A Small City That Punches Way Above Its Weight - 7/5/2021

Beautiful, clean, surrounded by some of the most beautiful and unpolluted nature in the nation, interesting residents from all over the world, an open-minded liberal population, one of the nation's best food scenes, vineyards and wineries galore (and rising star of multiple International competitions at it, beating many of the very best California and French winemakers in recent years), big on the arts, and an amazing & active outdoors culture. Everything Michigan should be, but so often fails at. Yes, it's crowded, because like all desirable places in the US, people know a great place when they see it and want to be there. It's a bit above average for prices - for Michigan - but very affordable compared to anything decent in 90% of the rest of the USA.

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Nice Place to visit but you don't want to live her - 4/19/2021

Sorry I moved here homes overpriced, local people are rude. Too many rambo type personalities, pickup trucks and illiteracy Fun for about a week. Restaurants are mediocre at best. cost of living higher because everything has to be transported in. Too much poverty due to insulting wages by employers, It is like the land of the forgotten, never dreamed this existed in Michigan. Moving back to Oakland County. Don't waste your money, retire elsewhere.

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Grew up in TC. Glad I left in '78. - 7/13/2020

Left in '78. Should have left sooner. If you are a snob and think you're better than any one else then maybe you can get a job teaching here. Hated it as a kid and come back to visit friends and family. Always am reminded why my wife and I left.

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Great place to visit, difficult city to live in - 6/1/2019

I've lived here since I was born (I'm 27 now) and it is an amazing place to live for grand traverse bay alone, which really shines in the summertime. Let's be clear, though; It's a great place to visit, but a difficult place to live in full time unless you have an income above 80k/year. rent and home prices are very high due to high demand from the large amount of wealthy old citizens moving here for retirement. Another potential downside is our oftenly brutal winters. We are up north, by huge lakes so naturally we get a lot of lake effect snow in the wintertime. This problem may not matter to you if you can afford to live in Florida during the wintertime, though. The traffic also tends to suck here and when it's cherry festival week, forget driving anywhere on the main roads unless you don't mind long delays. However if you enjoy biking as your main method of transportation, then you may come to love it here. Overall, the city has changed a lot the past 30 years. It used to be a smaller, more peaceful town as I've heard from older locals of traverse city, but in the 90s' things started changing...and here we are now where if you don't have a cushy job, you may have to work 2-3 jobs in order to make end's meet here, unless you elect to rent or buy in a surround city/area such as Kalkaska, Buckley, Honor, Lake Ann, Thompsonville, or Kingsley, so long as you don't mind the extra commute to get into town. As they say around here, a view of the BAY is half the PAY There are other benefits to living here too though, as we are resistant to natural disasters. like we rarely get tornadoes for me and earthquakes as well as hurricanes are unheard of here. However, brutal blizzards in the wintertime do happen so keep that in mind.

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Sad to see my hometown so changed - 4/1/2019

The three stars are for the natural beauty which is not at fault for all the rude, self-centered people who have moved here and infiltrated this area over the past decade. We are now inundated by retirees that drive around all day, and drive as if they care nothing for others on the road with them. Then there are all the folks who thought moving here was a rad idea because it's an eternal

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Northern Michigan - 8/16/2017

I've lived here my whole life. As the cost of living is getting totally out of control, wages suck. Employers bitch because they can't find employees for $8.50 per hour, when rent is $900 to $1200 for a one bedroom apt. So lots of jobs if you want to live under a bridge. Car insurance is THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE COUNTRY!! As Michigan continues to be a no-fault state. From May to November, we are over run with tourists, a typical 30 min drive to get home, turns into an hour+. In July, as a resident of Leelanau or Grand Traverse County, you truly wish you could just stay home so you don't have to deal with the horrible traffic. I used to love it here. It really sucks now!! Oh yeah, it's pretty here:0

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Northern Michigan - 8/16/2017

I've live here my whole life. As cost of living is getting totally out of control, wages suck. Employers bitch because they can't find employees for 8.00 dollars and hour, when rent is $900 to $1200 for a one bedroom apt. So lots of jobs if you want to live under a bridge. Car insurance is THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE COUNTRY!! As Michigan continues to be a no-fault state. From May to November, we are over run with tourists, a typical 30 min drive to get home, turns into an hour+. In July, as a resident of Leelanau or Grand Traverse County, you truly wish you could just stay home so you don't have to deal with the horrible traffic. I used to love it here. It really sucks now!! Oh yeah, it's pretty here:0

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TC is loaded with bible thumping racists, homophob - 7/13/2014

we moved here knowing how beautiful the landscape is, but the people are rude and judgmental. if you enjoy the gossip and are nosey, you will fit right in. Their favorite moniker is: "they will know we're Christians...guns & religion!" Millennials are forced to move, even with a college degree they're unable to secure 1 job, making more than $40,000 a year. Most people are forced to work @least 2 jobs. the neocons are opposed to higher wages. turn over of small businesses are high, rarely does an enterprise survive the long winters, without tourists.

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Northern Michigan, Paradise in Season - 5/23/2014

Northern Michigian is da bomb...I consider it a different place than the lower half of the state. True, jobs are usually scarce and often not well paying, and winter sucks miserable, but May, June, July, Aug, Sept and often a lot of Oct are AMAZING and incomparable in both beauty and vibe, ~ love it!!! I'm just a lucky ass brat though, as I live outside Chicago and have a second little home my mother purchased up here in an awesome town called Elk Rapids (15 min from Traverse City) so I'm never up here in the winter... but I have lived in A LOT of places, travelled the world working as an ESL teacher, lived in the NW, los angeles, NM, chi, and TC when the weather is good it cannot be beat!!!!! The people are awesome, theres a lot of great places to eat, chill, longboarding which is a passion of mine is HOT up here ~, bike riding, etc , 6-7 months outta the year its paradise here, so good I hardly want to make this post!!

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6 months in Traverse City my opinion is.......AMAZ - 9/7/2013

Moved here from "downstate" summer of 2013 and here is why... Traverse City is enveloped between woods, rivers, lakes, and a Great Lake! The geographic location of Traverse City adds wonders to ones world. Traverse City seems to me a perfect blend of nature, community, economics, and independence. The entrepreneur spirit is abound! The amenities are great! Large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, startups, there all here...and not far from a fishing hole, two track trail, park, or scenic view! I applaud the city officials and locals who have created such a wonderful place to be. I feel free and seek good...hoping to become a positive supporting member of the community. The native tribes in the area are recognized for their positive impact on a community that arose from a Federal Government that stole. The people I have encountered here seem to want to do the right thing. The local diversity is one that brings enlightenment in community cooperation between the city, the elderly, the family, and local business. Based on factual statistics...a non-local influx of minorities would surely be a dagger in the heart to the quality of life here. No thugs allowed! Tourist welcomed! Love quality...live Traverse. Ron Paul 2008

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It's no 'Jewel' by no means - 6/1/2013

'Jewel of the north"? Give me a break and the census info is wrong. We have a far greater number of people who live here. We have the same crime as any other growing city. Most earn minimum wage and the median income is about 40k that's including the large number who live on public assistance. Decent rentals are extremely expensive and cost the same as major cities like San Diego, Boulder, etc. Needs greater for reasonable priced housing than is available. I'm A typical of the second largest population, highest being on welfare. I'm a mom with a dead beat ex spouse trying to support 2 kids. I work 2 jobs and earn 36k per year, I pay 1100 per month for a 2 bdrm small apt., that doesn't include all utilities. It's not just the price of housing and low wages, food, clothing and all is expensive in Traverse City. Other than low wages one of the biggest issues in area is racism. We got a big population of racists. Minorities are denied housing and jobs on that basis alone. People here don't like discussing it or dealing with it.

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Our lakes and trails - 5/29/2013

We have the best lakes and trails to enjoy. Hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating are all available to anyone.

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Nurse practitioner jobs - 1/13/2013

How plentiful are nurse practitioner jobs ......how great is your city to live in? Thanks for any info

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The Good and Bad of Traverse City - 7/31/2011

I resided in MI for 13 years, in Frankfort for 2 of those, TC for 7, and downstate for the rest. I do think TC's a beautiful area and great for outdoor recreation, with clean air and little crime. Those are the highlights, and they are significant. I do laugh at some of these other comments people have made though. The Interlochen Center for the Arts and Cherry Fest were only music venues I experienced, and the performers were past-their-prime artists. If you want to see a current artist, you'll probably have to drive to Detroit, which I know many young people did. Of course, what would one expect for a small town? Nonetheless, where is this arts and culture "T" writes about?! C'mon! On another note, do be prepared to "carry your own weather with you," otherwise the near-constant grey skies may be depressing. I think this may be a good place for families and healthy retirees who can handle the snow. However, I would not recommend it for singles. There are wineries here, yes, but the quality of the wine is debatable, T. The beach in Elberta is beautiful if you like private, secluded beaches rather than busy ones. Just personal preference is all. Again, TC can offer natural beauty, opportunities for outdoor recreation, low housing costs, clean air, and low crime. What it lacks: varied entertainment opportunities or exciting nightlight, arts and culture, good shopping, decent pay (a view of the bay and half the pay is the popular saying there, and that's if you can find a job), and certainly not sunny skies (except maybe in July). If you are into winter sports, you might actually prefer a place with more snow. You just have to weigt the pros and cons and know what's important to you. Good luck in your search.

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Beautiful area - 3/12/2011

I grew up here and moved away for many years. I got the chance to move back 11 years ago. It is a absolutely beautiful area especially in the summer. There are dozens and dozens of lakes around us. Winters can be brutal or fantastic if you like to ski and snowmobile. The cold winters are getting to me and I'm thinking about moving somewhere warmer! I die for summers and love them here but need more than 3 months! It is a great place to raise kids with very little crime and very nice friendly people.

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Housing for low income families - 8/26/2010

Hello I've lived in Traverse city, MI for all my life and one thing I have noticed is T.C. seems to be lagging behind a bit in the low income housing developments area. I love the T.C. area but please study your options carefully.

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Traverse City - Good experiences - 4/8/2010

I have relatives in Leland and have been in Traverse City many times. I have always had a positive experience while visiting. Traverse City, Leland, and the surrounding area have many wonderful events and experiences for visitors. The people are friendly and welcoming. I'm glad I have had the opportunity to experience this area of the United States.

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Northern Michigan... - 10/7/2008

Overall, I've found Traverse City, Michigan, to be fair in culture and recreation, but it continues to grow upwards in these areas. The people I've met and befriended are kind and truly appreciative of their surroundings here, there is a very 'Up North' way of living and gratefulness of life. If you are raising a family or looking for a place to retire, Traverse City seems excellent. However, I've observed that people (myself included) in their twenties and thirties might be lacking in areas of enrichment after several years in Traverse City. Because of it's location, Traverse City is pleasant and warm in the Summer & Fall months, but cold and depressing in the Winter. There is a major influx of tourists in the Summer, so I would recommend living just outside of town and biking or walking as much as one can. Traffic is truly hideous in the Summer, but there are several lovely biking/walking trails throughout the city, thankfully.

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Not Friendly in Traverse City - 10/12/2007

I agree with the above writer about traverse city. I go there regularly because of family, (about 4 times a year) and we dread it. We have been treated so poorly there because we are tourists. If it were'nt for the tourists, there would be no good restaurants or other attractions. From the drivers on the road, to store clerks, and waitresses. It is really an unwelcoming feeling. Id rather be in the big city where people treat you like a person instead of a headache. I would never live in traverse city and would never go there if we did'nt have family.

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Absolutely beautiful!! - 9/18/2007

T.C. is so beautiful and there is so much to do and see! I'm glad the winters are rough otherwise everyone would want to live here.

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