How to spend the perfect day on Old Mission Peninsula
There’s something special about a day spent on Old Mission Peninsula.
The drive alone feels like part of the experience. Lake views on both sides, quiet roads, vineyards, orchards, farm stands, beaches, winding shoreline, and those little local stops that make Northern Michigan feel like Northern Michigan.
As flower farmers, locals, and full believers in taking the scenic route, we’re always being asked what people should do when they come out to visit Moondance Flower Farm. Where should we get coffee? What beach should we stop at? Where should we eat lunch? What wineries are worth visiting? What else should we do while we’re on the peninsula?
So, we finally put our favorite recommendations together in one simple guide!
Introducing our free local guide to Old Mission Peninsula
We created this guide for anyone planning a day on OMP, whether you’re coming for U-Pick flowers, visiting Traverse City for the weekend, hosting friends from out of town, or simply looking for a beautiful way to spend a summer day.
Inside, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated itinerary filled with a few of our favorite local stops, including places to sip coffee, take in lake views, pick flowers, enjoy lunch, treat yourself to something sweet, and end the day with a glass of wine.
It’s not meant to be an overwhelming list of everything you could possibly do on Old Mission Peninsula. Instead, it’s a simple, easy-to-follow day filled with beauty, local flavor, and a little bit of Moondance magic.
A little peek at the perfect OMP day
We won’t give the whole guide away here, but here’s the feeling of the day:
Start slow with coffee and something delicious before heading toward the tip of the peninsula for some of the best lake views around. Spend time near the water, wander a trail, or take the scenic route back down the peninsula.
From there, make your way to Moondance Flower Farm for time in the fields. During U-Pick, you can wander through the flowers, harvest your own stems, and create a bouquet to take with you. We have the supplies and vases ready, so your flowers can stay fresh while you continue your day.
After the farm, the guide takes you to a few more local favorites for lunch, something sweet, and a final stop to soak in the views, sip something lovely, and enjoy the beauty of OMP.
It’s the kind of day that feels easy, beautiful, and very Northern Michigan.
Why we love OMP
Old Mission Peninsula is one of those places where the best days usually come from pairing a few simple things together: a scenic drive, a good coffee stop, time by the water, something fresh from a local farm, and a beautiful place to end the day.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time, hosting friends from out of town, or looking for a new way to spend a summer day close to Traverse City, we hope it helps you experience the peninsula in a way that feels easy, local, and memorable.
Want to linger a little longer?
There’s a reason people fall in love with Old Mission Peninsula. The lake views, the quiet roads, the local food, the flowers, the wine, the way the whole day seems to slow down a bit.
That same feeling is at the heart of Bloom & Gather.
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, we’re welcoming a small group to Moondance Flower Farm for a full-day floral retreat designed around flowers, creativity, beautiful food, seasonal inspiration, and meaningful time on the farm.
You’ll harvest from the fields, create with flowers, enjoy good food, gather around a beautiful table, and spend the day surrounded by the natural beauty of Old Mission Peninsula.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to spend more intentional time on OMP this summer, Bloom & Gather might be the one.
