Traverse City

The area around Grand Traverse Bay is a centre of American cherry growing - the city calls itself the Cherry Capital of the World - and the reason is the water: Lake Michigan holds the spring temperature back so the blossom opens after the last hard frost, and moderates the autumn. Tart Montmorency cherries dominate, going mostly to processing rather than the fresh market, with sweet varieties alongside. The National Cherry Festival runs in early July around the harvest. The same climate suits wine, and two wine areas flank the city on the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, with over fifty wineries, particularly for riesling. Blossom is around mid-May and lasts about a week, depending entirely on the year.

What to look for

• Orchards on two peninsulas - tart Montmorency cherries dominating.
• Lake Michigan moderating frost - the reason the crop works here.
• The Cherry Festival in early July - around the harvest.
• Vineyards on the same slopes - riesling in particular.

When to go

Mid-May for blossom, July for harvest and the festival. A full day.

Good to know

Blossom lasts about a week and the date moves with the season. Festival week fills the town and prices with it. Most tart cherries go to processing, so pick-your-own is limited. Winters here are long and the region shuts down.

Nearby

Sleeping Bear Dunes is west; Leelanau peninsula is north-west.