There’s nothing like a little national recognition to give tourism a shot in the arm.  One year after ABC’s Good Morning America viewers named the Sleeping Bear Dunes as the “Most Beautiful Place in America” local towns are bustling, the campgrounds are packed, and bookings are way up at area inns and resorts.

Hear what the locals are saying about how area business has changed and how long they think the boom will last.

Crazy, wonderful, and really fun to see – that’s how Lisa Myers, chief of interpretation and visitor services for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, describes life at the “Most Beautiful Place in America” over the last year.

“We know that visitation is up and has been ever since the Good Morning America announcement,” says Myers.  The bump was immediate and is still reverberating.”

In 2011, viewers of the popular ABC morning show cast tens of thousands of votes for Sleeping Bear, edging out places like Sedona, Yosemite, Aspen, and Cape Cod.

As of July 31, 2012, visitation throughout the park was up 28 percent – a record 860,156 visitors (2,000 per day) compared to 668,527 at the same time last year.  Myers says that overnight use of the D.H. Day Campground is up almost 25 percent.  And even mainland backcountry campsite use is way up, with reservations at Valley View campground in the Leelanau District jumping 55 and 42 percent, respectively.

No Tourist Trap

Calling Sleeping Bear the “best-vacation-spot-in-the-country” on national television probably didn’t come as a surprise to 1.2 million visitors who already make the annual trek to this quiet corner of northwest Lower Michigan.  But certainly surprising is how little the park experience has changed.

As writer, Melissa Anders, noted in a MLive article this summer, the uptick in visitors has translated into some lightly longer lines for Dune Dogs and at other area food, wine and tourist shops.  But, overall, the park and surrounding communities have not complained about any of the other typical trappings of increased tourism – namely traffic tie-ups and trash.  With its 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 71,199 acres of farm country and coastal forest, 26 inland lakes, 12 miles of rivers and stream, and more than 100 miles of hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails, the park experience is still the same as it ever was.  Maybe even better for the future of Sleeping Bear, Myers told MLive.

“This is America’s national park,” she said.  “It’s for everyone, and so the more people know about it, I think the better it will be protected because more people will realize how important it is and how valuable it is.”

A Place on the Water

Many area inns and resorts, namely The Homestead in Glen Arbor, also recorded a banner year of booking that show no sign of slowing down.  The Homestead hit a milestone in 2011 with guests arriving from all 50 American states, five Canadian provinces, and three foreign countries.

And then there are vacationers who came and fell so in love with the place they wanted to return – some permanently – to the region.

Diane Kemp, Resort Realty Manager at The Homestead, says the sale of vacant land, condominiums, fractional-ownership properties and single-family homes has almost doubled in the last year.

“Almost everybody I talk to mentions the Good Morning America announcement,” she says, adding that this has had a positive impact on property values in the area.  “Sellers at the resort are getting closer to their asking price and buyers – while many are still looking for the best value – are equally motivated by the prospect of getting a home in this most beautiful place.”

Many of the calls at The Homestead for vacations are now from people who have not been to the area before, according to Kemp.  No doubt recent media attention on nearby Traverse City as a top destination for beer lovers, film goers, foodies, golfers, cyclists, boaters, book lovers, and retirees has helped.  But Kemp also gives credit to the state’s Pure Michigan campaign along with coverage in other media outlets, including National Geographic Traveler magazine, Family Circle magazine and others as contributing factors that continue to keep the region in the minds of vacationers and vacation-home buyers.

“Because of that [the continued recognitions],” she says, “we believe this is a trend that can sustain itself for years to come.”

Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) on snowshoes this winter! Join Park Rangers for a guided snowshoe hike this holiday season and every Saturday throughout the winter.  The first hike of the season will be on Thursday, December 29 at 1:00 p.m.  Thereafter, regularly scheduled Saturday snowshoe hikes will start up again on Saturday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m.  Meet at the National Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire.  If you do not have your own, snowshoes will be loaned out at no charge.

Inside the Visitor Center, Park Rangers will first provide basic snowshoeing instructions and then everyone will travel by car to the trailhead or area of the National Lakeshore pre-selected for that day. Once there, the Park Ranger will help participants learn about the park’s unique features and winter’s effect on them by exploring and discovering clues on site.  Be prepared and plan to be outside until about 3:00 p.m.  Dress in layers and wear waterproof boots to be most comfortable.

Not only is snowshoeing easy, fun, and good exercise, it is also an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages.  The Park Ranger-led hikes are mildly strenuous, yet they proceed at a leisurely pace for only one and a half miles at the most. 

 Since the National Park Service has a supply of snowshoes for use within the National Lakeshore, participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass to join in the fun.  Reservations are required.  Park Ranger-led snowshoe hikes are limited to 30 participants.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134, extension 328, for details and to make reservations or visit the website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

About the National Park Service:  More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 397 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Learn more at www.nps.gov.

This is an official press release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire. Release date: December 9, 2011. Contact: Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134, ext. 301, lisa_griebel@nps.gov.

Blog by Jonathan Schechter of Earth’s Almanac

Article “Spirit Song of a Michigan Ghost Forest” (8/31/11). Reprinted by permission from Earth’s Almanac. All photos are by Jonathan Schechter.

Walk silently through the haunting landscape of the ghost forest of Sleeping Bear Point Trail and wind spirits whisper to you and chatter among the skeletons of long dead cedars.
If you do not hear them you are not listening.  I am sure the Anishinaabek knew the song in their day on Sleeping Bear.

The ghost forest is stark evidence of shifting sand dunes and endless winds that writes new pages  daily in the story of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an ever-changing masterpiece created by the last glacial retreat and now protected by our National Park Service. 

Sand and wind in concert is powerful.

Although each grain of sand is just the tiniest of specks, in 1931 the U.S. Coast Guard buildings now in the town of Glen Haven had to be moved from Sleeping Bear Point before the migrating dunes buried them.

The story of sand dunes and ghost forests is without end, but to feel the earth moving forces of ice, wind and water that sing nature’s song you must walk the sands.

And I will walk there again in a land that is full of mystery and wonder, and home to black bears, bobcats and perhaps a few cougars. 

NOTE:  Final photo by Shaina O’Dwyer, Environmental Management System Management Representative of  the Grand Traverse Resort And Spa.

During this most recent exploration of Sleeping Bear I was a participant in an environmental writers ecology tour sponsored by the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa www.grandtraverseresort.com with assistance and logistical support  from the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Traverse City www.visittraversecity.com and the staff of the National Park Service at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore  www.nps.gov/slbe.

You can find Jonathan Schechter on his blog at Earth’s Almanac, a blog of The Oakland Press.

By Guest Blogger, Nina Asunto
 

For any hikers out there in need of a vacation with limited time available, consider South Manitou Island. With just three days at your disposal, it is possible to enjoy an unhurried visit that is part backpacking trip, part summer beach vacation. Observe historic artifacts, take in spectacular views, and fall asleep to the sound of Lake Michigan’s calming surf while hiking the island’s perimeter.

Manitou Island Transit Ferry

Your first day begins by taking the passenger ferry from Leland to South Manitou. After National Park Service orientation, you are free to begin hiking north to Popple Campground, the island’s most secluded spot, approximately 3 ½ miles from the boathouse. You will have two options to get there:

• Head inland immediately to observe ruins from the island’s agricultural history, or
• Walk the beach along Crescent Bay before eventually turning inland and then heading north.

Campers venturing to Popple Campground should be experienced and properly equipped. There is no drinking water available; water must be collected from the lake and purified for drinking and cooking. The majority of visitors stay near the island’s south end, so camping at the far north offers little in the way of company. Your reward is a very private campsite and a beautiful stretch of lakeshore that does not see much traffic. Enjoy the afternoon at this secluded beach – you might have it all to yourself.

South Manitou Island Beach

The following morning, sleep as long as you like before packing up and heading down to the beach for a leisurely day traveling the water’s edge. Take your time walking the seven miles to your next campsite; this beach hike offers spectacular views of turquoise water, khaki sand, and towering bluffs. With over 100 miles of Lake Michigan’s expanse stretching out before you, it is easy to imagine you are on an exotic island in the ocean, far from the Midwest.

South Manitou Island Bluff

As you travel south, the flat, sandy beach gives way to a rockier shore flanked by increasingly tall bluffs. Watch for the occasional freighter in the distance as you near the island’s Southwest corner. Coming around to the island’s south side, you will spot the remains of the Francisco Morazan shipwreck, a freighter that ran aground in 1960. Still jutting out of its watery grave, this shipwreck is just offshore from another nice stretch of sandy beach, where you can expect to see fellow visitors swimming, climbing the adjacent dunes, or simply relaxing in the sun. Just under two miles ahead, a handful of paths from the beach lead up a sandy bluff to Weather Station Campground. Weather Station Campground is much more populated than Popple Campground, and some of the campsites are located near the edge of the bluffs with views of the lake and distant mainland.

Francisco Morazan Shipwreck

After a good night’s sleep courtesy of Lake Michigan’s surf, begin your third and final day on the island enjoying the sights at your leisure. The ferry does not leave until 4:00 p.m., leaving you with nearly the whole day to explore. From Weather Station Campground, continue hiking along the beach for 1 ½ miles to South Manitou Lighthouse, then follow the boardwalk to the ranger station. From here, you may leave your backpack at the boathouse and decide how to spend therest of your day. A guided tour to the top of the 100-foot lighthouse offers impressive views of the endless lake and surrounding landscape, or, if you would like additional adventure, a 6-mile roundtrip hike to a stand of ancient cedars begins near the lighthouse. Just be sure to be ready to board the ferry when it departs unless you are looking for an accidental extension to your vacation.

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

Although Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a highly-visited summer destination, hiking and camping on South Manitou Island should be taken seriously. Once visitors step off the ferry, they are essentially on their own. The island’s park rangers greet each batch of visitors, offer helpful information, and answer questions, but they are often out patrolling the island and not readily available in the case of an emergency. Poison ivy is abundant in many places on the island, so care should be taken when venturing into the woods and even along some paths. Keeping these things in mind will allow for a memorable weekend that you are bound to want to repeat.

 

Nina Asunto on Sleeping Bear Point Trail

(Photo by Jonathan Schechter., July 2011)

By Guest Blogger, Jonathan Schechter’s of Earth’s Almanac. Reprinted with permission.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

All photos by Jonathan Schechter at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on July 15 & 16, 2011. (No filters used, no images edited or altered.) Mother Nature at her finest!

Long ago in the land that is now Wisconsin, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. They swam and swam but soon the two cubs tired and lagged far behind. Mother bear finally reached the opposite shore and climbed to the top of the bluff to watch and wait  for her offspring. But the cubs drowned. Today, “Sleeping Bear”, a solitary dune in Michigan overlooking Lake Michigan, marks the spot where mother bear waited.  Her lost cubs are the two Manitou Islands.  —an Anishinaaabek Indian Legend  (reprinted from National Park Service brochure)

Detailed information on Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore: www.nps.gov/slbe

Sleeping Bear is a rugged and dramatic landscape, a masterpiece of ice, wind and weather. My favorite time to explore and camp in the park’s back country remains autumn and winter. But even in the heat of the summer when the dunes are simmering with heat and tourist flood the roads even a short walk will set you free in the ever changing scene of this Michigan wonderland.

The rugged dunes of Pyramid Point, a personal favorite.

A Nothern river otter with fish dinner in Good Harbor Bay

Curious fawn near Platte River Point

Full moon over Glen Lake (camera steadied with mini-tripod)

Sunset from Empire Bluff 1

Sunset from Empire Bluff 2

Sunset from Empire Bluff 3

A spider on Empire Bluff prepares for a night hunt against the red sunset

Sunrise at Platte River Point

Red fox track along the sands of Platte Bay (I followed for 1/8 of a mile)

The Platte River a few hundred yards from Lake Michigan

On the trail down from Empire Bluff.

A reminder to the public on bears. Bears are common at Sleeping Bear.

Even in summer an early morning walk brings solitude in the land of the sleeping bear.

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in May

The Dunes are awash in delightful shades of green and white that is only visible in the spring. The leaves on the trees create a canopy of pale green over Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The roadside is covered with a carpet of green and mostly white wildflowers.

Dutchman’s Breeches hang like tiny little bells on the forest floor.

Duchtman's Breeches

White Trillum stand like little solders doting the woods with white, often towering over smaller plants and flowers.

Trillium

Small wild violets with light purple centers clustered along the roadside.

Wild Violets

More flowers with white pedals. We think the wildflower below is a Cutleaf Toothwort.

Cutleaf Toothwort

Below is an invasive, non-native species called Creeping Myrtel. It is pretty, but it is not good for the habitat.

Creeping Myrtel (non-native invasive plant)

Now is a perfect time for a drive or a hike through Sleeping Bear Dunes to experience the dunes coming back to life after a long winter. The leaves are still small and the forest growth is low, so you can see deep into the woods. Flowers and new grown is easy to spot. Before long the woods will be thick with dark green leaves and vegetation.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

One of the joys of living or traveling to Northern Michigan this time of year is not only seeing multitudes of fruit trees in bloom, or thousands of white Trillium covering a hillside, or the brilliant yellow marsh marigolds that brighten the bogs, ditches, and swampy areas of Leelanau, but hunting and finding little mushroom called a morel. Morel mushrooms are considered a gourmet delicacy and taste delicious sautéed, in sauces or sliced thinly.

Morel hunting is very popular all over the country, but it is especially popular in Leelanau because of the beautiful scenery and abundance of hiking trails and woods. The morel season starts in Leelanau when the daily temperatures reach the sixties during the day and no colder than the forties at night. Morel mushrooms grow when the temperature, humidity, variance between daytime and nighttime temperature, soil acidity are just right.

When hunting for morels, it is best to start looking after a rain. Morel mushrooms are typically found in moist areas, around dying or dead trees, in stream and river beds, and around fallen timber and brush. Specifically, morels like the shade of poplar, elm, maple and fruit trees. Bring a stick to push aside tall weeds, limps and grass to get a look at the group.

It is thrilling to poke through the woods, grass and underneath leaves to find the tasty little morsel. Once you find one morel mushroom, often others are near by. Gently tug the morel from the ground using your hands, not a knife. Use a woven mesh bag or woven basket to collect your morels. Morels spread through spores, which shake loose when they are jostled. Allowing the spores to fall to the ground will help to ensure morel growth in the future. Do not wash the mushrooms once you return home. Brush off dirt with a soft brush and store in a paper bag for no more than two days.

Hollow Core of a Morel Mushroom

Hunters should beware that there are mushrooms called false morels that can make you sick. Study pictures of morels before venturing out or bring someone with you that knows the differences between safe and unsafe mushrooms. Morels always have a cap that is hollow with a cone shape directly attached to the hollow stem.

We would love to hear about your morel hunting stories. Post your familiy or group pictures on our Facebook wall and tell us a bit about your hike.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get the latest news, events and stories from Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

Bird Watching at the Dunes (Photo by Leelanau.com)

Every Saturday, and sometimes on Sundays, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is abuzz with activity as families, couples, groups and individuals participate in a ranger-led hike through the lakeshore. Each weekend there is a new topic presented and hike to different parts of the national park. The hikes take place all year long, even in the cold and slushy months of March, April and November.  There is no charge for the hikes, but a daily or annual park pass is required to enter the park.

Participants meet their ranger at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center at either 10:00 am or 1:00 pm to start the program. The park ranger begins with an introduction to that week’s topic and then the group drives together in a caravan to the hike location. Each program lasts one to two hours with a hike of no more than 1 1/2 miles each.

Some programs do not start at the Visitors Center but rather begin at a specified location. Be sure to check on the National Park Service website for the hike location starting point.

Park Bike Tour (Photy by Glen Arbor Sun)

The park service is also offering special bicyle hikes at the lakeshore this month. Be sure your bicycle is tuned, tires are inflated and the brakes work. 

Participants are encouraged to check the weather before leaving home and wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather. Wear sturdy tennis or hiking shoes. Consider bringing or wearing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Always pack a water bottle to rehydrate you during the hike.

Lakeshore Hikes in May

May 14 - (Hike) “Returning Birds”
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a park ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds and learn about their winter adventures in far-off lands. This is a great opportunity for beginning birders. Bring binoculars or borrow some from the ranger.

Migratory Birds

May 21 – (Hike) “Search and Rescue”
Do you ever wonder what happens during a search and rescue? Come and learn about the process of a search and rescue on the dunes. Observe as the training takes place in the park and learn some tips to be safe in the Lakeshore. Meet at the Visitor Center in Empire for a short introduction about search and rescue and then car caravan to watch the seach and rescue team in action.

May 28, 10:00 am (Bike Tour) “Beach Ride at Platte River Campground ” (3 miles, 1 hour)
Join a Park Ranger for an adventure to learn about invasive species and the threat that they pose to our resources. This bicycle tour consists of a short ride through the woods to the beach at the end of Peterson Road. Meet at the Platte River Campground Ranger Station parking lot.

May 28, 1:00 pm (Hike)  “Protecting Piping Plover Personalities”
Our endangered plovers have so much personality for being such tiny birds. Learn how we are sometimes just like the plover and catch a glimpse of them at their nesting sites.

May 28, 3:00 pm (Hike) “Heroes of the Storm”
Experience turn-of-the-century shipwreck rescue techniques with this hands-on program designed for children of all ages. Audience participation is encouraged. Meet at the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven.

May 28, 8:00 pm (Hike)  “An Evening Out with a Park Ranger”
Enjoy an evening outdoors with a Park Ranger at a campground talk about the park’s natural and cultural treasures. Meet at the Platte River Campground Amphitheater. The facility is handicapped accessible.

May 29, 2:00 pm (Bike Tour) ”Recreation and Tourism: Past, Present, and Future” (9 miles, 2.5 hours)
Bicycle through history with a Park Ranger and discover how people have kicked back and relaxed along the lakeshore. What has changed over time and how might we recreate in the future? Meet at the Glen Lake Picnic Area, located off M-109, near the Dune Climb.

Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group. Please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328, for details or visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore website.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder

By guest blogger and photographer Terry Zweering  

FUN Photography Ranger-Led Hike (Photo by Terry Zweering)

On April 10, 2011 several families gathered at the Phillip A.Hart Center in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for the event: Family Fun Photography Hike.  After receiving our nature journals, photo tips and instructions for the hike we headed to Empire Bluffs.  The day was mild and overcast, great for hiking and taking photographs.

Our assignment was two-fold:

1.  Rainbow Scavenger Hunt – find and photograph the colors of the rainbow

2.  National Park Patch Hunt – find and photograph the five elements of the National Park Patch – Waterways, Landscapes, History, Culture, Living animals

The color hunt was the most challenging, but with many eyes peeled and a little help from the ranger we found most of the rainbow colors. The children were really excited when the ranger pointed out living critters along the way.  As we approached the bluff we were wowed by the gorgeous blue color of Lake Michigan and views to be seen.  The cameras were busy then for sure.

It was great to see families interacting with each other as they observed nature.  Thank-you to the ranger and intern for arranging this themed hike for families.  Next time we are in the area I’ll bring my grandsons.  They would love it!

Facebook Post on March 1, 2011, 7:33 am, “Ice Dreams”

Ice Dreams (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

Quickly I went through my checklist, threw my gear on and tried to slow my heart rate down!  Anyway, again I got to walk on pure ice!  As pure as the 50mph winds and cold temps from the night before. Folks, again I was surrounded by a glorious grandness. I knelt, I felt and I turned over to lay flat on the ice. I wanted to be one with it.

I heard the crashing of the waves on the shores, so I moved towards, and climbed down the ice wall to the polished stone beach. The ice was gigantic from this perspective. I climbed behind an ice structure to block the waves from my upper body. I hunkered down and tucked my legs in and wrapped my arms around myself, like I was bear-hugging me body. But what I was doing was immersing myself in a moment. Not knowing how long I needed, I closed my eyes and listened to the waves stirring the slush-ice and finally crashing along the shores. It was wooshingly soothing!

“I was not alone.”  That is what I was thinking. You know the feeling. Time must have moved, but it felt so still, so calm. I opened my eyes, I was still here. The ice was so softly white, it was highlighted with a magical light, coming from a setting sun, and as I started to stand, I noticed a couple standing and staring out into Lake Michigan. I was not alone. Rarely am I though!Again I was on the receiving end of a true blessing. Oh What a Life!

Facebook Post on March 1, 2011, 7:42 am, “Ice Breakers”

Ice Breakers (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

The wind blows across the water. The blown water makes a wave. The waves rush to the beach only to be turned away, but in doing so they make the most soothing sounds. They repeat, one after another, almost as if they are never going to stop. On this day, the waves were gentle. They spoke, I listened. The water was moved by the wind, and I was moved by the waves. I was here today to capture beauty and the beauty captured me! It wrapped itself around me and led me to a incredibly peaceful, happy place. All this caused by a little wind! What a Life!

Facebook Post on March 2, 2011, 2:04 pm, “Beautiful Ice on Lake Michigan”

Beautiful Ice on Lake Michigan (Photo by Mark Lindsay)

Mark Lindsay: “This was the tail end of a day trip spent along the shores of Lake Michigan with my youngest son, Jack. We started with a Polar Dip in Empire and traveled south and hit all the simple entry points along M-22. We went to Frankfort for a quick coffee break and there was a snow-cross right down Main Street. Many photo opportunities today and lots of running up and down icy beaches for Jack!! Grand Day!”

Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau: “Is this photo for real? Wow! Spectacular is not a strong enough word!”

Mark Lindsay: “It is certainly real, very much touchable and it was wonderful spending some time tucked down below it and listening to the waves washing up little pieces of ice on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was almost like little chimes rattling an awesome tune!”

Photographers, we really love when you post on our Facebook wall to share the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes. We also love it when you tell us what it is like the moment you captured it on film (digital card). We welcome any blog articles or Facebook posts like the one above. Feel free to post on our Facebook wall or if you would like to write a blog article (it is really easy to do), email it to info@sleepingbeardunes.com with jpgs of your photographs or we can download them from of Facebook.

Blog by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder and Mark Lindsay