Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes covers  35 miles along Lake Michigan, in lower Michigan. Beside the incredible dunes and scenic drive there is a boat museum and the historic village of Glen Haven. Do you remember canned Glen Haven Cherries? Good Morning America named Sleeping Bear  the "Most Beautiful Place in America". Since then visitation is up 22% in 2012, over 2011. The drive along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is beautiful. Stop 9 is the best. You are on a platform 450 above the lake. Here is where there are magnificent views of the Dunes. This is a super drive of about 7.5 miles.

Check out the different colors of the water

This is as far as I'm going.

A long way down, but the climb will take a lot of effort.

An inland ocean.

This photo was zoomed in at about 80 power.

This is the same photo at 10 power, Linda's camera is doing a great job for us, simple to use with a great zoom. Thank you Santa.

Then there is the Dune climb. This is a smaller dune you can climb.

Along the drive, a basswood tree.

The boat Museum, there is the history about each boat

The village of Glen Haven

The blacksmith, his first day back this year. Things are just starting to open up. The big tourist season starts in July.

This is a close-up of that farm in one of the above photo's

 

Wildflowers

Lilacs wild all over the place, just growing wide.

For more info see www.nps.gov/slbe