peak Brewery in Traverse City, we headed to the Leelanau Peninsula to explore a little area of Leeland called Fishtown.

Sporck Tileart at Fishtown

There is a preservation society trying to raise money to preserve this historic area called Fishtown that is one of the few remaining commercial fishing complexes on the Great Lakes. The buildings and fishing tugs--the Janice Sue and the Joy are currently is need of support. This was an interesting little complex on the water, complete with great little shops and a salmon fishing ladder. We saw some of the salmon, some really gigantic ones trying to make their way up the ladder. We weren't sure if they were early or late swimmers, but at their peak, hundreds of salmon are in the waters during spawning season by the bridge/ladder and by a local restaurant and inn that sit right beside the water. Fishtown had some really interesting shops. There was one that was called Sporck Tileart. The owner had gorgeous hand made and painted tiles reflecting all aspects of marine life and plant and animal life in Michigan...It was a wonderful day spent with my sister and her husband..it was a perfect day, weather-wise, and they are so much fun to be with....I'm so glad I got to see them....off to Grand Rapids tomorrow....