Staying at the Grand Traverse Resort for a girls’ weekend getaway was a perfect destination for tons of laughter, fun and activity. I don’t know about you, but an ideal vacation to me includes a nice balance of relaxation, physical exercise, new experiences and great food. Every box was checked and then some after our three days in Traverse City.
Some people are hesitant about traveling at this time due to COVID-19. The Grand Traverse Resort took all necessary precautions in every possible way to create a clean environment.
- Temperature checks are taken upon arrival.
- All games are sanitized between play.
- Luggage carts are disinfected between use.
- Tables are spaced apart in the restaurant.
- Masks are worn by employees and guests.
- Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the resort.
A Bond Building Destination
Staying at the Grand Traverse Resort gives you the chance to connect with those you travel with through fun and games. Sharing a laugh every few minutes is not only good for the relationship, it’s good for your mind, body and spirit.
The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter and the spirit heals with joy.
A great friend from college days and I had a spectacular time at the GTR and we’ll do it all over again in a heartbeat. You can stay inside the resort for days and never leave if you so choose. On the other hand, the resort offers multiple outdoor activities to get you moving and enjoying the fresh Michigan air. Traverse City and the bay area are also excellent destinations to add to your itinerary.
Here’s a run down of some of the activities we enjoyed. While strengthening bonds wasn’t on our checklist, it definitely was checked off by the end of our weekend. There’s nothing better than hanging out with friends and having tons of fun.
Spa
Our first morning at the resort was spent at the Spa. A girls’ getaway weekend wouldn’t be complete without a little pampering, right? The Spa offers a wide variety of professional services for your relaxing and rejuvenating pleasure: massages, facials, and pedicures. The employees make every effort to create a luxurious experience. A variety of soothing teas and coffees are offered, along with your robe and slippers.
I would recommend getting to your appointment about 15 minutes early so you can take in the relaxing ambiance. This gives you ample time to get changed into your robe, have a warm drink, and sit and relax for a few minutes before your service starts.
We had an Immunity Boosting Facial scheduled and we absolutely loved it. 50 minutes of pure bliss. The estheticians are truly knowledgeable about cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and preventative care. They wear masks and shields and all safety precautions are taken.
Exercise
The Grand Traverse Resort provides multiple rooms with free weights and resistance machines. There are also five tennis courts that can be reserved for your game play.
Whether you want to lap swim or just lounge, one of the two resort pools will be perfect for you. There are plenty of tables and chairs if you opt to stay dry while watching someone else in your party jump in.
A snack bar is located near these facilities, making it very convenient to fill up with healthy food and drink options.
Dining
Aerie
For a fine dining option, Aerie is a perfect choice. Since our visit was during the winter months, it was so nice to get dressed up for a girls getaway dinner and just take the elevator to the dining area. No going out in the cold temperatures! Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted with floor to ceiling windows that give you a gorgeous view of the bay. Dinner dining gave us the opportunity to view a magnificent sunset as we enjoyed our three-course meal.
Traverse City hosts a Restaurant Week each year and fortunately, we visited during that time. Throughout the city, you can enjoy a three-course meal at over 30 restaurants for $25 or $35 a person. Of course, Aerie brings out their finest dishes during this time. Our food was perfectly prepared, and each course was so enjoyable, as was the wait staff.
There are additional sit down restaurants, a coffee shop and several counter service areas throughout the resort. In the evenings, bar service is available in the lobby area. Sitting by the fire enjoying an adult beverage is a great way to round out the evening.
Giving Back
Special Note: Each month, Aerie chooses a local non-profit to receive $1 for each dessert that is ordered. Don’t you just love that?! The Women’s Resource Center (WRC), a full-service domestic and sexual violence agency, was the chosen recipient. The WRC also has a thrift store that gives half of what you spend back to the center. The thrift store is a great place to add to your itinerary while visiting Traverse City!
Shopping
Speaking of shopping, the Grand Traverse Resort has a great variety of stores located on the first floor. A girls’ weekend getaway wouldn’t be complete without a bit of shopping, right? Clothing, home décor, toys, candy and specialty gifts are available. It is like having a mini-mall right at your fingertips.
Girls’ Getaway Activity Guide
The Den
The Den is like an arcade on steroids. It is small but mighty. We literally spent hours here and could have spent even more if we would have had time. Each activity has a separate cost, but package deals are available that save you a lot of money. Inside The Den, there is a small countertop service for snacks and drinks.
Now, let’s get to the fun details! We had so many favorites I’m going to list them in alphabetical order.
Axe Throwing
This is something I have wanted to try for a while now. It’s a lot easier than I thought it would be, which was a nice surprise. This is not to say our axes stuck every time by any means. One person throws inside the cage at a time. Scoring is like darts with more points gained the closer you are to the bull’s eye. Along with the standard bull’s eye version, Blackjack, Knockout, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Word Cutter are also offered. The game board is projected onto a wooden board which allows you to change between the five games very easily.
Bowling
It’s arcade style bowling where the pins are on strings and the ball fits in the palm of your hand. You can wear the shoes you have on and you can even get bumpers. It’s a much shorter alley than regular bowling which allows you to have a lot more control over your throw.
Escape Room
Even though escape rooms have been around for a while now, this was our first time. It’s a little overwhelming at first because it doesn’t seem like enough clues have been presented, but then it all starts clicking and one thing leads to another. You can be seen and heard by the attendant, so whenever you get to the point of frustration, you can ask for a clue. We ended up asking for three clues and finishing with 1:15 left on the clock. We were stoked!
Virtual Reality Games
Another first in the books. If you have not experienced a virtual reality game, you will be blown away at how realistic it all feels. The arcade offers stand up and sit-down stations with multiple games to choose from. My favorite was swiping my ’swords’ to slice the oncoming-colored cubes. Not quite Darth Vader, but I’m trying.
Katie and I are both competitive, but we treat it all in good fun. The escape room was a great activity for strengthening bonds during our girls’ getaway as we worked together for a common cause. The other games are more competitive in nature, but all the laughing and silliness that goes on creates memories for a lifetime.
Additional Activities
Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing
At the time of our visit, Traverse City still had about a foot of snow cover. We were so excited because both of us really wanted to try out the snowshoes that are available at the resort. You have the option to rent snowshoes or cross country skis. No lesson is needed. You just strap them on over your boots and head out the door. On the back side of the resort is a golf course and the cart trail is the general path for your day’s hike.
We found snowshoeing to be an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors and to get some exercise. The kid in both of us found the packing snow to be too much to resist, so we took off our snowshoes for a bit and created some Michigan themed sculptures. I made a large fish and Katie made a lighthouse. There may have been some snowballs, laughter and headstand silliness involved. Strengthening bonds comes so naturally through horseplay and humor.
Several firepits are placed among the tables and chairs for you to warm up around after your hike.
The Fun Zone
Due to COVID-19, mass gatherings have been eliminated resulting in the resort’s banquet rooms going unused. Imagination struck and now those rooms are an additional source of fun. Pool, ping-pong, cornhole and even a putt-putt course is available.
Traverse City
Honestly, I know there is so much more to Traverse City than I can even attempt to share. We drove along the bay’s shoreline and around the downtown area the first night and found it to be full of positive energy. Lights are strung everywhere, and the night life is hoppin’. It looks like a great place to hang out; we just ran out of time.
A Girls’ Weekend Getaway Always Includes Coffee
I do know you can get a variety of delicious pastries and warm drinks at Third Coast. This coffee shop serves gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and vegan options to help get your day off to a great start. We enjoyed our deliciousness in the coziness of an igloo. Can’t say you can do that just anywhere.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes are about 20 minutes to the west of Traverse City. To the north is the ever-famous Leelanau Peninsula where rock hunting is a sought-after activity. There are several lighthouses within a short driving distance as well. You can access the full map here.
I must mention that the staff at the Grand Traverse Resort was top notch. It is no exaggeration to say that every single person we interacted with was as hospitable and friendly as could be. That means so much!
