TRAVERSE CITY - A popular tourist destination in Northern Michigan is getting some exciting recognition.
The Wall Street Journal recently tapped Traverse City as one of the “10 Best Places to Go in 2025.”
Traverse City Tourism president Trevor Tkach said he’s excited at the unexpected news.
“There are a hundred spots just in the Great Lakes region alone that could have been selected for this. So, to be in this list is really, really special and does come as a surprise,” said Tkach.
He said it’s an honor to be in the same company as other places that made the cut, including, Maui, Hawaii, and other parts of the world.
“It’s phenomenal because when you look at the list, there’s a lot of very recognizable names. Names that you wouldn’t have to look it up to know where it is because they are so recognizable. Traverse City is probably the least recognized of the group, which is kind of cool,” said Tkach.
Tkach said this validates the work over the decades Traverse City has done to attract tourists to the area.
“We’ve got more air service now. We’re far more accessible than we used to be. We’ve continued to develop our products. We’ve got, as I say, the wineries, the distilleries, the breweries. But we also have stayed committed to agriculture,” said Tkach.
He said other reasons that sets Traverse City apart from other beautiful destinations include everything from the natural resources, the outdoor recreation, the food and other business opportunities, coupled with the easy access to the area.
“Hospitality and tourism make up a big percentage of our jobs. About 1 in 6. So, it’s very important to make sure that we have a strong visitor economy year-round. So, this type of recognition can help keep that demand sustained year-round,” said Tkach.
Mayor Amy Shamroe said this is good news for the city
“We’re always excited about any designation that we get. It’s nice that we’re getting ones that recognize this as a great place to be year-round,” said Shamroe.
She said this type of recognition doesn’t just help tourism, but the city’s growth as more tourists discovers Traverse City and possibly relocate here.
“We’ve really seen that transform in this community over the last 10, 20 years of being a true year-round community where our restaurants can be open year-round, where a lot of most of our shops stay open year-round. It’s not a place that again shuts down in the winter,” said Shamroe.
Shamroe said it’s a testament to the economy and business growth here in Traverse City for both the people who live and visit here.