Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Swim with Bears!

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by Dylan

This was a busy week because Meghann just moved into a new place.  Sorry for getting this post out to everyone a day later than scheduled!  To make up for the delay we have new up north videos just for you!  If you are interested in Sleeping Bear Dunes then also check out this post for Glen Arbor and another for Fishtown, which is just north of the national park headquarters and D.H. Day Campground.

Learn How Videos for Learning to Camp

1. How to Set up a Hammock and what to bring for the campfire
2. How to set up the inside of your tent
3. How to prepare for camp cooking
4. How to pack up your tent

1. Go to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore!

There is an official dune climb near the park's visitor center but I would not recommend spending any time there.  If you really want to experience a dune climb (pictured above) go to Pyramid Point.  Take M22 just north of Glen Arbor a few miles and head east towards Lake Michigan.  It is 300 feet to the water and steep!

Swim in Lake Michigan, enjoy the Maritime Museum, which we featured in a Glen Arbor post earlier this month.

National parks require a separate vehicle pass since they are not funded by the state park pass you may have already purchased with your Michgan license plate renewal.

2. Camp at D.H. Day Campground a mile south of Glen Arbor MI on M22

D.H. Day Campground is not a day camp, that is a guy's name, which is a little confusing for campers.  The camp location is perfect, situated a mile from Glen Arbor, the Vistor's Center, Glen Lake, Glen Haven and the campground is on Lake Michigan!  The grounds are well-maintained with campground hosts.  The bathrooms are nasty.  Do not camp within 5 sites of a bathroom.  When you need to freshen up, go to the Maritime Museum, which is part of the national park, at 10am when they open.  There are clean, indoor bathrooms there with running water and real toilets.  They also have changing tables for babies.

All of the campsites are half mile walk to Lake Michigan.  The beach is hard-packed and great for running.  Flies will hatch at certain times of day and "bug" you but come back an hour later and they should be gone.  The beach is really private for a park.  Campsites include a fire pit and picnic table. $5 bundles of wood are sold from a vending machine that takes singles or five dollar bills.  

3. Eat Dinner at Boone Docks

Boone Docks is in downtown Glen Arbor, just a few minutes north on M22 from the campground.  Food at Boone Docks is your standard American bar food.  We ate outdoor on the deck under the giant gazebo bar.  It's the type of place to like to roll into around happy hour with a band playing cover songs to an upbeat crowd, drinking wine out out plastic cups and slugging back fried foot an appetizers in baskets.

Boone Docks is a tourist trap, but it's just the kind I don't mind getting caught in!  After dinner cruise across the street the Pine Cone and grab yourself a hand dipped ice cream cone.  Get it... Pine CONE... ice cream cone!

4. Check Out the Secret Local's Lookout Spot

AHead north out of Glen Arbor and turn right on Overby Rd.  Take the first right into a new subdivision which is full of empty lots for sale.  The road winds around to the top of this beautiful overlook.  If you watch the slideshow at the top of this page you will see a slide with the address on Ridge St for the lookout and Nap Rock that Meghann is sleeping on!

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What Do You Think about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan?