Traverse City, Mich. celebrates a decade of equestrian connections with Horse Shows by the Bay, a month-long equestrian festival. From July 3–28, competitors and their trusty steeds from around the United States and Canada converge upon Traverse City and the nearby village of Williamsburg for top-level jumping events that include four Grand Prix competitions. Events, sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation, leap into action at the 84-acre Flintfields Horse Park.

A popular destination for its wide beaches along Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, there are plenty of outdoor options to keep visitors busy. Activities include excellent golf courses, lake and river kayaking, and a system of hiking trails including the newly opened five-mile Dune Climb to Glen Arbor route. Listed by Bon Appétit as one of America’s Top Five Foodie towns, Traverse City also offers locally produced wines, a host of microbreweries, small batch vodkas and whiskies, and plenty of choices for fresh farm-to-table fare.