SUMMER VACATION IN MICHIGAN

As I have told you in a previous blog. We worked at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore one summer 3 days a week as volunteers. I worked at the Dunes Book Store & my husband worked at the main park visitor's center at the town of Empire. We really enjoyed the area. {Don't forget when you get your park map as you enter all Natl. parks, momuments, Lakeshores, etc. stop at the visitors center and mark it with their stamp with the name of the park & date. Years later you can look in your file and know when you went to the..} being near the penisula area where all the cherry trees are. Yum, Yum. We are now hooked on dried cherries & will be till we die. I still send off and get a huge bag each year. We were first introduced to REAL (from the trees) Wisconsin Maple Syrup, also. I still send back and get that too. Anyway, enough about me and on to the things to do in that area. The mileage listed is from the previous town listed.

HONOR - (2 miles W. from Park) American Resort Campground on Deadstream Road. Two miles east of Honor is a Rock Shop where you can buy rocks for your rock collection. You must get one of the famous State "Petosky" Stones (beautiful and only found in a Northern Michigan State Store). They are found nowhere else on earth. If you are lucky you might find one on the ground just walking around.
BEULAH - (7 miles) Cherry Hut Restaurant (BEST cherry pie) & you can stand outside and watch them make the pies before you go in or after you eat. Market Basket next door is a must.
BENZONIA - (8 miles) Gwen Frostic Art Studio local (colorful) artist. Died the year before we worked there but I'm sure her wonderful Studio & Nature Artwork is still there. I hope so.
EMPIRE - (10 miles) south of the park Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park Visitor's Center.
Hike - Empire Bluff Trail (easy 1-1/2 miles round trip).
Drive- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (7 miles)
Climb - Sand Dune (5 miles N. of Visitor's center at Empire) ask at the Book Store at the Dune to see the tape of "Legend of the Sleeping Bear" if they don't have it on the screen so you know why the sand pile is there. Take a kleenex. The first thing we got there in the morning we were to turn on the tape for visitor's to see. Some employees about went nuts listening to it all day but I enjoyed it and the visitor's expressions & comments after seeing it. You can also buy the tape or probably DVD now.
GLEN ARBOR - (2 miles from sand dune) Totem Shop - get a, "I climbed Sleeping Bear Sand Dune Button" $1.50.
CHERRY REPUBLIC - several homemade cherry Ice Cream
Boom Chucka cookies.
Cherry Hot Dog or Hamburger
Cherry Republic Store - free - Chocolate covered cherries samples, cherry salsa, dressings,
jellies, etc, etc, etc. A MUST!!!
GLEN HAVEN - (1 mile) Maritime Museum - if there at 4pm stay for the Raggedy Ann & Andy
rescue by Ranger.

LELAND - (15 miles) you can take a short boat trip all day at Manitou Island (awesome).
NORTH POINT LIGHTHOUSE (30 miles N.) tour inside & surrounding buildings.

South of Empire

POINT BETSIE LIGHT HOUSE & BEACH
FRANKFORT - Beautiful Crystal Lake - rich summer cottages
ELBERTA - Peach capital. Mayfair Tavern Friday night fish fry $6.97 (worth the wait)
and if you have't seen Beulah & Benzonia drive around the lake. Same area also
PLATT RIVER POINT - 3 ft. deep has big tubes float trips on slow shallow water that runs to Lake Michigan.
INTERLOCKEN - Highway 31 - half way between Honor & Traverse City is the Famous Interlocken Arts Center -STOP - almost every night a concert. Free if you want to sit under
the trees outside Kresge's Auditorium like alot of locals.
Hofbraus Tavern - Prime Rib Sunday Buffet $9.00 11:00am (to die for)!
TRAVERSE CITY - old airport road off Highway 31/37 around the city.
Sara Lee Point - Outlet Store
Gordon Food Supply - Best Raspberry Vinigerette you've ever eaten.
8th St. - Victorian Homes
Bay Walk - along Grand Traverse Bay.
Meijiers or Prevo grocery - for 4 lbs. dried cherries or Chocolate Covered
cherries for $19.95!
Cherry Festival (July 9 & 10)
North on Highway 37 from Traverse City
OLD MISSION PENINSULA - Beautiful drive through cherry orchards, winery, looking down at East & West Bay of Grand Traverse Bay. Recommend eat at Old Mission
Tavern - Sunday noon are special dinners - lots of cherry dishes. If you eat the Chicken Cherry Salad - $8.50 you will know why I had to stock up on their raspberry vinegarette at Gordon Food Supply.
LIGHTHOUSE - at the end of the Peninsula to walk around & on the beach
North on Highway 31 from Traverse City - along east side of Grand Traverse Bay through towns
of ELK RAPIDS - our 1st fresh Michigan strawberries
CHARLEROIX - (beautiful little tourist harbor) can take a boat trip over to Beaver Island.
HARBOR SPRINGS - "Little Traverse" Oijbway Indian Village
PETOSKY - same as "the" stone. If you have lots of time & not pulling a rig Hi. 119 high above Lake Michigan with oceon view on narrow winding hilly road through GOOD HART to CROSS VILLAGE. Eat at "Legs Inn" famous Polish restaurant for decor as well as food. Ask about the legs decorations.

NOW - AWAY FROM LEELANAU PENINSULA AND TRAVERSE CITY AREA - fast way to Mackinwac Island -Arnold boat ride over very smooth water to Mackinac Island. No cars on the island but carriage ride is great. Good lunch at Fort catered by Grand Hotel (tour if time).
near Mackinwac City - Historic Mill Creek - very interesting about lumbering 1790's.

I better stop and start another page for the rest. We worked there several years ago so don't hold me to it if the prices and places aren't the same. These were all things we enjoyed the summer we were there.