A beach escape in the Midwest

TRAVERSE CITY — Considering I grew up in Illinois and have lived in the Midwest my whole life, it came as a surprise there was a hidden gem not far away I had never explored before.

It took meeting a new friend who lives in Michigan for me to make it to Traverse City, a picturesque town that stretches along the west and east arm of the Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan.

Traverse City is a popular summer getaway for Michigan residents. It's the home of the National Cherry Festival, held annually in July, but it's truly beautiful all summer and fall long.

One of the highlights of this region is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in nearby Empire, Mich. The national lakeshore features sand and gravel bluffs on the Lake Michigan shore.

Before visiting the dunes, we stopped at the Empire Village Inn.

The food was delicious. We ordered mozzarella sticks as an appetizer which came with marinara sauce. Our main course, 'Tim's a jerk chicken sandwich,' was a perfect combination of crispy chicken, fried pickles and spicy Sriracha aioli sauce. I definitely could have eaten more.

After lunch, we headed to the dunes. The area was packed with families, couples and groups enjoying the view from the ground and from atop. For adventure seekers, I highly recommend making the climb. Once you reach the top, the view is magnificent in every direction you look. The white sand dunes reach up to meet the blue water, which seems to stretch for miles. The backdrop was perfect for photos. I recommend taking time to sit down and soak it up after successfully completing the climb.

Word of advice: wear athletic shoes for the dune climb. I did it in flats, although it was difficult.

After the dunes, we drove to Traverse City. Along the way, we stopped at Gallagher's Farm Market and Bakery for dark chocolate covered cherries and T-shirts. The locals were friendly and struck up a conversation with us.

While in Traverse City, we stayed at the Knights Inn. There are many hotels to choose from. On my next trip, I plan to stay at a bed-and-breakfast for a different experience.

Downtown was a quick drive from the hotel. We explored many local businesses, including clothing shops, jewelry stores, a bookstore and a theater. The streets were lined with people walking dogs, sitting outside at café tables and window shopping.

I had a hard time deciding where to stop for coffee as all of the shops looked equally tempting. I finally settled upon Morsels, which offers bite sized tastes of baked goods as well as a full food menu. I ordered an iced mocha which was blended to perfection.

Armed with coffee, we walked across the street to get closer to the water. Visitors were enjoying the sand and the beach and the breathtaking view. I found myself in disbelief that I was in the Midwest.

After walking along the water, we headed back downtown and to stop for a drink at Low Bar, a cocktail craft lounge a friend had recommended. The dimly lit atmosphere made for an intimate and cozy setting. Our friendly waitress gave us time to settle in and made drink recommendations. It was just one of a number of bars, craft breweries and wineries in Traverse City. There is something for everyone.

We had a dinner reservation at Trattoria Stella, an Italian restaurant with a farm-to-table philosophy. TripAdvisor rates it one of the best restaurants in Traverse City.

The restaurant's menu changes frequently, depending on local ingredients available. We enjoyed the savory chef's special for our appetizer, a puff pastry, and fantastic meals for dinner. I tried crispy fried kale for the first time as a side dish and found it addicting. We had leftovers from the generous-portioned meals and enjoyed them just as much the next week.

On Sunday, we had just enough time after checking out of the hotel to grab lunch downtown Traverse City before heading back home. Once again, I had a hard time choosing where to go. The menu at Grand Traverse Pie Company won me over.

I ordered a sausage scramble wrap, a cup of Michigan cherry coffee on the side and a fruit bar for dessert. The food was amazing and worth the wait. The breakfast wrap was savory and spicy and my first ever cup of cherry coffee was a perfect accompaniment. If I had more time and an unlimited supply of calories, I would definitely have gotten a slice of pie, too.

Completely full and content, we drove back to Grand Rapids to drop off my friend before I headed back to Cedar Rapids. After a lovely weekend along the water, my only regret is that I hadn't been to Traverse City sooner. I plan to return next year, hopefully in time for the Cherry Festival and a boat ride.