Traverse City

Traverse City is not often the first place that comes to mind when thinking of U.S. vacation destinations but this hidden gem of a city has earned a spot in Fodor's "Ten Best Small Towns in America" and Bon Appetit has also ranked it as one of the country's "Top Five Foodie Towns."

This all-season destination has something for everyone, whether you're a microbrew connoisseur or an outdoor enthusiast. As one of Golf Magazine's picks for the top six golfing destinations in the country, golfers can especially appreciate what the city has to offer.

Ever since the 1990s, when there was a golf course building boom throughout the Great Lakes, Traverse City has been the Midwest's most popular spot for golf, with designs from all the greats including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Hills, and Donald Ross.

There are more than 30 public and championship golf courses from which to choose, ranging from those that sprawl across the vast northern forests of pine, birch, and hardwoods, to the links-style courses that sprawl across the sandy dunes along Lake Michigan.

GALLERY: Local Traverse City photographer shares his favorite Northern Michigan hidden gems