Skip to main content

Day Sail from Traverse City with Food, Wine, & Cocktails

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Traverse City, USA
  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Kay_E ·
Sep 2025
Gorgeous boat, perfectly matched for West Traverse Bay. The three owners serve as captain and crew. All have a warm and caring personality and show consideration to the passengers while expertly handling the Schooner. Easy access with free parking and excellent dockside facilities. I will be back!
· Patricia_M ·
Aug 2025
A lovely, windy day on the bay. Nice light fare, drinks etc., and nice conversations with new “friends”. Nate and Mike were knowledgeable and engaged with all the passengers. They worked hard, but made it look almost effortless

Overview

Traverse City lies right on the water, so it’s only natural to find a few activities that let you take advantage of its location while you’re there. This Grand Traverse Bay All-Inclusive Daytime Sailing Experience lets you set sail in a schooner, while you relax with awesome bay views. If you’d like you can help with the sailing process and learn about the area, too.
  • Sail on a 60-foot (18-meter) schooner in Grand Traverse Bay
  • No need to pack a cooler—lunch, snacks, and beverages are provided
  • Perfect for families—you can even help raise the sail
  • A short afternoon sail leaves time for dinner plans

What's Included

  • Alcoholic Beverages
    Enjoy local beer, spirits and wine
  • Snacks
    Sample local fare from fan favorite local restaurants
  • Hands-on sailing.

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • 615 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686, USA

      Check-in at the kiosk next to the bay. Adjacent to the parking lot. The only kiosk that is adjacent to the parking lot and next to the bay.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Itinerary

    1

    Grand Traverse Bay

    3 hours Admission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Please call us directly if you need a vegetarian or gluten-free option.
    • Please call us directly if you have a service animal.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Featured review

    Patricia_M
    A lovely, windy day on the bay. Nice light fare, drinks etc., and nice conversations with new “friends”. Nate and Mike were knowledgeable and engaged with all the passengers. They worked hard, but made it look almost effortless

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 168 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Set Sail on the Bay

    Susan_D, Oct 2025
    There were 8 people on our excursion. Captain Nate gave us instructions and we set off. Some of us got to help hoist the sails! It was peaceful and amazing what the wind can do, no motor, just the wind! We talked, had a snack and drinks to your liking. It was wonderful and I'd do it again!

    Elevated sailing experience!

    Kay_E, Sep 2025
    Gorgeous boat, perfectly matched for West Traverse Bay. The three owners serve as captain and crew. All have a warm and caring personality and show consideration to the passengers while expertly handling the Schooner. Easy access with free parking and excellent dockside facilities. I will be back!

    Highly recommended

    Taryn_T, Sep 2025
    Fantastic tour. Every captain was very knowledgeable and super friendly. Went early September and it was pretty chilly on the bay. They do provide a blanket, but come prepared. We had a small group and it was very intimate.

    Exceptional Service

    Patrick_H, Aug 2025
    The sailing excursion was great from the beginning to end. The crew was very professional handling the boat to his assist providing everyone drinks and snacks. I would highly recommend this company to book with them

    Wonderful Saturday afternoon

    Patricia_M, Aug 2025
    A lovely, windy day on the bay. Nice light fare, drinks etc., and nice conversations with new “friends”. Nate and Mike were knowledgeable and engaged with all the passengers. They worked hard, but made it look almost effortless

    Iowan’s Silver Anniversary Schooner Sail!

    Wally_W, Aug 2025
    It was a great experience. Captain Nate, John and Chris were a fabulous crew. I love that this boat only accommodates a few passengers, it makes it more intimate and allows you more opportunities to interact with the crew. Hats off to John! The man knows his history. I picked up on a few sailing terms and was able to hoist the main sail. It was a rewarding experience and we will be coming back again in the future. Cheers!

    A fun day of sailing

    Cindy_R, Aug 2025
    We had a wonderful crew in Captain and a lot of fun on board with all the other passengers. The captain gave us a lot of information regarding all the harbors and answered all of our questions. Such a wonderful relaxing day for my girlfriend and I.

    It’s definitely worth...

    Kathleen_H, Jul 2025
    It’s definitely worth waiting for a windy day. We hardly moved and he had to use the motor just to keep moving. So we were disappointed.

    Great nen

    Tim_T, Jul 2025
    What wonderful men to sail with. Love that they were owner/operators. They were knowledgeable and friendly with

    Fun and Chill Experience with Captain Dan

    Rebecca_S, Jul 2025
    Had a lovely time with other guests, the first mate and Captain Dan. The weather was beautiful and the trip around the bay was relaxing. Captain Dan is a wealth of knowledge and answered all of my curious questions about the bay and landmarks we passed by. My partner and I do not drink, but the Wind Dancer provided some non-alcoholic options including one of my favorite N.A. beers. The rest of the drink menu looked fantastic and lunch was lovely and filled with local items. We liked a cheese so much that after unboarding the Wind Dancer we went straight to the source - The Cheese Lady. This trip is a must-do when visiting Traverse City for a few days.

    Fabulous!

    Martha_C, Jun 2025
    This is an excellent activity! Great Captain and crew, so fun to watch them sail this beautiful boat. Very relaxing, delicious snacks and nice local beverage choices.

    disappointed

    JANICE_B, Oct 2024
    since you canceled our sailboat ride cannot moment except we were truly disappointed since it was my oct b gift

    Response from Host, Dec 2024

    How very disappointing all the way around. Safety is our number one priority and we are so sad that we did not get you out on the bay. What a bummer for all of us. One star is not indicative of what we offer our guests and friends. We hope to get you out on the water in 2025 as our guest.

    Totally worth it

    Katherine_W, Sep 2024
    This was a last minute addition to our honeymoon and one of our best activities. The food and drinks were great, the employees were kind and personable, and my husband got to get hands on with the boat, which was so great to watch. I highly recommend for a memorable and relaxing experience.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    It's heartwarming to hear what a good time you two had. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your love story!

    Sailing on lake Michigan

    Victoria_S, Sep 2024
    Celebrated my mom's 80th birthday with the sailboat ride! Captain Dan was amazing and we learned so much! It was a beautiful day out and I would highly recommend it!

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thank you for celebrating with us Victoria! We had a lovely time with you as well.

    Sailing in the sun

    Laura_B, Sep 2024
    Our sailing experience was perfect. The food was delicious, the crew was super friendly and attentive, and the weather was beautiful.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    We work hard to make your experience unforgettable! Glad that the weather behaved as well.

    Loved this experience!

    Susan_T, Sep 2024
    My husband and I took the 2 1/2 hour day trip. It was a beautiful experience. The crew were very friendly and knowledgeable. They all work so well together making all guests feel comfortable and safe. The Wind Dancer Sail ship is beautiful and well maintained. We both loved the snacks, lunch and cocktails from all the local restaurants. Every minute was one worth mentioning.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thank you for leaving us such a kind review, Susan. We work hard to ensure that every aspect of our experience is spectacular.

    Happy Sailing!

    James_R, Aug 2024
    Captain Nate and First Mate Chris were the best! Nate expaline4d so many things and interacted with us all. Chris was very friendly and made sure that we were comfortable and that we received our beverages and food. A wonderful experience!!

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Our crew is full of knowledge and we're happy to share it with you! Thanks for sailing with us.

    What a way to end a day!

    Neil_C, Aug 2024
    Every aspect of our cruise was first class! The ship is beautiful; the three captains (Nate, John, and I forgot the third gentleman's name) were FANTASTIC! The evening was a wonderful experience in every respect.

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Thanks for sharing your experience Neil! We agree that our crew is top-notch!

    A Beautiful afternoon/evening Sail on The Windjammer

    Rick_G, Aug 2024
    The knowledge of History of the area by the Captains was very interesting and meeting other folks from all over the country

    Response from Host, Sep 2024

    Each of our crew members brings a special knowledge base to our team. We look forward to chatting with our guests as well!

    Fantastic, relaxing, educational and very enjoyable afternoon on the water.

    Penny_P, Aug 2024
    Beautiful boat and a beautiful day and a wonderful crew. Everything on the relaxing cruise was top-notch. The snack with local cheese and cheese curds and crackers was superb, as well as the lunch and the beverages. We appreciated the extra thoughtfulness for sourcing as much as possible from the local area. The crew was personable and eager to share their knowledge of the boat, the sailing techniques, and the history of the area.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you Penny for spending time with us. We loved having you aboard!

    Great sailing experience

    Michael_R, Aug 2024
    The crew allowed me to assist raising the sails. Crew was very professional, informative, and friendly. The food and drinks were excellent!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you so much for being with us on the bay. What a magical experience it was!

    Sailing for the first time….

    Matt_T, Aug 2024
    The staff were great and the food and drinks were awesome… highly recommend the experience! That was my first time on a sailboat (grew up on boats though), and it’s something I’d love to do again!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you so much for being the best part of the day!

    Bye bye stress!

    Anita_G, Aug 2024
    Crew was super friendly and attentive. Perfect way to spend an afternoon on the bay!! The quality of the food, from local farms and small businesses was tasty and plentiful!

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Exactly! We notice that once we are out on the water the stress melts away. Thank you so much for spending time with us!

    Best sailing excursion ever

    Wendy_W, Aug 2024
    This was the best sailing excursion we’ve participated in-great hosts! Food was delicious and endless trying of locally sourced beverages with souvenir glass. Even a sampling of fudge. The ship is beautiful!

    A great experience

    Sarah_S, Aug 2024
    Had a great time, the staff was kind, accommodating, and entertaining, it was a great afternoon. The local lunch, snacks, and beverages were delicious

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you for joining us for a great afternoon on the bay!

    Nate, John and Chris made...

    Steven_P, Jul 2024
    Nate, John and Chris made this a very enjoyable time on the schooner. They shared many personal sailing stories that added to the experience. We would recommend that others sail with them.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you so much for spending time with us!

    Christmas gift was a grand experience

    Gil_B, Jul 2024
    The crew was wonderful and very helpful. Great food, drinks, and informative conversation. Wonderful weather and guests on board were friendly. Captain done a phenomenal job.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    We were so happy to have you aboard for a beautiful day on the bay!

    Amazing

    Jack_B, Jul 2024
    The owner in the crew of our boat were absolutely exceptional in their service, friendliness and knowledge that added to our fabulous experience.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Thank you so much for spending time with us. We loved having you aboard!

    Great time

    Abbie_F, Jul 2024
    The staff was kind, funny, wonderful and knowledgeable, great service and everything was beautiful. Great time.

    Response from Host, Aug 2024

    Hello there and thank you so much for your review and the stars! You are the best part of the experience for us!

    Beautiful Relaxing Afternoon

    Margarita_D, Jun 2024
    We had a lovely time on a boat - the team was experienced and engaging, creating a perfect environment for the trip. Highly recommend! Bring a sunscreen.

    Response from Host, Jun 2024

    Thank you so much. You are the best part of our day! Our hope is to see you again.

    From $189.00

    per person

    -You will not receive a refund if you cancel.

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 26 days in advance.

    Compare Similar Experiences

    1 / 2
    Current
    Day Sail from Traverse City with Food, Wine, & Cocktails


    2 hours 30 minutes
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $189.00
    Sunset Sail from Traverse City with Food, Wine & Cocktails


    2 hours 30 minutes
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $229.00