Sleeping Bear Dunes

and the Cherry Capitol of the World

We camped in Empire, Michigan (6 nights), primarily to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes, and maybe take a quick trip into Traverse City on our last day. We learned, once here, that Traverse City, Michigan is known as the “Cherry Capital of the World”. Its airport is even named Cherry Capital Airport! And it does, indeed, supply 75% of the world’s tart cherries. As residents of Washington, we have to say this about that…Washington is the top U.S. producer of sweet cherries, followed by Oregon and California, with the three producing about 90% of the quantity world wide.

A couple of other things that we’ve learned over our last couple of stops. The Great Lakes hold 10% of the world’s fresh water. Michigan, which borders on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, has the most lighthouses in the US, with over 150 active and inactive lighthouses along the Great Lakes (once ~250). Here they say it has the most shoreline of any state except Alaska, but according to NOAA, counting Coastline and Great Lakes Shoreline only, it ranks #9. Still pretty impressive, for a state with only Great Lakes Shoreline. (Fun Fact, Alaska has more Coastline than all the other states combined.) ANYWAY…on to what we did here…

Visits to 1 new National Park Site:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (#254), where miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world and high dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history. We visited the park 4 days:

• Started at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center (only 3 miles from camp), followed by a drive on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, stopping at all pullouts, learning the Legend of Sleeping Bear, and hiking the Cottonwood Trail.
• Then visited the Glen Haven Historic District, including the Blacksmith Shop (with demos), the General Store, the Cannery Boat Museum, and the Sleeping Bear Point US Life-Saving Service Maritime Museum.
• Stopped by the Dune Center on our way back to camp, but did not do the Dune Climb (our cover picture), expecting to climb some dunes on our hikes the next day.
• Hiked the Sleeping Bear Point Trail and went to the beach at Sleeping Bear Point, where we waded in Lake Michigan, first time since 2012. Drove farther north and hiked out to Pyramid Point.
• We “lucked out” again! Once a year, on the second Friday and Saturday in August, the Port Oneida Fair displays the crafts, skills, and talents that made rural life productive and enjoyable during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. We attended a whole day of the Port Oneida Fair…Otherwise, the visitor center has limited hours and one just drives around Historic Port Oneida, to see the outside of the farms.
• ABORTED! (due to winds & choppy water) a day trip to South Manitou Island, so we missed visiting the South Manitou Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station, Old Growth Cedar Forests, the Francisco Morazan shipwreck, and more.
• Wrapped up our visit with a short hike out the popular Empire Bluff Trail.

Aborted Boat Trip to South Manitou Island

We found out our day trip to South Manitou Island was canceled when we got to Leland ~9:15 on Saturday, to check in. Regrouping, we decided to drive along some of that Michigan Lake Shoreline, and visit Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Mission Point Lighthouse, instead. Nice ~150 mile drive, which also included a detour around a Doggy Parade in Northport, a stop at the Leelanau Farmers Market in Suttons Bay, and a trip to our 53rd Costco in Traverse City.

Off for Mackinaw City

Planning to stop at Hartwick Pines State Park, home to the last stand of Old Growth White Pine, most of which was wiped out by the late 19th century Michigan Lumber Industry.

For more pictures, see (in-work) Adventure Album:  Great Lakes East

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