This was a part of our chauffeured wine tasting tour and the grounds had a lot of history. Also there were some very interesting and quaint handcrafted shops.
The Village, also known as the old State Mental Hospital, is one of the neatest spots in Traverse City. The renovation has been ongoing for a number of years. They've been going building by building and the results are gorgeous. It is a vibrant area with beautiful condos, lower income apartments, businesses, restaurants, a fair trade coffee company, a wine tasting room, bakery and many cute shops. There is a Senior Living Community that is due to open soon. I love the many activities that happen at the Commons such as farmer's markets and handmade craft shows. This is a wonderful place to enjoy, explore and photograph.
This renovation project is huge. Lots of boutique stores and a few restaurants on site. Prices for everything there are very high. The trattoria restaurant is very expensive and in my opinion not that good.
We actually visited The Village Shops in 2008 & although the building has been renovated more than before there are still not enough shops to visit.
My Wife and I went on the tour of the closed Traverse City State Hospital and it was an amazing experience. If you do nothing else in Traverse City, let Joe and Justin show you an amazing historic site and the largest restoration project anywhere. The steam tunnels alone are worth the trip.
Hmm...I'm still not sure what all the fuss is about. We had a difficult time finding anything to do here. We rode bikes a bit, but that was pretty much it.
If you want to combine a cool, semi- creepy historical experience with shopping the Village is definitely for you. Nestled in the lower level of the former TC State Hospital, the Village offers a unique mix of quality specialty shops, restaurants, and galleries. There is even a bakery and the Higher Grounds Coffee Shop (outstanding!).
We used to call it The Crazy House. It is still being renovated but the huge old buildings are amazing to walk around. Has a great place to buy fresh bread and a few shops inside the commons and they are continuing to add on special shops like the wine shop.We have eaten dinner there several times and it is a very unique experience. The food and vegetables are all from on site and no matter what you order you will not be disappointed.Expect to pay for the fresh food and excellent service though.
The Village was a great, fun place to shop and eat. We loved being able to walk inside from store to store, and the fudge/ice cream shop in there is a must!
with each new restaurant and each new shop and each new condo / apartment this place just vets better all the time. It is still a bit challenging to walk around and needs more shopping to make it a great destination - but I think it will get there in time