BLOG: It’s the difference between going to London and the Isle of Wight

TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie on enjoying the ‘real America’.

Within reason the £ to US$ exchange rate is currently in favour of the Brits. Not quite at the heady heights of $2 to every £1 of a few years ago or indeed the $2.8 for a fistful of florins fifty years ago this week but in the main, not bad.

This makes holidays to the US remarkably good value for money regarding the essentials of food, shopping, attractions and transport. So, a good place to visit and a good place to sell but what if you have been there before? Going or selling to a first timer it’s likely you will choose one of the major gateways such as NYC, Orlando, Los Angeles, DC or maybe even San Francisco.

If, like me, you have been many times, what is on offer? How can you see the ‘real’ America? Well I have a suggestion …Traverse City Michigan. Nope neither had I heard of it until quite recently but it is a true delight.

To get there you can fly to Chicago and enjoy a few days with everything that the city has to offer – which is a lot. The alternative is to fly into Detroit and take in what is generally recognised as the city that has led urban regeneration in the 21st century.

Known as the "metropolis of the automobile", it is the USA’s busiest inland port and, since the construction of the St Lawrence seaway in the late 1950s, can handle ocean-going vessels of up to 25,000 tons. The motor vehicle heritage is shown in many of the city’s attractions with the Henry Ford Museum and the Henry Ford estate leading the way. The Arts centre is worth a visit as is Comerica Park where all things baseball can be seen and, of course, the Motown records museum.

To get to Traverse City however you will need a set wheels, that have probably been built in Detroit, and about four hours’ drive time.  However, the change in scenery and culture is dramatic. Away from the industrial heritage of the big city, you find agriculture, small towns, diners, local breweries, vineyards, sandy beaches, lake fronts and as many activities as you could throw a stick at.

The Traverse City area has more or less everything that you would want out of a USA fly -drive holiday and for the experienced stateside visitor it offers a much closer insight into community tourism and the ‘real’ America. It’s the difference between going to London or the Isle of Wight.

I visited recently and stayed very centrally so that I could be on Main Street to enjoy the array of independent shops, coffee bars and restaurant within three minutes’ walk. Due to its location within the heartland of USA agriculture, most of the food outlets offer cuisine based around what is fresh and available and as a consequence tastes that much better.

In line with most regions in the northern states, Traverse has its array of local breweries but each has its own quirky atmosphere and of course its own tasty beer (but no English bitter!!). Whilst on the drinking subject, the lake side location also lends itself to a multitude of vineyards or wineries and we visited Chateau Chantal which is a fifteen minute drive from downtown. Here there are wine tours and wine tasting including a test of your own palate e.g. is the wine you are drinking red or white which believe it or not is not always easy.

Activity wise there are a multitude of options including fishing, golf (hope to sample next time), walking, cycling and of course water sports. The feature that dominates all of Traverse is of course Lake Michigan. The second largest of the Great Lakes system is enormous and for all intent you may as well be next to a sea.

The sailing and the other water sports are a delight with easy access to facilities and rentals but of course the corrosive elements of salt water are not there. One surprising aspect perhaps are the beaches. The eastern shores of Lake Michigan are home to the largest freshwater sand dune system in the world. I only visited one, Sleeping Bear Dunes national Park, but the size , quality and stunning beauty  of the area is truly breath-taking.

So if you are struggling to come up with those new ideas for that next USA trip have a quick look at Traverse City.