Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a scenic area located on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The park offers 35 miles of wonderful beaches and many  great hikes.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore is also true to its name. While you will see beautiful and wild shores of Lake Michigan with amazing dunes, you may also see a bear. We did! A black bear ran across the street right in front of our car. Although we didn’t have time to grab the camera, we loved seeing a bear in the Midwest. It was rather unexpected!

Exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is fun. I thought the beach down Peterson Road was wonderful. The sand was soft and fine, and the water felt particularly refreshing. Above all, it was empty and quiet. I really enjoyed sitting on a log and staring at the lake. It was rather relaxing!

Another area to explore is the beach at the end of Lake Michigan Road. This is where the Platte River joins Lake Michigan. You can swim or picnic here but arrive early as the place gets crowded.

The dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are fantastic. They’re incredibly high but if you’re up to it, you can certainly do a dune climb. While we did several shorter walks on the dunes, some brave souls ventured all the way down to the beach and back up. I was glad it wasn’t me! Dune climbing is not easy!

Finally, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is an 8-mile loop through a maple forest with scenic overlooks of the lakeshore and the dunes. It didn’t take long but was really enjoyable.