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| Empire Bluff Trail Lookout |
We are totally in love with Michigan. It is becoming a frequent beach vacation spot for our family. This time, we visited the northwest coast of Michigan. Famous for its national park Sleeping Bear Dunes. It is one of the four National Lakeshore areas managed and protected by the federal government. I am not at all surprised to see all four National Lakeshore areas in and around the great lakes. Thanks to NPS, visitors can enjoy these beautiful areas for years to come. I love the crystal clear water, fine sand, and beaches filled with interesting and colorful stones. It is a perfect vacation spot for young families. The town of Empire is the closest to this national park and Traverse City is the major city nearby. The best place to start the journey is at Philip A Hart visitor center. We picked our entry passes from here before starting the trip. Entry is 25$ per vehicle and can be picked up from either the visitor center or can be paid at entry (only in summer months). Cell service here is not very reliable. Having a physical map or an offline map would come in handy.
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| Empire Bluff Trail |
Empire Bluff Trail: Empire Bluff Trail is only 1.5 miles south of the visitor center. This is probably the shortest and the easiest of all trails with spectacular views at the end. The major part of the trail is through a shaded path. Even though parts of the trail are hilly, it is not terribly difficult. If you are short on time or traveling with young kids and pets, this is a good trail to hike.
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| Stop 9 & 10: Lake Michigan & Sleeping Bear Overlook |
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive was named after Pierce Stocking. A lumberman who spent his spare time in nature and wanted to share Michigan's beauty with the rest of the world. He conceived the idea of building roads to the top of the dunes. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive entrance is 7 miles north of the Philip A Hart visitor center. The scenic drive loop is 7.4 miles long and it is a one-way road. There are several vista points touching the most beautiful places in the dunes. We found ourselves spending a good amount of time at Lake Michigan Lookout. The beautiful lake views were spectacular and we got our first taste of hiking the steep sand dunes at stops 9 and 10 in Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
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| Stop 2: Glen Lake View from the Scenic Drive |
Hiking Trails: There are several trails in and around the Sleeping Bear dunes area. The Dune Trail is the most strenuous trail in this National Park. If you think climbing one sand dune will get you to the lake, you are mistaken. To reach the beach one needs to climb a series of dunes and the full climb to the lake and back to the parking lot for the dune trail is almost 3.5 miles long. We visited the park in late spring where the temperatures were around 65-70ºF. The water was too cold for a swim but it was perfect for the dune climb. The Sleeping Bear Point trail is my favorite trail so far. I prefer looking at the beautiful lake and dipping my toes in the water to the strenuous dune climb. This trail has a perfect combination of dune climb and easy access to the lake. You can make a choice of doing either one or both. Pyramid Point Overlook is 20 miles north of the sleeping bear point. The trail is .5 miles long from the parking lot to the overlook. A good stop for beautiful views.
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| Dune Overlook |
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore & Glen Lake: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has a perfect beach with crystal clear shallow water. Even though the water was freezing cold, we enjoyed spending time on the beach. Skipping rocks, collecting stones, playing in the sand, and running away from bugs 😝. Make sure to pack bug repellant along with sunscreen. The one thing I regret not doing is not spending more time at Glen lake. Rent a pontoon at the marina and spend a lazy afternoon on the lake with family. We will be coming back to this place again for sure.
Traverse City and Torch Lake: Traverse City is best known for its beaches and cherries. Driving in and around Traverse City, you will find plenty of cherry farms. Mid-summer is the best time to visit cherry farms for cherry-picking. Another growing popularity is vineyards. Traverse City gives out a relaxed town vibe with plenty of lake-side parks to relax and play with easy access to water. For this visit, we skipped all indoor activities. But, we will be back in Traverse City to finish exploring. 40 minutes northeast of Traverse City is the beautiful Torch lake. This lake is one of the clearest lakes in the world. Its water changes from Deep blue to turquoise hence known as the mid-western Caribbean. The lakeshore is mostly occupied by private properties. However, there is a good number of public access points to the lake. the sand bar is famous for its crystal clear shallow waters.
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| Beautiful Sunset - Petoskey Harbor Breakwater |
Petoskey: I visited Petoskey State Park solely to hunt for the Petoskey stone, the official stone of Michigan state. According to rocktumbler.com, 'Petoskey stone is a fossil of a colonial coral. These corals lived in a shallow sea that covered what is now the great lakes area during the Devonian time, about 350 million years ago. When the corals died, the calcium carbide exoskeleton of the coral colony has become Petoskey Stone'. The stone is over picked and is not found easily in the state park. There is no guaranty, but might be a slight chance of finding Petoskey stone in one of the beaches with stones like Solanus mission beach or Petoskey harbor breakwater. Despite the stones, Petoskey has beautiful parks and beaches.
