Booked the new “Taste of the Village” tour to visit the underground tunnels and try some beer & wine. Joe was an excellent guide and the stops were delicious. I was completely shocked by the community itself, i had no idea there were people living there, a bustling market, and great eateries & coffee. Highly recommend swinging through.

Creative reuse of a old ventral institution. Basement area filled with lots of quaint and charming retail shops with friendly staff. Worth a visit.

The asylum tour sounded very interesting so my husband and I booked a 2 hour tour dispite our kids teasing that it sounded “very romantic”🙃. While waiting for the tour to begin I was impressed with the very thick walls and the historical timeline on the wall that said that more than 8 million yellow bricks were used in building the asylum . Our guide was Clover, and she was very informative and answered all our questions. She not only knew the history and material very well, but her passion for the place was very evident . We learned a lot of history of the asylum, facts about the buildings and grounds, its founding members and other people who were key in making life better for the mentally ill at that time. She pointed out the ventilation system, cutting edge at the time, that gave them the best cure rates for the TB patients among many other benefits. She took us through the main building, I loved the chapel, through one of the cottages where residents lived, up into the attic and down through the steam tunnels with the concave floors. She warned us if we were claustrophobic we might have issues down in the steam tunnel, but I never felt confined down there. It has one hallway with a low ceiling, but I was able to walk through with no problem. Clover had all kinds of stories of the patients lives at that time. Clover was very eager to share her knowledge and even after the tour was done she tried to help my husband find the book with a perfect quote that she had used. When she wasn’t able to put her hands on it right then she took his contact info to get back with him with the information. Her enthusiasm and attention to the individuals in our tour group was greatly appreciated.

I went with my husband on the 2-hour guided tour. We are from out of town. It was interesting and the tour guide herself was very enthusiastic and you could tell she really loved her job. My only caveat, which I think I would have reconsidered doing this all together if I knew, was that you were outside in the cold the WHOLE time. 1 hour and 45 minutes outside/in the abandoned building with NO heat and broken windows, and then maybe 15 minutes actually inside (the tunnel was heated, and the historic building itself where you start and end the tour). I was freezing. Truly. Freezing. It was cold out, but I dressed to prepare for approx 1 hour outside as it’s stated, not for near 2. It’s 37° outside. I think this should be a point to tell newcomers, as it kind of tarnished my enjoyment of the tour because near the end I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. A majority of the tour is also just standing outside of the building, looking at it, and listening to facts. There’s less “touring” and more just listening and staring at similar things. Again, my enjoyment was not as high as I would have liked, because I just kept wondering when I’d get into warmth. I couldn’t even take off my gloves for photos because it was that cold. I would NOT recommend touring this is it’s under 50°, unless you love cold weather. Even my significantly large husband was very cold.. the guide was kind, the facts were interesting. It could have easily been a 1 hour tour.

We booked the 1hr tour and had Ruth Ann as our tour guide. She was delightful. The tour was interesting, well timed, and personal. Definitely a great way to start our vacation! Thank you!

The Village was a fascinating and enjoyable location to visit in Traverse City. Interesting enough, the building was used as a state of the art mental facility where patients were treated with kindness and respect. The building is now used to house small shops and food stalls. The building and grounds are absolutely beautiful. The shops inside are fantastic and you could find pretty much anything of interest to you. The history of the building was interesting and reading about it gives you a glimpse into the importance of Traverse City to the region. Make sure you visit when all the shops and stalls are open inside.

The 90-minute Explorer Building and Tunnel Tour at GT Commons was outstanding! Our guide (Sean F) was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Would recommend it for people who want to learn about the history of the former GT State Hospital. What an amazing, innovative, human-centered and healing place this once was.

The water was very low so we were able to walk out and look for rocks. It started to rain and we saw a rainbow! The lighthouse is pretty as well. Nice place to come check out and look for rocks 😊

This is a wonderful historic lighthouse that has been refurbished and maintained well by the local historical society. You can enter the lighthouse for a fee, but parking and access to the shore is free. It is great to walk into the water especially in the summer. You can walk at least a couple hundred feet into the lake because it is very shallow. A great place to visit with family and friends of all ages.

Fabulous area with historical interest and a beach. The beach is shallow so it’s a great spot for kids, the lighthouse offers self guided tours with many historical and informative displays. Cool items at the gift shop and many photo opportunities in the area

Wonderful park with the historic lighthouse. The beach access is easy and takes you out to a large beach in either direction. The water was shallow very far out which made for a great rock hunting spot. But you do need water shoes the broken shells that pile up hurt your feet. There are a few benches and a swing set on the beach. Next to the lighthouse before you go to the beach there's a few picnic tables which makes for a perfect shady spot to enjoy a meal.

We visited the Old Mission Lighthouse this morning. It is definitely worth a visit! Beautiful view and nice, little gift shop. You do have to buy a ticket to climb up the stairs into the lighthouse. An old cabin is also on the trail to the lighthouse. You can actually go into the cabin through the door on the backside. Very interesting!

We did not enter the lighthouse, but we did see it from the outside. While the parking lot was busy we still felt like we had the beach to ourselves which was nice with our dog. Just an overall beautiful place!

I had never been to Old Mission and wanted to go skygazing and it seemed like a good spot to do that. And it was totally spectacular! It was a super clear night when I went out and could visibly see the milkyway, shooting stars, and a very pleasant surprise showing of the Northren Lights! Even though most of my visit was in the dark the view did not disappoint and was totally worth it. I would like to come back another time during the day to explore.

What a wonderful experience at Chateau Chantal! First of all, the views are epic. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Our host and server, Bill, was absolutely fantastic — a great storyteller who made the winery tour both entertaining and educational. His knowledge and passion for the winery truly enhanced the entire experience. The food was outstanding, and the staff was incredibly accommodating with food allergies, which made the evening even more enjoyable. To top it all off, we had the special treat of meeting the owner, who shared an incredible personal story that added such a meaningful touch to the visit. A truly memorable experience — highly recommend!

The view of the bay on the patio of Chateau Chantal is breathtaking. The wines are great. I do wish they would add more umbrellas to their patio, because on a hot and sunny day it is almost unbearable. But we love it here. Especially recommend their wine dinners.

The view here is absolutely stunning and probably the highlight of the visit. Unfortunately, the overall experience felt too commercialized, with more emphasis on the sales side than on creating a genuine wine experience. The wines were fine but fairly standard, nothing that really stood out. If you’re coming for the scenery, it’s definitely worth a stop, but if you’re looking for something more authentic or intimate, this may not be the place.

This winery was one of a handful I visited on a trip from Ohio. It was a pleasant midweek August evening with a moderate crowd. My wine experience is moderate to advanced, so I selected a wine flight. The pours were substantial enough that I was able to determine if bottles were coming home with me; not all Michigan wineries had such a privilege. I brought home the 2021 Malbec Tango, and the 2022 Proprietor's Trio. Fantastic!

We have traveled really far away from Singapore back Michigan to revisit. This time we choose to stay with Chateau Chantal. It’s so pleasure experience that the room is well designed, all staff are very friendly, breakfast is very delicious. AND, there is beautiful sunset here at the top of chateau. What a wonderful holiday, we love it. At the last but not least, we are amazed by Mr Bob’s incredible introduction of winery’s history. We wish him and the family all the best. Many thanks.

Great setting, wine decent food not good at all we got a flight of red a flight of white and a "local bread". The wines were okay, nothing special and the bread came out still frozen in the middle. All in all for over $50 with a tip average at best.

Been to a lot of wineries in the TC and peninsula area but we keep coming back to Chateau Chantal. Not only do they have amazing wines but the building and views from the outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards are breathtaking. The staff are wonderful and friendly. If your doing a wine tour I highly recommend Chateau Chantal to be on your list!

This place has an amazing atmosphere! It was very peaceful, and just puts you in the center of nature. The lawn bar is perfect for good weather, and it's dog-friendly! 🐶 A very beautiful place to grab a glass of wine and sit outdoors.

🍇 Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery – A Full-Sensory Experience in Wine Country This place truly has it all! From the moment we arrived, Brys Estate delivered a top-tier experience that went far beyond wine tasting. Yes, the wines are fantastic—but the real magic is in how much more they offer. You can start with a tasting and then take the tour, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at how their wines are made. The patio is stunning, with sweeping views of the vineyard, and the food menu is thoughtfully curated to pair beautifully with your wine selections. 🧀🍷 Beyond wine, they also serve award-winning ciders and—fun surprise—have their own lemon zest hand sanitizer, which somehow adds to the charm. The scent is calming and refreshing. The yard space is a must-visit: it’s relaxed, scenic, and home to their wine slushy, which in my opinion is the single best thing you can try here. 🍹 They offer premade meal options in the yard that are light yet satisfying, perfect for a casual afternoon. Whether you're planning a private event or just stopping by, the staff is warm, genuine, and clearly passionate about what they do. We left feeling refreshed, impressed, and already planning our return. Brys Estate is a gem that blends elegance, hospitality, and fun in one unforgettable visit.

Very beautiful and cute spot! Visit the secret garden gift shop for an apple picking and a little gift for someone who loves lavender (popcorn, soap, candles, etc). Visit the tasting room for wine and snacks but make a reservation- it will fill up like your wine glass. There’s an outdoor patio bar too that was still open in October. So a little chilly- but you can warm up with a hot apple cider and a little fridge of cheeses and crackers.

My family and I had a great experience at Brys! We made a reservation so we could sit on the upper deck overlooking the vineyards and the water. Highly recommend sitting up here! The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Our waitress was attentive and took our order shortly after we sat down. I ordered the frozé and it was delicious! Very refreshing and flavorful. The other two members of my party ordered tastings and enjoyed the wine throughly. We had a great wonderful time and will hopefully be returning in the future! 🍷✨

We made several vineyard stops on this trip and were happy that we saved Brys for last. It was hands down our favorite and we were able to linger at their beautiful "lawn bar" with our pups. We especially enjoyed the "Signature Red" and the Pinot Grigio, and went home with a couple bottles of each. Highly recommend that you add Brys to your next wine tasting journey, you will be glad you did.

Loved the scenery. Our waitress was good, the food and wine were good. The host was horrible. We are new to the area and didn’t know the different areas and how they were arranged. The host was super rude and a bit condescending. I’m surprised he was hired.

Wonderful, beautiful vineyard with top notch wine, tastings, and staff. Go see MJ, she'll take care of you! They have tours and and a garden that we didn't get to enjoy. Next time! Make sure you make Brys a priority stop on your Mission Point wine country trip!

I like this winery because the staff pays 0 attention to you, which is a great thing in my opinion! You can wander around and do whatever you want. Lots of seats outdoors. I was able to see the grapes still on the vine. I had a riesling, very good. Not bad prices for a flight. around 20 bucks for 2 people.

As a Traverse City local and former Old Mission Peninsula industry worker, I was very disappointed by my recent experience at Bowers Harbor Vineyards. I visited on a Sunday evening and was genuinely excited to finally make it up to Bowers, as I’ve visited nearly every other vineyard on OMP. When we arrived, we looked over the menu and placed our order—the young woman who helped us was friendly and quickly put together our flights. The wine was good and did not factor into my review. Unfortunately, the experience quickly went downhill. Despite being there a full 40 minutes before closing, a middle-aged blonde employee began loudly injecting air into sparkling bottles while openly complaining to her coworkers about how “nobody’s here” and suggesting they should start closing early. This was all said loudly enough for our group, as well as another nearby couple, to hear—making us feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. Having worked in the industry, I completely understand that slower days can be frustrating. However, it’s entirely unacceptable to disrupt guests’ experiences with closing duties and complaints while customers are still present. It left a disappointing impression of a place I had really been looking forward to visiting.

We love Bowers Harbor so of course we had to have their red wine, white wine and champagne for our wedding day drinks! Easy pickup and they do have membership options! Highly recommend using Bowers Harbor for your wedding day!

This has been our favorite winery in TC for a long time now. We love the very personal touch this place has. It doesn’t have the awesome lake view some of the others do, but it does offer great views of the vines and the whole property, the way the staff acts and treats patrons almost feels as if you are all part of a family. Very knowledgeable folks, extremely friendly, prices are great, and they have so many options as to where you can hang out. There are tents, a covered patio, a fireplace, tables right between the vines. We have seen live acoustic music there a number of times. The overall feeling here is just so unique, much more personal and less artificial than at some of the other “fancy” wineries.

The winery is beautifully situated next to the lake, offering not only delightful wines but also the opportunity to indulge in your wine while seated amidst the vineyard.

Beautiful Vineyard. Wide selection of beverages. They have accommodations for any group size. We decided to stand between the Vineyard at a wine barrel and it was perfect. The shelter for making your selection was heated and the bartender was very helpful with making your selection. We were here in Sept with a rare 52 degree week. I couldn't imagine how amazing it would be mid summer or early spring or fall

Beautiful property. Very large and welcoming. The gift shop has lots of shirts and sweatshirts with the vineyard name. The wine bottles are nicely organized and would make nice gifts.