We just got back from 3 days in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Area, and after a spring FULL of sports and events, it was just the nice bonding time we needed together.
Our original plan for this summer was to visit our National Parks out west and use our 4th grader’s Every Kid Outdoors pass. Funny enough, the kids didn’t want to go because there are still places in Michigan they want to explore. So instead, they requested Sleeping Bear Dunes.
I can’t blame them — Sleeping Bear Dunes and the towns of Empire, Glen Arbor and throughout the Leelenau Peninsula are some of the most gorgeous places in Michigan. There’s tons for families who love the outdoors, too!
During our visit, we didn’t have great weather. It was chilly, rainy and foggy…But that didn’t stop us from having a great time.
Sharing our itinerary with the hopes of inspiring your family. There is plenty more to do in the area, so make sure to chime in with your favorites in the comments.
Family Itinerary: 3 Days in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Area
Day 1: Drive to Glen Arbor
We decided to take the scenic route and drive along the lakeshore versus driving through the middle of the state. This route takes 45 minutes longer but is 100% worth it.
On this day we made several stops on the drive. I would’ve squeezed in even more if we had time! {You can see my overly ambitious list of places to visit along the coast on this trip at this Google Map}
- Country Dairy in New Era: Cow farm that has tours, and amazing fresh dairy and beef products. We had lunch here and it was great. We especially enjoyed the bottomless chocolate milk that came with the meals! {If you’re near here and have time, I also highly recommend a visit to Lewis Farms}
- Cosmic Candy in Pentwater: We are pressed penny collectors, so wanted to stop here to add to our collection. What a great shop! Pentwater was absolutely adorable too!
- Manistee North Pier Lighthouse: We had never seen this lighthouse and this was the perfect place to stretch our legs.
- Champion Sequoia at Lake Bluff Arboretum in Manistee: Just up the road from the pier is a champion sequoia tree. Such a lovely surprise because I thought those could only grow in California! It was a beautiful stop with another incredible lake view.
- Inspiration Point Scenic Turnout in Arcadia: This is a scenic pull-over spot with stairs to climb. Definitely worth a stop to see the beauty of Lake Michigan. {There is also a bathroom here.}
- Gwen Frostic Studios in Benzonia: If you are familiar with Gwen, she was one of the most famous artists in Michigan. Her nature-inspired art is found everywhere in Northern Michigan. Her story is incredible.
Finally, we arrived at our destination in Glen Arbor. We grabbed groceries for dinner, and walked the beach for rocks by our condo.
We stayed in this VRBO rental because we wanted to be right on the beach. The rates are affordable in early June, but quickly get more expensive as summer goes on. I would absolutely recommend this, especially for families of 5-6! It was so clean and perfect for our family.
DAY 2: Shopping in Glen Arbor and Leland
This day brought rain so we opted for a slow morning together, but we made the most of it! A few highlights:
- We each picked a souvenir in Glen Arbor where there are some amazing shops in town.
- The kids LOVED the samples at Cherry Republic and really enjoyed competing to see who could spit cherry pits the farthest while mom and dad sampled wine.
- We discovered a Little Free Art Library and a fairy garden at the Glen Arbor Arts Center.
- We had lunch at Art’s Tavern — one of the most famous “dive bars” in Michigan. The kids loved controlling the jukebox and the ceiling full of college pennants. {Just heads up, it’s cash or check only!}
- Everyone except mom napped for a drive up to Leland. We enjoyed more shopping there, along with ice cream and fish dip in Fishtown.
- We headed to Van’s Beach in the rain and found tons of Petoskey stones and Leland Blue.
- We went to Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse in Maple City for dinner where there was live music. If we had time, we totally would’ve done ice curling as a family.
DAY 3: Sleeping Bear Dunes
- We started our day heading into town for some picnic supplies, grabbing a coffee at Leelenau Coffee and shopping at M22.
- Our first stop was to hike the Empire Bluff Trail. This is one of my favorites in Michigan! Unfortunately, fog blocked our views, but we still had a blast together on the trail.
- Then we headed to Pierce Stocking Drive to drive the near 8-mile loop of beauty. Once again, fog blocked the most gorgeous views, but the kids got a kick out of running up and down the dunes. During the drive, we stopped at Picnic Hill for a picnic, which was perfect since there aren’t a ton of restaurants in the immediate area.
- We hit up the Dune Climb, which my son was especially eager to do. We couldn’t park fast enough and all the kids were out of the car and running up the hill. I was a bit hesitant, but ended up having a great time! I opted to wear tennis shoes, but on the cooler day, the rest of my family was barefoot. {I’d bring shoes though as the darker sand can get hot}. We didn’t continue all the way to the lake, but it was absolutely worth the breath-taking view from the top.
- From there we headed into the unique beach village of Glen Haven where we enjoyed a blacksmith demo, old boats and some beach time. I wish we had more time to spend here because the kids loved it and it was all free to visit!
- During the evening, my husband and I snuck over to Blu for a fancy anniversary dinner to celebrate 15 years married and grabbed pizza in town for the kids. Then we enjoyed a bonfire and more rock collecting on the beach. It was a perfect day!
On the fourth morning, we headed home. Overall it was an incredible vacation and one every Michigan family needs to do at least once!
If you’d like to do this trip just as a couple, see this post. There are tons of wineries in the area, and they are way less busy than the Traverse City ones 😉
What other gems does your family enjoy on the NW corner of our state?
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