REVIEW · TRAVERSE CITY
Private Traverse City Winery or Brewery Tour
Book on Viator →Operated by The Magic Shuttle Bus · Bookable on Viator
A half-day plan that frees you from driving. This private Traverse City winery and craft brewery tour is built for groups who want great scenery and tasting time, without stitching together directions or parking.
What really makes it interesting is the mix: you can hit four top-rated wineries or craft breweries in one smooth loop, and the whole thing is tailored to your group’s vibe. One more plus: you get a professional, flexible driver—people like Carol have been praised for clear communication and working around the schedule when possible.
The main thing to watch is time. With a total of about 4 hours and multiple stops, tasting and shopping can feel a bit tight if your group wants long sits at each location.
In This Review
- Key Things to Know Before You Go
- A Private Loop Through Old Mission, Leelanau, and Craft Beer Country
- How the Four Stops Work (and Why Custom Choices Matter)
- Your Driver, Your Vehicle, and the Cooler Trick
- Old Mission Wineries: Bowers Harbor to Chateau Chantal
- Leelanau Wineries: Choosing Your Style Without Guessing
- Traverse City Breweries: Craft Beer Stops Without the Driving Headache
- Timing and Tastings: Why 4 Hours Can Feel Right or Tight
- Price and Value for Up to 14 People
- Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want Something Else)
- Should You Book This Private Winery or Brewery Tour?
- FAQ
- How many stops are included in the tour?
- Can we choose which wineries or breweries we visit?
- How long is the tour?
- Is pickup available, and where does the tour start?
- Do you provide the vehicle and is it air-conditioned?
- Are wine or beer tastings included?
- Can we bring our own drinks?
- What happens if we need to cancel?
Key Things to Know Before You Go
- Pick your four stops: you’ll be asked which wineries/breweries you want, and if you don’t reply, the tour will choose.
- Old Mission + Leelanau + Traverse City options: the menu spans two major wine regions plus local breweries.
- No navigation stress: you ride in a vehicle while your guide handles routing between locations.
- Flexible bonus possibilities: on slower days, the driver may be able to squeeze in an extra quick stop if timing allows.
- Flights aren’t included: the cooler is there for your own drinks, but tastings and snacks are on you.
A Private Loop Through Old Mission, Leelanau, and Craft Beer Country
Traverse City is famous for wineries, but it’s also one of the better places in Michigan to mix wine with craft beer. This private tour takes that idea and makes it easy: you get a dedicated vehicle and a plan that can be mostly wine, mostly beer, or a mix.
The private format matters. Your group only shares the ride with your own people, so it’s simpler to match pace and interests—say, a birthday group that wants scenic photos and short tastings, or a team outing that wants a little more structure.
I also like that this is set up as a half-day. You’re not giving up a full day of your trip. It’s a smart way to sample the area without turning your schedule into a long logistics project.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Traverse City.
How the Four Stops Work (and Why Custom Choices Matter)
You get 4 stops total. The tour is set up so you tell them which locations you want after booking, and if you don’t respond, they pick the stops for you.
From a practical point of view, this is where the value shows up. Instead of hoping a fixed route lines up with your group’s tastes, you can steer it. Wine people can focus on certain styles and producers. Beer fans can cluster around local breweries. Big groups can split priorities (one side loves the winery experience; another side wants breweries).
Here’s the important reality check: because the tour is only about 4 hours, the stops are designed to be efficient. That doesn’t mean you’ll be rushed constantly, but it does mean you should set expectations that time for tastings and walking around may be limited per location.
If you do want a more leisurely pace, I’d plan on choosing places where you’d be happy with shorter tastings or where you can get what you want quickly.
Your Driver, Your Vehicle, and the Cooler Trick
You start at the CIVC Center Hotline at 1125 W Civic Center Dr in Traverse City, and the tour ends back there. Pickup is offered, but you’ll need to provide your address or hotel/lodging name and details.
A detail I really appreciate: the vehicles are described as tall buses, so you should flag any low-hanging branches, narrow drives, steep driveways, bridges, or no-turnaround areas. That’s the difference between a smooth pickup and a stressful last-minute scramble.
Inside, the vehicle is air-conditioned. And there’s a useful bonus mentioned: the bus has a cooler on board, and you can fill it with ice and beverages of your choice. That means your group can bring water, non-alcoholic drinks, or any beverages you want for the ride—handy on a warm day.
Also, it’s in English and uses a mobile ticket. Service animals are allowed, and it’s described as near public transportation, though you’ll mostly be moving by the group vehicle.
Old Mission Wineries: Bowers Harbor to Chateau Chantal
One of the big strengths of this tour is the range of wineries available to choose from. For Old Mission-style stops, you can select from places like:
- Mari Vineyards
- Bonobo
- Chateau Chantal
- Chateau Grand Traverse
- Peninsula Cellars
- Hawthorn
- Black Star Farms
- Two Lads
- Brys Estate
- Old Mission-area favorites like Bowers Harbor, depending on the chosen route
Old Mission wineries tend to be appealing for first-timers because many offer a classic tasting-room setup plus scenic grounds. If your group wants a classic “sit, taste, look around” experience, this is often where you’ll find it.
One practical note: if you want to maximize quality time, decide ahead of arrival what you’re trying to learn. For example: are you comparing reds between two wineries, or are you more curious about tasting-room atmosphere? When time is limited, having a quick game plan helps you get more out of your tastings.
A real plus from the experience descriptions: your group can also do a quick distillery-style bonus stop if the schedule allows. Old Mission Distillery is specifically mentioned as an example of a short add-on when timing works out.
Leelanau Wineries: Choosing Your Style Without Guessing
Leelanau is a strong partner region here, with options including:
- 45 North
- Aurora Cellars
- Bel Lago Vineyards
- Big Little Wines
- Blustone Vineyards
- Boathouse Vineyard
- Brengman Brothers
- Chateau de Leelanau
- Chateau Fontaine
- French Valley
- Good Harbor Vineyards
- L Mawby
- Laurentide Winery
- Leelanau Cellars
- Raftshol Vineyards
- Rove
- Shady Lane
- Verterra Winery
- Willow Vineyards
- plus more from the same selection list
If Old Mission appeals to classic tasting-room moments, Leelanau often appeals to groups who want to feel like they’re in wine country in a more distinct way. The names alone are a clue: this is a region stocked with wineries that are built for tasting and for enjoying the setting.
Because your tour stops are custom, you can steer this section toward what your group prefers:
- If your group loves crisp whites or lighter pours, prioritize wineries known for that style.
- If your group wants bolder reds, pick wineries that are famous for their more structured wines.
- If half your group wants wine and the other half wants photos, pick places with easy-to-walk areas.
And remember: the tour format is designed to fit a lot into a half-day, so you’re tasting, not doing marathon cellar tours. Choose fewer goals and you’ll enjoy the day more.
Traverse City Breweries: Craft Beer Stops Without the Driving Headache
Not every group wants wine, and that’s where the brewery selection is a big deal. You can choose four stops that may include craft breweries across the Traverse City area, such as:
- Big Cat Brewing Co.
- Brewery Terra Firma
- Crafthouse TC
- Earthen Ales
- Jolly Pumpkin
- Lake Ann Brewing Company
- Mackinaw Brewing Company
- Monkey Fist Brewing Co.
- North Peak Brewing Co.
- Rare Bird
- Right Brain
- Shorts Brewing Co.
- Stormcloud Brewing Company
- The Filling Station
- The Workshop Brewing Co.
This is a smart option for mixed groups: some people want wine, some people want beer, and everyone wants the same thing—good drinks, good conversation, and not worrying about traffic.
It also helps that the driver handles navigation. In brewery country, parking and timing can eat up your day. With a private schedule, you avoid that churn.
One more thing I’d plan for: brewery experiences can vary. Some tasting rooms move quickly; others encourage longer hangs. If you’re trying to do full flights at every stop, you’ll want to watch your time so you don’t lose the fun of the later locations.
Timing and Tastings: Why 4 Hours Can Feel Right or Tight
The tour runs about 4 hours and includes 4 stops. In real terms, that’s not a lot of breathing room per location, especially if you want time for:
- checking out the property
- ordering drinks and waiting for service
- browsing bottles or small shops
- swapping “what did you think of that pour?” stories
A common friction point is that some groups want more tasting time. If you’re celebrating—birthdays or bachelorette-style outings are specifically mentioned—people often start slow, then realize they want one more flight or another photo session. The vehicle schedule is still moving.
My tip: when you send your stop preferences, tell the provider what matters most. If your top priority is tastings, lean into fewer wineries where you can taste efficiently. If your top priority is atmosphere and photos, pick places where the tasting process is quick and the grounds are easy to enjoy in short bursts.
Good news: drivers on this kind of tour often keep an eye on timing. When there’s extra slack—like on a Tuesday when some locations can be quieter—the plan can feel smoother, and there may be room for a quick add-on.
Price and Value for Up to 14 People
At $699.99 per group (up to 14) for a half-day, this tour is priced like a private outing, not a public bus ride. That sounds pricey until you do the math for group size.
If you’re traveling with friends or a work team, the value improves fast because your cost doesn’t scale per person in the typical way. Instead, you’re buying a fixed private ride plus access to a curated set of stops.
What you should keep in mind: the tour includes the air-conditioned vehicle, and admission is listed as free. But alcoholic beverages (wine or beer flights) and snacks aren’t included. So your spend will shift to tasting fees and whatever you buy at the wineries/breweries.
I like the cooler detail here. If you budget for flights, snacks, and purchases, bringing your own non-alcoholic drinks for the ride can help keep the day comfortable without extra spending.
Overall, this is best when:
- you have a group of several people
- you want private routing instead of coordinating rideshares
- you want four stops without the stress of driving
Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want Something Else)
This private Traverse City tour is ideal for:
- groups celebrating birthdays and other occasions
- friend groups that want a smooth day with minimal effort
- teams who want a shared activity with built-in pacing
- anyone who wants to split the day between wine country and craft beer
You might want to consider a different format if:
- your group wants long, unhurried visits at each location
- your priority is deep, educational cellar time rather than tasting-room sampling
- you’re the type who hates being on any kind of schedule
One thing I genuinely appreciate is the flexibility. Even when the core plan is fixed at four stops, the driver communication and schedule awareness can make the day feel more relaxed than the clock suggests.
Should You Book This Private Winery or Brewery Tour?
Book it if you want effort-free navigation, a private vehicle, and the chance to pick the exact four wineries/breweries that match your group. It’s a great way to get a well-rounded taste of Traverse City wine and craft beer without turning your day into a driving contest.
I’d think twice if you’re the group that always says we’ll just spend an hour here… and then somehow you need two. With only about 4 hours, your best day comes from choosing stops that work well for quick tastings and choosing what matters most.
If you do book, send clear stop preferences early. Then go in with a simple plan for what you want from each tasting. You’ll leave with good bottles, better stories, and a lot less stress than trying to stitch together your own route.
FAQ
How many stops are included in the tour?
You’ll visit four wineries or craft breweries as part of the tour.
Can we choose which wineries or breweries we visit?
Yes. After booking, you’ll be messaged to select your four stops. If you don’t respond, the tour will choose the stops for you.
How long is the tour?
It runs for about 4 hours.
Is pickup available, and where does the tour start?
Pickup is offered. The tour starts at the CIVC Center Hotline, 1125 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City, and ends back at the meeting point.
Do you provide the vehicle and is it air-conditioned?
Yes. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle.
Are wine or beer tastings included?
No. Wine or beer flights (and any snacks or food) aren’t included.
Can we bring our own drinks?
Yes. The bus has a cooler on board, and you can fill it with ice and beverages of your choice.
What happens if we need to cancel?
The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.
