#5 Traverse City

When we arrived in Traverse City we were quite surprised at how big the city is.  We are staying about 10 miles from the downtown and lakefront, and are still in the city proper. Of course, its not so populated around the area where we are, which is - you guessed it - another county fairgrounds! We liked the last one so much that we decided to try this one too. Its got 50 amps power, and lots of open space.

Tomorrow is a a horse show show and BMX bike race on a special track they have behind the park. We took Duffy for a walk around all the buildings on the property and were thinking about what a lot of activity was going on here during the 4H fair when all 135 campsites are filled. 

Travis City is quite the tourist city with a huge variety of dining and shops along the lakefront area. Taking a drive along one of the peninsulas that are on either side of the city, Old Mission, we saw a lot of great lakefront scenery and a number of wineries, and, of course, many nice homes and mansions along the lakefront too. The lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula was just that – a house with a light atop it! About 100 yards offshore is the 45^th parallel – the circumferential line about the earth that is just half way between the equator and the North Pole.  Hard to believe we are still that far from the pole!

Stopping for lunch at a small local grocery store offering some prepared items, we had a great lunch of roast chicken, broccoli raisin salad, and roasted and marinated artichokes. Delicious!!

Probably because the vineyards grow best on hillsides, wineries seem to offer the best countryside scenery you can find, and Chateau Chantal was no disappointment. In addition to tasting and purchasing some of their excellent wine, we enjoyed the great scenery overlooking their fields.

In addition to visiting every thrift shop in the City, we visited Moomers Ice Cream Shop yesterday. Its known for winning the best ice cream in America award on Good Morning America in 2010. 

It was goooooood!