Last month, I traveled to Traverse City, Michigan, home of the National Cherry Festival. As I munch on Cherry Republic’s Ambassador Mix (dried cherries, pistachios, dried cranberries, sugar, macadamia nuts, and sunflower oil), I’m thinking back fondly on my short, two-day visit.

When I travel, I like to get immersed in the uniqueness of a place–how things are done there, what things people take for granted (because fish forget about the water they are swimming in) and what they value. I notice the vibe that comes from both landscape and people.

First thing to know: Traverse City is surrounded by water. At the base of Grand Traverse Bay, and extending into two peninsulas, there’s plenty of great scenery to go around. Coming from the semi-arid climate of Denver/Boulder, the large bodies of water of Traverse City are visually refreshing.

Second thing to know: A two-day visit is too short to see everything that’s unique about this part of the country. While I did walk in virgin forest, among half a dozen deciduous trees that I don’t typically see in Colorado (e.g. hemlock and beech), I didn’t have time to see the sand dunes and fruit orchards.

Third thing to know: Traverse City is a place of small business owners, retirees, active citizens and people with good taste. Look no further than the airport, furnished and designed in the Arts and Crafts style. I had just flown in from Peoria, where I had been on a business trip. Taking off from one airport and landing at another was like moving from the 1950’s Soviet gulag to circa 2000 Club Med.

Unlike Peoria, Traverse City is not a large company town. Tall buildings don’t dominate the landscape. In fact, the local economy seems to thrive on breaking up large complexes into smaller, more human spaces. An abandoned state mental institution, made up of several buildings on a large campus has been turned into a labyrinth of retail shops, small businesses, and restaurants. The local free paper has their offices on one of the upper floors.

In the downtown area, I got a glimpse of the State Theatre, home of the Traverse City Film Festival. Manned by volunteers, the theatre gives the experience of movie-going that I remember from my childhood–an expansive auditorium with an overhanging balcony. It’s the kind of place where it pays to remember where you sat if you get up to go the bathroom. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself walking up and down long aisles, looking for a familiar face.

I also stopped at the Cherry Republic, a place where you can find all things cherry–including cherry BBQ sauce, cherry peanut butter, and several flavors of cherry soda. It’s a local business that essentially created its own niche and brand in a memorable way.

Fourth thing to know: If you want to find pieces of Americana, where it’s common to know your neighbors and not just the one next door, and it’s even more common to leave your door unlocked, visit Traverse City.  Turn of the century homes with welcoming porches line the residential streets near the downtown area. I almost expected to find the Beav (not Beavis and Butthead, the original Beav) walking down the street.  I was greeted at the airport by my friend, Dave, and his mother’s blonde brownies. On my last day there, Dave’s mom baked me an apple pie, with this note:

I savored the pie, knowing that I was experiencing the gifts of a life-long baker.

What I’m aware of is that traveling, like life itself, is best done when we can take in the small things as well as the big things. The eyes of a visitor will pick out the gems that the native will take for granted. Many thanks to my friends, Dave and Sue, for showing me the jewels in their world.