Beyond the Buzz: Ways to Play in Northern Michigan Without Alcohol

Northern Michigan is home to one of the greatest concentrations of award-winning vineyards, breweries and cideries in the country. The unique microclimates along the 45th Parallel, storied traditions of generational farming and a collective devotion to community gathering make the area’s viticulture a national destination. Traverse City and its surrounding communities also have some of the best fine dining and bars in the Midwest; with rooftop patios, carefully curated cocktail menus and local food pairings, the nightlife scene in Traverse City is brilliant.

But what if you don’t drink?

If you’ve ever been a person who has taken a pause from drinking or made a permanent commitment to an alcohol-free lifestyle, you’ve discovered the challenge in finding social alternatives to drinking. In 2021, the Traverse City area began implementing change after noticing a major issue with a dominant drinking culture—and created a city-wide strategic plan. While many of these changes are in the infancy stage, it is affirming to know the city is aware of these challenges and thoughtfully committed to introducing non-alcoholic alternatives to the general public. Whether you are prioritizing your sleep, interested in adding a few non-drinking evenings to your regular routine or fully committed to an alcohol-free lifestyle, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to enjoy the region without booze.

Some of the NA offerings at the Secondhand Social Club.

Craft Night at Secondhand Social Club. Attached to slip.vintage in downtown TC, Secondhand Social Club is an event space, art studio and non-alcoholic bottle shop. There are weekly events—classes like “Introduction to Watercolor Painting”, “T-Shirt Surgery” + “What’s a Zine and How to Make One”—all while gathering in a third space: not work, not home, but a third space that nurtures community and companionship…without alcohol.

A cup of coffee + a blueberry cream cheese croissant at NoBo Mrkt.

Find a sweet treat + a hot drink. Whether it’s your morning cuppa and a muffin, afternoon tea + biscuits or dessert and after-dinner coffee, you could spend an entire vacation seeking out the perfect pairings. We think a slice of Holiday Hills Rhubarb at either of the downtown Grand Traverse Pie locations goes mighty nice with a cup of plain black coffee!

Interlochen’s Kresge auditorium. Photo courtesy of Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Listen to live music. Every single village, borough and dining establishment has at least one music event throughout the season–and most of them are outside. The village of Northport hosts Music in the Park, Friday night jams in the marina park gazebo–can we get an ‘amen’ for classic rock covers?!? Left Foot Charley hosts the free Red Drive Concert series on the piazza at the Village Commons. Some other favorites? The Traverse City Philharmonic’s summer series at the Civic Center, the world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts concert series at Kresge Auditorium and the FREE Music in the Air series at the Old Art Building in Leland.

Explore the National Park. Hop in the car and head slightly south of Empire to the Treat Farm. An easy, shaded trail, there’s an historic farmstead in the middle of the woods–but don’t stop there. Just beyond an abandoned hayfield, you can hear the crash of waves. Keep going. You’ll step through a shaded patch of lush forest out onto what feels like earth’s edge: a steep bluff that pans a 180-degree view of royal blue Lake Michigan. Reward yourself after the hike with a mandatory stop at nearby Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate for artisan truffles, cocoa-infused coffee concoctions or our summertime favorite, handmade gelato in flavors like Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate, Fustini’s Olive Oil and dairy-free Lemon Sorbet. Find more Sleeping Bear Dunes hiking trails HERE.

The TART Trail’s Boardman Lake Loop. Photo courtesy of TART.

Pedal throughout the region. Traverse City’s trail network TART consists of eleven multi-use trails in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, spanning more than 100 miles and includes a cross-town bike route that runs through downtown. We love this 8th Street neighborhood route: rent a bike for the day at Brick Wheels, swing by Raduno to pick up a picnic lunch (try the Falafel Sandwich), hop on the Boardman Lake Loop near the TC Library and when you’re finished, head to The Alluvion for some live music.

Attend a reading at the National Writers Series. The NWS is an authors’ series dedicated to engaging world-renowned authors in meaningful conversations in the Traverse City area. Since 2010, the National Writers Series has hosted more than 260 authors––including Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, Tayari Jones, Jodi Picoult, Vince Gilligan, and Anthony Doerr––and drawn more than 70,000 people to their events, mostly held at the City Opera House. Check out the series’ current schedule HERE.

The Village on North Manitou Island. Photo courtesy of the Sleeping Bear National Park.

Watch the Night Sky. Hands down, the OG Sleeping Bear Dune Climb is a must; a day at the dunes is basically a Northern Michigan rite of passage. But have you ever been to the park at night? One of the darkest places to view the night sky, once a month the National Park partners with a local astronomy group to watch the stars, the moon and any visible planets, both with telescopes and the naked eye. Pack a blanket, flashlight, a DIY s’mores kit (Grocer’s Daughter Sea Salt Milk Bark, if you’re feeling fancy!) and spend an unforgettable evening reflecting on the vastness of the universe. Watch the NPS video HERE.

Peruse the shelves of local grocery stores for NA options. Groceries like Oryana West, Lakeview Hills Farm (a farm-fresh market in an old schoolhouse!) and The Beverage Co. are stocking their coolers with non-sweet drinks that you can pack out for a picnic, tote along at an outdoor concert or simply take home to enjoy.

Host a friends’ weekend and stay in. Gather a group of your closest friends to relax, restore and rejuvenate. In the spring, we hosted a Mix and Mingle at the Holiday House, a chance for wedding service professionals to relax and connect before the busy season ahead. Our dear friend Amber from Tonic & Lime provided the cocktails—including the mocktail recipe shown here—and we had a build-your-own-bouquet buffet.

Dimes, Limes + Uncertain Times
an Audacia Elixirs recipe via Tonic + Lime

2 oz. Aurum Elixir (Citrus Botanical)
1.5 oz. mango, orange juice
1 oz. vanilla simple syrup
0.5 oz. lime uuice
a few dashes of aromatic bitters

Add all ingredients and ice to a shaker and shake well. Strain into your favorite glass with or without ice. Garnish with a lime wedge or orange twist and enjoy!

Whether you are sober, alcohol-adverse or just interested in spending a few more evenings a month alcohol-free, we invite you to explore some of these Northern Michigan alternative offerings for enjoying a life that is meaningful, memorable and just as full without alcohol.