GT-50 Invitation

GT-50 Invitation

GT-50 InvitationThe Michigan Rowdies are excited to invite you to GT-50 in Traverse City, Michigan. The Rowdies have hosted GTs 10, 20, 30 & 40 and are determined to make GT-50 the best ever. Help us celebrate 50 years of get-togethers in one of the most popular vacation spots in Michigan.

We are planning a full schedule of scenic drives, tech sessions, winery visits, and other fun activities. There will be plenty of opportunities to reunite with friends from past GTs. In addition to planned activities, the Traverse City area offers a wide variety of water sports, shopping, museums and more. Away from Traverse City, there are many towns along Lake Michigan with ports full of pleasure boats, charter fishing boats and commercial fishing boats as well. Then there are the inland lakes offering a full range of water sports. The city of Traverse City includes a full range of shopping and entertainment, as well as parks and beaches along Grand Traverse Bay.

GT-50 InvitationNo visit to the area would be complete without exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, one of only three National Lakeshores, two of which are in Michigan. Be sure to bring your National Park Pass. The National Park Service has this to say about Sleeping Bear Dunes: (https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm)

Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.

GT-50 InvitationThe Old Mission Peninsula extends into Grand Traverse Bay from the middle of Traverse City. Historically, the peninsula was the home for many cherry orchards, thanks to the climate moderating effect of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. In recent years, vineyards have expanded along with wineries. They provide scenic and tasty stops for visitors exploring the area. Several companies provide winery tours, allowing visitors to enjoy sampling the wines without worrying about driving. At the northern tip of the peninsula, Mission Point Lighthouse provides a destination for scenic photos. It is just one of the 129 lighthouses in Michigan.

Our host hotel will be the Great Wolf Lodge, just outside of Traverse City. The hotel has a full complement of amenities, plus an indoor waterpark, so bring your swim suit.
Anyone who can extend their stay could finish any of the four self-driving tours that the busy GT schedule didn’t allow. Also, Mackinaw City is just three hours away through the famed “Tunnel of Trees”, Scenic Heritage Route 119, with Mackinac Island a short ferry ride away. Mackinac Island is famous for its lack of motor vehicles, Grand Hotel, historic fort, and of course fudge shops. Closer up the coast are the picturesque towns of Charlevoix, Petosky and Harbor Springs. Even closer is Michigan’s largest inland lake by volume, Torch Lake.

Mark your calendars now for June 2 through 6, 2025 and watch for more details.