Traverse City, Michigan is a wonderful place to vacation with family.  There is an abundance of kid-friendly activities and the weather is perfect during the summer months.

I picked up Traverse City’s Top 10 Adventures pamphlet to review the attractions that we could plan with a two-year old.  Although most of the activities revolved around water sports, we found an adventure park where we could play putt-putt called Pirate’s Cove.  Arrgh!

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park provides so many fun, family-oriented options for children and adults of all ages.  In addition to miniature golf, the park also has a ropes course, zipline, go carts and a water coaster.

We paid our admission fee, picked up our clubs and headed to hole number 1. It was so much fun watching my nephew play for the first time.  He was so excited when he would hit the ball and then run ahead of us to tee off at the next hole.   It was such a great way to spend our afternoon and Nolan enjoyed the pirate scenes and waterfall.

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park opened in Traverse City in 1983 and have over 20 locations throughout Michigan, Florida and South Dakota.  I was impressed with their Putting for Patriots Program which raises money to assist wounded military members and their families.  The annual fund raising event takes place each May and more information can be found on their website at www.PiratesCove.com.

After working up an appetite on the golf course, we checked out Moomers Homemade Ice Cream.  Moomers is a family owned shop conveniently located on a dairy farm.  The shop first opened in 1998 and now serves over 160 flavors.  It was recently voted as “Best Ice Cream Shop in America” by Good Morning America.

From cones to sundaes to milkshakes and wedding cakes, Moomers offers a wide selection of ice cream products.  We ordered strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and hot fudge sundaes.

Moomers also provides tours of their ice cream facility over the summer months.  For a small fee, there is an Ice Cream Store Tour or the Dairy Farm Tour to learn more about how their ice cream is made.

Across the street from downtown Traverse City is a harbor with boat slips and a pier. It was a beautiful day and the weather was going to be perfect for our trip to the beach.

Before finding a place on the sand, we noticed a small waterscape within walking distance from the beach.  It was so precious to watch my nephew play in the water. He was enjoying every minute of it.

The waterscape was named after long time governor, William G. Millikan who was interested in conserving the natural resources of the area.   The water park is one of a few proposed enhancements that are planned for the Bayfront development of Clinch Park.  Opened between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, the revitalization is an effort to attract more young families to the downtown area.

What are some of the activities that you look for when planning a kid-friendly vacation?  Can you recommend other kid-friendly things to do in Traverse City?  I would love to hear about them if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about kid-friendly things to do in the Traverse City area.  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park
1710 U.S. 31
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone:  231 938 9599

• Admission Fee:  The Original Course and Blackbeard’s Challenge are $9.50 for adults for children ages 4 – 12 are $8.50.  Kids 3 and under play for free.  Check the website for token prices which are used for the attractions such as go-carts, ropes course, bumper carts and kiddie go carts.
• Hours:  Seasonal, so check out the company’s website for the most up to date information
• Amenities:  Adventure golf, ropes challenge course, go-carts, bumper cars, and game room.
• Length of Visit:  1 – 3 hours, depending on the activities purchased

Moomer’s
7263 N. Long Lake Road
Traverse City, MI  49685
Telephone:  231 941 4122

• Hours:  Daily from 11AM to 9PM through December 24;  check the website for the most up-to-date hours
• Length of Visit:  1 hour

William G. Millikan Waterscape
Downtown Harbor
Traverse City, MI

Where to Stay:

Bayshore Resort
833 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 935 4400

Where to Eat:

Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 West Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49684
Telephone:  231 922 7437

We had eaten here several times during our stay in Traverse City and each of the meals I selected were amazing.  I enjoyed the Reuben Sandwich as well as the Manitou made of Michigan turkey, bacon, ham, Swiss cheese, tomato and pesto mayonnaise served on whole wheat.  The sandwiches are served with a side and pickle.

What to Eat: 

• The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
• Vernor’s Ginger Ale
• Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
• Mackinac Island Fudge
• Apples
• Cherries
• Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
• Better Made Chips from Detroit
• Germack Pistachios 
• Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
• Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
• Eight Mile High by Jim Ray Daniels
• The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow
• The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman

Photo Guide for Traverse City: 

• Black Star Farm Vineyards
• Glen Haven Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
• Grand Traverse Pie Company pies
• Grand Traverse Lighthouse
• North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
• Tall Ships along the coast
• The vineyards at 2 Lads Winery