PETERSEN’S PLAYBOOK — Travel Health, ER Insights & Smart Vacation Planning
Traverse City Health Score: ★★★★★ (5/5)
A gorgeous, active ‘up north’ summer town — beaches, wineries, and dunes, with mild risks beyond sun and water.
Traverse City at a glance
Traverse City is the heart of northern Michigan — Lake Michigan beaches, cherry orchards, wineries, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes nearby.
Top 5 healthy things to do in Traverse City
- Walk or bike the TART Trail and Clinch Park beach
- Swim and paddle the clear bay (mind the cold early season)
- Tour the Old Mission and Leelanau wineries (with a driver)
- Beaches and dune walks at Sleeping Bear
- Kayak the Boardman River
Best hikes in Traverse City
- Easiest: The flat TART Trail and Clinch Park lakeshore paths right in town.
- Most vigorous: The Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes — a steep sand ascent that humbles everyone.
- Longest: The Empire Bluff and Sleeping Bear Point trails — longer routes with Lake Michigan overlooks.
Best golf in Traverse City
Arcadia Bluffs (a bucket-list links course) and The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort are the marquee rounds — northern sun is still strong, so protect your skin.
Healthy eats
Farm-to-table is a way of life here — cherries, fresh fish, and local produce everywhere.
Common vacation health risks in Traverse City
- Sunburn (stronger than people expect up north)
- Dehydration
- Swimmer’s ear
- Cold-water shock early and late season
- Bug bites and ticks
- Sprains and dune-climb injuries
- Wine-tasting overindulgence
- Foodborne illness
Dr. Petersen’s take
“People don’t pack sunscreen for Michigan, then the sun off the water and sand burns them by afternoon. And the wine tours sneak up on folks — pace yourself, hydrate, and always have a sober driver.”
— Dr. Erik Petersen, DO, board-certified emergency & internal medicine
Closest emergency rooms
For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Munson Medical Center (1105 Sixth St, Traverse City) is the regional hospital ER.
Closest urgent care & pharmacy
CVS, Walgreens, and Meijer pharmacies serve Traverse City; call ahead for hours. (Hours and locations change — please call ahead to confirm.)
What to pack
- Prescription medications (original bottles + a list)
- EpiPen and rescue inhalers
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a hat
- Electrolyte packets
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medication
- Basic first-aid and blister care
If you get sick in Traverse City
If illness strikes on your Traverse City trip, Vacation Medicine provides virtual urgent care from licensed physicians — right from your hotel or rental. We treat UTIs, sinus and skin infections, pink eye, nausea and diarrhea, allergies, dehydration, and medication-refill emergencies.
Call Vacation Medicine: 850-660-3112 — Seen in minutes. Followed for a week.
Book a Virtual Visit – $100 Flat Fee →
Local hidden gems
- Best view-for-effort: Empire Bluff at sunset
- Best swim: the sandbars at a quiet Leelanau beach
More Healthy Traveler guides: guide · guide
