Yes. There is even a shopping area and restaurants you can eat at. All without doing the tour.

If you're talking about the official guided tour, you have to book those in advance...we found that out the hard way. And also, we went in October, so there were more "spooky tours" than regular tours available and all were booked in advanced. But if you just want to go and explore grounds yourself, there are dozens of trails behind the main buildings that are available to be walked on from dawn to dusk. If you stop into the place that gives the tours and ask someone there, they'll give you a map of all the trail markers and points of interest...like the Hippie Tree. You can also find a map at the Traverse City Visitor Center and online too. Hope this helps...

You have to take the tour - I am pretty sure

I would highly recommend Cambria Suites. Located on Route 72 as you enter the city from the south or east. Excellent accommodations and friendly professional service. Free parking. They even offer a free shuttle that will drop off and pick up anywhere in the city. We used it to go downtown for dinner and to go for our tour at the Commons.

It’s spooky by nature but not intentionally. You can imagine what happened in the past while walking thru the brick lined tunnels

Hello- Yes tours are available in November, please visit our website for the availability. Thanks!

There are many old photos with descriptions as you walk around. You may certainly walk around as I did and get a feel for the place as it was. But you are experiencing it as it is as well.

Free - though tips appreciated

They are so amazing helpful there, I would just call and as where you booked the tour your probably not the first to ask that question!

We were on the 2-4 tour this past Sunday and he was the guide. He didn't mention whether he had done the morning tour or how often he works.