Michigan woman debuts Traverse City-themed iPhone app

Lake Ann resident Brandy Wheeler has debuted a new iPhone App called "Traverse Traveler". The free app is designed to help visitors to the Traverse City area connect with wineries, restaurants and attractions.

Traverse Traveler features the best destinations in the Traverse City region, in a convenient interactive resource and can be downloaded at the Apple app store or at http://TraverseTraveler.com.

There are thousands of apps out there, many of which promote restaurants, movie theaters or general information about an area. So what makes Traverse Traveler unique?

Descriptions include information many other apps leave out such as photos, hours, admission price or specials. Since it was designed and written by locals, Wheeler believes it’ll have the local features and insight others can’t possibly know about.

Listings are ordered by proximity to the iPhone user. So if you’re hanging out on Leelanau County, the listings nearest to you come up first. This is helpful for finding a hotel for the night, or the closest bar.

“Our maps and directions will make it easy to navigate from one location to the next," Wheeler said. "You can hop from Black Star Farms Winery to Bel Lago Vineyard without getting lost along the way. Plus, the visitor will be able to find the out-of-the-way restaurant or local hotspot that’s just off the beaten path.”

“Another cool feature,” said Wheeler, “if you want to tell your friends about a great microbrew you just tasted, you can post it to Facebook or Twitter or even e-mail info to your friends without leaving the app.”

Events are organized by date to let you know what’s going on while you’re in town. The "Near Me" feature pinpoints the 25 listings closest to the iPhone user, from within all categories.

The Traverse Traveler iPhone app was produced by Wheeler’s Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas, a 10-year-old Traverse City marketing service with “little card displays” in over 70 locations throughout Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau County. The displays promote area restaurants and attractions, with pocket-sized folding cards that visitors pick-up at hotel front desks.

"The number one reason our little cards are so popular among visitors is their size. Travelers love them because they fit in their pocket or purse...right next to their phone. The iPhone app is a natural extension of our services. As a small business owner I work hard to keep up with technology and the needs of my customers. The app is a great way to do just that," said Wheeler.

Visitors and locals can use Traverse Traveler to:

• Research local hotels, pinpoint their location on Google maps
• Call to book a reservation for a hotel or restaurant
• Plan a wine tour with driving directions from one winery to the next
• Find a nearby attraction such as a lighthouse or a museum
• Find the quickest route from the hotel to the ski lodge, with point-by-point directions
• Discover local events and buy tickets before leaving home

The release of Traverse Traveler arrived just in time for holiday vacationers to download and explore before visiting northern Michigan during the Christmas break. Traverse City is a year-round Pure Michigan destination.