Are you ready to be outdoors, hike a trail, step back in history or stroll a Lake Michigan beach? Then join National Park Service Park Rangers for “Saturdays at the Lakeshore” in June to explore the secret wonders of nature and history preserved at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Every Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., meet a Park Ranger at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire on M-72. The Park Ranger will introduce the week’s topic and then lead a car caravan a short distance to the starting point for the walk. Each week, a different topic and location in the park will be featured. All are welcome.

• June 6 - National Trails Day: Celebrate National Trails Day by hiking one of the park’s most beloved trails, Empire Bluffs. Think you have “been there and done that?” Join the Park Ranger leading this hike. She will lend you new eyes to see this old favorite in a whole new way!

• June 13 - National “Get Outdoors!” Day - The Heart of the Park: Explore the heart of the park with a Park Ranger in honor of National “Get Outdoors!” Day. Visit a place so rare that it qualifies as a national treasure. Very few people get to experience the secret works of nature that you will see and feel on this hike to the heart of our perched dunes.

• June 20 - Glen Haven Historic Village: Step back into the colorful past of an historic steamboat stop that operated from 1865 to 1931. Feel the past come back to life through stories on this Park Ranger-guided walking tour of the once bustling village.

• June 27 - Stroll the Lakeshore: Spend a relaxing afternoon at the beach! As you stroll along the Lake Michigan shore and tiptoe through the surf, a Park Ranger will help you discover the fascinating workings of a beach ecosystem.

All Park Ranger-led programs are free. Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass to join in the fun. Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group. Please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328, for details.

Founders of the northern Michigan company M-22 “The Broneah Brothers” (a.k.a. Matt and Keegan Myers) are offering a new way to experience their favorite roadway.  The “M-22 Challenge” is a local triathlete’s dream of running up and racing down the Sleeping Bear Dunes, a bike ride through historic downtown Glen Arbor, and a paddle race in Little Glen Lake.

The Challenge invites athletes of all levels; weekenders, high school students, and even the professional triathlon competitors will all find a challenge on the course, or at least a spectacular view.The course is to be designed to take average athlete approximately two hours to complete.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 20th. Participants will meet at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb park (Little Glen Lake Picnic Area) located on the northwest corner of Little Glen Lake on M-109 between Empire and Glen Arbor.

Beginning with the running portion, athletes will face a steep and sandy climb up the dune to the expansive view at the top. Competitors will then catch their breath in a fun run down the dune and along a groomed trail to M-109. On the road, runners will sprint back to the event site and transition area to complete the 2 mile run.

The second leg requires athletes to bike approximately 17 miles around Big and Little Glen Lake. Bike highlights include a peddle through downtown Glen Arbor, sections along the Crystal River, the famous M-22, and up Inspiration Point.

Transitioning from a bike to the water, the third and final portion of the event has participants paddling out and back into Little Glen Lake. The finish line of the event will be located in the water, guaranteed to create an exciting finish.

If watching the finish is all the “challenge” you need, make sure to be at the Little Glen Lake Picnic Area around 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20th.

The M-22 Challenge hopes to promote the area and its native beauty and resources found here. The Challenge aims to be fun, but don’t doubt that competition (and bragging rights) will take a back seat. The M-22 company bases products and events on its driving philosophy: “M-22 is not just a road; it’s a way of life.  Its bays, beaches and bonfires, dunes and vineyards, cottages, friends and family.  It is the feeling you get when you realize there is no other place you would rather be.”

If you’d rather be racing, make sure you complete the early registration by June 18th to reserve a spot and pay the $75 race fee.

For more information, contact Event Coordinator Matt Myers, Sr. at challenge@m22online.com or 231.392.2212. Check out specifics on the course: www.m22challenge.com

Wanna putt-putt? Kayak the Crystal River? How about some Donkey Kong?

The River, a local Glen Arbor hang-out and “Place of Happiness,” is now open summer hours for the 2009 season.

This family-friendly entertainment spot is old school in all the right ways.  Founders Mike and Becky Sutherland-along with their five children-built The River with one goal: “To create a place of happiness for folks that want to escape the whirlwind that has become the American lifestyle.”

The Crystal River, which connects Glen Lake to Lake Michigan, winds through the grounds in a lazy curve.  Located “in the shadow of the Sleeping Bear Dunes,” The River offers a variety of activities for all budgets, all weather, and all activity levels. Their theme, “It ain’t all about putt-putt,” is true!  Folks can certainly golf the mini-course (known as the “Pebble Beach of Putt-Putt”), but then follow it with a horse-drawn carriage tour of Glen Arbor, rent a canoe or kayak or tube for a ride down the Crystal, have a birthday party fully catered, play a video game or two, grab a class in fly-tying or polishing Petoskey stones, then grab some snacks or t-shirts at the Trading Post.  Whew!

The River is located at 5959 Oak Street (off M-22) in Glen Arbor.  Open 7 days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Give Mike or Becky a call to create a customized outing for a small or large gathering. (231)334-PUTT(7888)

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, the National Park Service (NPS) invites you to officially celebrate the relighting of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse.  Thanks to a partnership with Manitou Islands Memorial Society, Manitou Island Transit, and Electro-Optics Technology, Inc., Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore installed a replica third-order Fresnel lens in the completely refurbished lantern room of the lighthouse last fall.  Although the light was tested at that time, it was too late in the season to host a formal ceremony.

Starting at 9:00 p.m. at the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven, a National Park Service ranger will present a half-hour interpretive program about the history of the Manitou Passage, and the shipwrecks that made it necessary to install a lighthouse to guide mariners through its hazardous waters.  Following the program, Superintendent Dusty Shultz and representatives from the partner groups will provide brief remarks and recognize the numerous donors who made this project a reality.  Light refreshments will be served and, once it becomes dark enough, the light will be illuminated for everyone on shore to see and enjoy.

Lighting the South Manitou Island Lighthouse was a NPS Centennial Initiative project.  The Centennial Initiative is a 10-year program to reinvigorate America’s national parks by 2016, the hundredth anniversary of the National Park Service, and requires that all federal funds be matched with private donations.  Superintendent Shultz praised the efforts, saying, “The South Manitou Island Light project was a success because of strong partnerships and commitments from private donors.  Thanks to our generous supporters, the South Manitou light will shine on the horizon from May through October, and visitors to the island will be able to view the replica lens and lantern room and better appreciate all the work accomplished on this project.”

The replica third-order Fresnel lens was fabricated by Artworks Florida, and the lens is illuminated by a lighting source with a low-wattage bulb designed by Electro-Optics Technology, Inc. of Traverse City.  A crew of NPS maintenance personnel restored the lantern room and spiral stairway of the tower during the summer of 2008, and installed the lens and light in the fall.  The entire project cost $93,000 and was split equally between the National Park Service and private donations to the Manitou Islands Memorial Society, along with donated time and materials furnished by Electro-Optics Technology, Inc.

The Maritime Museum at Sleeping Bear Point is located on Glen Haven Road one half mile west of the Cannery in Glen Haven, an historic village located three miles west of Glen Arbor.

For more information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/slbe or call 231-326-5134.

Would you like to visit a beaver pond, listen for frogs, smell spring wildflowers, search for morels, or identify migrating birds?  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the place to do all that and more.  Spring is an excellent time to get outdoors and National Park Rangers are looking forward to sharing some of their favorite places in the Lakeshore with you during five “Saturdays at the Lakeshore” in May.

Every Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., a Park Ranger will await you at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center (VC) in Empire on M-72 to introduce a topic and then lead a car caravan a short distance to where the walk will begin.  Each week, a different topic and location in the park will be featured.  All are welcome.

May 2 - Mushrooms for Beginners: Learn how to tell a real morel from a false morel and how to identify several easy spring mushrooms.  The ranger will also explain the life of a mushroom and provide some tips on where to find your favorite variety.

May 9 - The World of Frogs: What would spring be without the sound of frogs?  They are disappearing all around the world.  Why are they still singing and what might they be trying to tell us?  Learn to identify several local varieties by sight and sound.  This is a great outdoor adventure for the whole family.

May 16 - Leave it to Beaver: Look for one of the few animals that dramatically engineer their environment and have played a major role in this region’s history.  See a dam, lodge, canals, and tunnels while learning more about beavers and their logging operations.

May 23 - A Flurry of Wild Flowers: Each spring, we are impressed with the abundance of wildflowers our hardwood forests offer!  Join a ranger to discover and marvel at this annual display of native plants as you hike through one of the best wildflower habitats in the region.

May 30 - Returning Birds: Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds.  Learn about the birds’ winter adventures in far-off lands and the distances they travel to get here.  This is a great opportunity for beginning birders.  Binoculars provided.

All ranger-led programs are free.  Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass already to join in the fun.  Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group.  Please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328, for details or log onto www.nps.gov/slbe.

If you gaze out toward the water from your window at The Homestead or toward the setting sun while relaxing at Otter Creek Beach, there’s a good chance you’ll see one this summer.

The stand-up paddleboard is here.  Born in ancient Polynesia, stand-up paddleboarding is said to have originated with surfing instructors who—to keep better eye on their students and incoming swells—took to standing up on their boards and using a paddle to get around.

SUP-ing is not only a fun way to surf. Since you’re standing up, gripping the board with your toes as you paddle back and forth trying to keep your balance in the chop, it’s also a new way to get a core workout like you wouldn’t believe.

Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak shop in Empire provides instruction and rentals ($35 for a half day, $49 for full day). Once you try a paddleboard and get hooked, the locals at Beach Nut Surfboards can teach you how to build one yourself at one of their regular how-to classes or with an on-line tutorial that’s currently in the works.

On Saturday, April 25, children of all ages are invited to become Junior Rangers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on National Junior Ranger Day.  Special activities begin at 10:00 a.m. and are planned throughout the day, with a badge and swearing in ceremony at 3:00 p.m.  To earn a Junior Ranger badge and an official certificate, prospects will just need to go on one ranger-led program (morning or afternoon) and complete a few activities in the free Junior Ranger booklet that will be available at the Visitor  Center in Empire.  Adults must accompany children at all times.

“We are excited about celebrating the 3rd Annual National Junior Ranger Day,” said Lisa Myers, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  “All across the country, from Yosemite National Park in California to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, people of all ages will go outside to explore, learn and protect their national parks.”  At the National Lakeshore, Park Rangers will offer the following programs:

10:00 a.m.:  Dune Discovery Walk - Meet at the base of the Dune Climb on Highway 109, two miles north of Empire.

1:00 p.m.:  Beach Discovery Walk - Meet at the Cannery (large red building at the end of Highway 209) in the historic village of Glen Haven north of the Dune Climb.

3:00 p.m.:  Junior Ranger Ceremony - Meet at the Visitor Center to take the Junior Ranger oath and receive a badge and certificate.  There will be light refreshments and prizes for all.

All activities are free; participants need only display an entrance pass on their vehicle dashboard whenever and wherever they are recreating within the park boundaries.  Passes may be purchased at the Visitor Center, Platte Point parking area, and Platte River Campground ($10/vehicle, valid for seven days; or $20/vehicle, for an entire year).

For more information about the schedule or other Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore activities, please call the Visitor Center at 231-326-5134 or go to www.nps.gov/slbe.

Love is in the air, the wine, the chocolate…

Celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day at the “Taste the Passion” weekend.  This special weekend celebrates the combination of winter’s beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life including local wines, decadent chocolates, and, yes, love.

The weekend starts on Saturday as you head to the first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass.  Then the fun begins with special pours and tasty treats offered at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and noon to 5pm on Sunday.  However, because one cannot survive on chocolate alone (tempting as it may sound), savory dishes will be served at a number of tasting rooms.

To add to the weekend’s festivities, several of the wineries will be holding special events exclusively for “Taste the Passion” ticket holders to celebrate the beauty of our winter wonderland. These events will provide countless photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera.

Kick off you weekend at The Homestead on February 6^th. A Friday night benefit mixer to kick off the “Taste the Passion” weekend will be held in the loft at Nonna’s Italian Restaurant at The Homestead from 6 to 8 PM.

Leelanau winery representatives will be in attendance and the evening will include a tasting of chocolates and cheeses with a cash bar featuring Leelanau wines. A $5 entry fee will be donated to the Glen Arbor Artists Association Scholarship Fund, and there will be art on display from member artists as well.

Tickets for “Taste the Passion” are just $30 each and may be purchased through the Leelanau Peninsula Vinter’s Association’s online store.

In addition to regular ticket sales, participating lodging partners will be offering a limited number of special accommodation packages that will include a ticket to the trail event.  Visit sponsored lodging packages page for further details.

Got snow?  The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore does.  A lot of it!

This year’s winter wonderland is just too wonderful to pass up, so get out there and explore. Excellent snow conditions have inspired the park to schedule additional snowshoe hikes on Sunday, January 18^th and Sunday, January 25th.

These are in addition to the snowshoe walks offered every Saturday through the end of February or later, if conditions permit. Each hike will start by meeting at the Philip Hart Visitor Center (VC) in Empire at 1:00 p.m. If you don’t have your own snowshoes, you may use a pair free of charge by calling ahead for a reservation. Please note these popular walks have been using up all of our “loaner” snowshoes, so get your reservation in early!

Inside the Visitor Center, a park ranger will distribute the “loaner” snowshoes and provide basic snowshoeing instructions. Then the ranger will lead everyone in their own cars to the trailhead of the day. On the trail, the ranger will help participants identify flora and fauna, learn more about the Lakeshore’s unique features, and witness the effects winter has on both. Visitors should arrive prepared to be outside for about an hour and a half. To be most comfortable and warm, dress in layers and wear waterproof boots. The program will conclude by 3:00 p.m. at the trailhead. Note that the VC closes at 4:00 p.m., should you want or need to go back after the walk.

Snowshoeing is easy, fun, and good exercise! If you can walk, then you can snowshoe, so it is also an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. The ranger-led hikes are mildly strenuous, yet they proceed at a leisurely pace for only 0.5 – 1.5 miles. This allows visitors an opportunity for discovery, adventure, and to look for signs of wildlife or evidence of ancient glaciers. Some snowshoers simply want to experience and enjoy a winter wonderland, and that is what you will find at the National Lakeshore. Be aware that Rangers usually select a different location each week, so experiences vary.

The walk and snowshoe loan are free. However, participants need to purchase a park entrance pass or display an annual pass in their vehicle to join in the fun. Park passes cost $10/vehicle and are good for seven days. The annual pass costs $20 and is valid for a year from the month of purchase. Teachers and other group leaders may also schedule a ranger to take their group snowshoeing this winter. Please call 231-326-5134, extension 328, for details and to make reservations. For more in-depth information about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, go to www.nps.gov/slbe.

Climbing the dunes in the summer is great, but make the ascent with a sled in hand and you’re ready for the ride of a lifetime.

At the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, the ever popular “Dune Climb” is open for the sledding season as long as the snow is here. It’s a perfect destination for your cabin-fever kids and their sleds, toboggans, saucers, tubes, or plastic garbage bags.  Send them up the hill as far as they’d like and watch them speed down with wide smiles and whoops of joy.

The Dune Climb is located on M-109 between Empire and Glen Arbor.  A park pass is required for the Dune Climb.