traverse city mi
Great-Lakes-Sailing.com
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Traverse City, MI Lat: 44° 46.074 Long: 085° 37.315 |
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DESCRIPTION Traverse City MI lies at the southern end of Grand Traverse Bay, at the NE corner of Lake Michigan. It gets its name from the Bay. French explorers and traders named the crossing across the mouth of the bay "la grande traverse" or 'long crossing'. By mid-19th century, a saw mill had been built and a community began to grow. At the same time, some of the first cherry trees were being planted. They took well to the soil and climate - so well in fact that Traverse City MI is the largest producer of cherries in the United States. This climate is very good for grapes as well and the area is home to over 50 wineries. Tourism also plays a significant role in the local economy. |
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APPROACHES Once you enter Grand Traverse Bay, the course is straightforward. Pass south between the Fl RED "R2" buoy and the Fl GREEN "G3" buoy. At Old Mission Point, there is the Mission Point Light, a Fl WHITE light. Leave it to port and continue south. Note the shoal on your starboard side at "RN6", a RED nun buoy. South of Marion Island is a wreck marked with a GREEN can buoy - "GC7". Give it a wide berth. As you approach Traverse City, you will see a Fl RED light "R6" marking a shoal extending out from Greilickville. Keep clear of it. These are all marked on your chart. A course of approximately 190°T will bring you directly to the entrance of Donal Clinch Marina, the municipal harbor of Traverse City MI. The entrance is between two breakwaters and lies on an East/West line. The northern breakwater is marked with a Fl RED light and the end of the southern breakwater is marked with a Fl GREEN light. Once inside the entrance, alter course to port to round the southern breakwater and enter the marina. |
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MARINAS, YACHT CLUBS, MOORINGS, ANCHORAGES Duncan L. Clinch Municipal Marina (231) 922-4903 VHF 9, 16 The municipal marina is located right in the center of the downtown. There are 119 slips with 54 set aside for transients. There is a fuel dock (diesel and gasoline) and a pumpout station. Water and power hookups are available. There are also cable TV and internet hookups as well. Restrooms, showers and laundry are available in a new harbor master building. The marina is adjacent to Clinch Park which has picnic areas, BBQ grills and a museum. Being right downtown, there is easy access to all of the shops and amenities of Traverse City MI. Harbor West Yacht Club This marina is located about 1.5 nm NW of Clinch Marina. It is now a private condominium development and closed to transient sailors. Centerpointe Marina (231) 922-1515 Centerpointe Marina is a new marina. It is located about 1.25 nm NW of Clinch Marina. There are 50 slips with several set aside for transient sailors. There is no fuel dock or pumpout station. There are hookups for water, power and cable TV. Restrooms and showers are available. In their modern building, there is a kitchen and fitness center. Wireless internet is available. Elmwood Township Marina (231) 946-5463 VHF 9 Elmwood Township Marina is adjacent to Centerpointe Marina, immediately south. There are 171 slips with 21 set aside for transient sailors. There is no fuel dock but there is a pumpout station. Water and power are available at slips. There are restrooms, showers and laundry facilities available. Amenities include a children's playground, park, picnic areas and BBQ grills. There is a beach area. There is also wireless internet access. Anchorage There is limited anchorage along the waterfront west of Clinch Marina. This anchorage will be completely exposed to winds out of the north and any fetch due to the length of the bay. |
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REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, PROVISIONING, BANKS/ATM's Mooney Marine Services provides maintenance and repair services for engines, mechanical and electrical systems and rigging. SAVE-A-LOT supermarket is located 1.5 mi/2 km from Clinch Marina. They can handle all reprovisioning requirements. Fifth Third Bank is located about .25 mi/.5 km from Clinch Marina. They have counter service and ATMs. |
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MEDICAL SERVICES Munson Health Center (231) 935-5000) is a full-service hospital located about 1.5 mi/2.25 km fron Clinch Marina. Petertyl Drug Center (231) 946-4830 is located about .5 mi/.8 km from Clinch Marina. |
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PLACES TO EAT Traverse City MI an eclectic mix of restaurants and pubs to enjoy. More are located downrown, within easy walking distance from Clinch Marina. If you're a meatlover, try Mode's Bum Steer, a few blocks from Clinch Marina. Steaks and ribs are their specialty. On the opposite side of the scale is Poppycocks, a vegetarian restaurant. Amical is a well-regarded French bistro and Red Ginger is a popular Asian restaurant. North Peak Brewing Company is a local brew pub that serves award-winning craft beers. It is a very popular pub with a good reputation for quality food and great-tasting beers. |
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THINGS TO DO/SEE/VISIT Grand Traverse Bay is a beautiful body of water and well worth exploring. Traverse City itself has many attractions and there's lots to see and do. There are nearly 200 miles of beaches, over 50 wineries and over 150 shops, boutiques and galleries to discover. The main annual event in Traverse City MI is the National Cherry Festival, a weel-long celebration each July. (There are 3.8 million cherry trees in the area and about 228 million pounds/104 million kilograms of cherries are harvested annually!) Sleeping Bear Dunes national lakeshore was named as one of America's most beautiful sights. Great Lakes Childrens Museum is a perfect place to visit with children. There are culinary tours and charter cruises on one of the largest catamarans on the Great Lakes. Interlochen Center For The Arts is located about 12 mi/19 km outside Traverse City MI. It presents hundreds of performances and concerts each year. The Traverse City MI tourism website will give you lots of ideas on how you can enjoy your visit. Return from Traverse City MI to Lake Michigan Return to Home Page |
