Think you've done everything in Traverse City? Think again.

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Hey travel friends,

This week, I’m hoping you can join me in being open to the little surprises that travel can bring. These unexpected delights can happen close to home, or when you’re far away. Part of the fun of traveling is recognizing the joy it can bring – and standing still in that for a minute so you can take it all in.

The first time I experienced this was on a trip to Italy years ago. I was walking in one of the hill towns outside Rome when I realized I’d gotten turned around in the labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets. It was then that I saw them in front of me: Two little Italian ladies coming out of their doors across from each other. They started walking together down the street, hip to hip, their gray heads bent toward each other. They were clearly spilling some tea. I loved seeing their friendship and smiled to myself all the way down that street.

Maybe you remember the last time you found a little travel joy? Sometimes, you just need to remind yourself to try new things. Last Friday, I wanted to kick off the weekend early with a walk near the water. We headed to a trail along the Muskegon River about 45 minutes north of Grand Rapids. It was lovely. When my husband suggested we grab a snack, I was leery. Earlier meals in this town had been disappointing. But then came the surprise: a downtown brewery with an inventive menu that included lobster rolls, Asian fare and a veggie pizza. Delightful. We found chairs on the breezy patio and toasted the day.

Cheers to you and happy travels,

Tanda

Traverse City has buffet of vacation options

Photo provided by KOTI and Tony Demin

KOTI is a newly-constructed vacation rental property outside Traverse City with 14 fully-furnished homes for rent.

Traverse City is one of those destinations where lodging options have expanded greatly in recent years. Accommodations range from downtown waterfront hotels with views of Grand Traverse Bay to beautiful B&B inns tucked into vineyards. There’s a horse ranch just outside of town and big resorts like Crystal Mountain and Grand Traverse Resort that are a draw for golfers.

Traverse City Tourism is offering MLive readers some highlights of the area’s big mix of lodging options. Some of these will probably be new to you, and that’s part of the fun of planning your next trip - even if it’s to a city you think you already know pretty well.

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Lake Huron glass-bottom boat tour

Photo provided by Nautical North Family Adventures

Nautical North Family Adventures offers daily shipwreck tours aboard the Yankee Sunshine. Tours include three shipwrecks in Lake Huron's Duncan Bay.

This 90-minute tour is packed with spectacular sights along the shore of Lake Huron.

Nautical North Family Adventures in Cheboygan offers glass-bottom boat shipwreck tours with have stunning views of the Cheboygan River, Lake Huron, four lighthouses and three shallow-water shipwrecks in Duncan Bay.

The tour includes navigating around the picturesque Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, which stands alone less than a mile offshore where the water is just 14 feet deep.

How creative can you get?

Lori Chapman | MLive.com

Fudge being made at Ryba's Fudge Shops on Mackinac Island.

Sure, you love fudge. But how good would you be at coming up with a new name for a particular batch of fudge?

Now’s your chance to test your skills. Mackinac Island’s fudge-naming contest is back. Entries are due by noon on July 31.

Want to riff a name based on the island’s ferry boats, its scenic M-185 highway where only bikes are allowed? Or maybe a moniker linked to its horses or showy lilacs?

Other top stories

A note from Tanda:

We love to hear from our travel friends. Have a story tip for us? A suggestion for a new destination to check out? Feel free to send us the details. You can email me at tgmiter@mlive.com

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