Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay is 28 miles long and 10 miles wide, divided by a narrow peninsula creating an east and west arm. The bay’s eastern shoreline follows the coast of mainland Michigan, while the western shore is part of the Leelanau Peninsula.

The scenery varies from rocky, wooded areas to pastoral farmlands and orchards. There are four towns in this large, beautiful bay that can accommodate boaters: Northport to the northwest; Suttons Bay, about 12 miles south; Traverse City at the far southern end of the west arm; and Elk Rapids on the eastern shore of the east arm.