Sunny Old Bob's Guide Book to the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
Sightseeing
At the end of our road. Please support this locally owned business. You'll be able to buy staples and souvenirs. You can rent canoes, paddleboards, kayaks, and tubes.
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Riverside Canoe Trips
5042 N Scenic HwyAt the end of our road. Please support this locally owned business. You'll be able to buy staples and souvenirs. You can rent canoes, paddleboards, kayaks, and tubes.
If you are here, you might already have plans to climb the dunes. You'll need a park pass or to buy a day pass upon entry.
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Sleeping Bear Dunes
If you are here, you might already have plans to climb the dunes. You'll need a park pass or to buy a day pass upon entry.
There is a good dock for fishing and several hiking trails. In the winter, the trails are great for cross-country skiing.
Bass Lake
There is a good dock for fishing and several hiking trails. In the winter, the trails are great for cross-country skiing.
Interlochen attracts a surprisingly high caliber of artists. This year includes Ziggy Marley and Wilco. Check out what concerts are happening while you are visiting. The open-air venue is a treat.
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Interlochen Center for the Arts
4000 J. Maddy PkwyInterlochen attracts a surprisingly high caliber of artists. This year includes Ziggy Marley and Wilco. Check out what concerts are happening while you are visiting. The open-air venue is a treat.
Cherry EVERYTHING. They also serve staples like chicken salad (with cherries) and pot roast & mash potatoes (without). The sour cherries create pies that aren't too sweet. Pick up a pie to understand why the locals look forward to the opening every spring.
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The Cherry Hut
211 N Michigan AveCherry EVERYTHING. They also serve staples like chicken salad (with cherries) and pot roast & mash potatoes (without). The sour cherries create pies that aren't too sweet. Pick up a pie to understand why the locals look forward to the opening every spring.
One of our favorite beaches. If you rent from Riverside, you will most likely end your trip here. The Platte River flows swiftly into Lake Michigan giving you two types of beach to enjoy. The sunsets here are gorgeous with nice proximity to parking. In the summer, trout fishing is very popular. The trout start leaping out of the water as soon as the sun sets. We put our littles in life vests because the water is swift and the temptation to float all the way into Lake Michigan is too much!
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Platte River Point
One of our favorite beaches. If you rent from Riverside, you will most likely end your trip here. The Platte River flows swiftly into Lake Michigan giving you two types of beach to enjoy. The sunsets here are gorgeous with nice proximity to parking. In the summer, trout fishing is very popular. The trout start leaping out of the water as soon as the sun sets. We put our littles in life vests because the water is swift and the temptation to float all the way into Lake Michigan is too much!
This is the trail with the iconic view of the Lakeshore. An easy trail for large groups and young kids.
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Empire Bluff Trailhead
Empire Bluff TrailThis is the trail with the iconic view of the Lakeshore. An easy trail for large groups and young kids.
We love an after-dinner drive through Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. There are several places to park and hike. The views are breathtaking. There is also some history and science to be learned along the path.
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Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Entrance
South Dune HighwayWe love an after-dinner drive through Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. There are several places to park and hike. The views are breathtaking. There is also some history and science to be learned along the path.
They serve Moomers. If you haven't tried Moomers Ice Cream, you haven't really lived.
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The Scoop of Frankfort
321 Main StThey serve Moomers. If you haven't tried Moomers Ice Cream, you haven't really lived.
For those of you that do - Lume will deliver for a minimum order. Or order online and drive up.
Lume Cannabis Co.
9899 Honor HwyFor those of you that do - Lume will deliver for a minimum order. Or order online and drive up.
We love this beach for the playsets and floating platform. Crystal Lake is one of the largest lakes in Michigan with beautiful water. It can be choppy.
Crystal Beach
We love this beach for the playsets and floating platform. Crystal Lake is one of the largest lakes in Michigan with beautiful water. It can be choppy.
Shop-N-Save
1747 Benzie HwyThis is where we buy groceries.
Truly a gem. Be ready to pack in because you have to walk over some light dunes to get to the beach. Once you are there, you have a few miles of pristine beach and views. We have found many Petoskey stones on this beach.
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Peterson Beach Sleeping Bear Recreation Area
Truly a gem. Be ready to pack in because you have to walk over some light dunes to get to the beach. Once you are there, you have a few miles of pristine beach and views. We have found many Petoskey stones on this beach.
Food scene
This may be our favorite restaurant and is well worth the drive. The attention to quality and detail is amazing.
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Farm Club
10051 Lake Leelanau DriveThis may be our favorite restaurant and is well worth the drive. The attention to quality and detail is amazing.
Joe's Friendly Tavern
11015 W Front StBest burgers in the Lakeshore.
This has always been the family go-to for a steak dinner. They have a wonderful back deck for outdoor eating.
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Boone's Long Lake Inn
7208 Secor RdThis has always been the family go-to for a steak dinner. They have a wonderful back deck for outdoor eating.
Handmade chocolates. We love the chocolate popsicles after a hike on the Empire Bluff Trail.
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Grocer's Daughter Chocolate
11590 S Lacore StHandmade chocolates. We love the chocolate popsicles after a hike on the Empire Bluff Trail.
The picture isn't the real restaurant. The real restaurant has the traditional drive-up/drive-through. It has a great breakfast menu.
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A&W Restaurant
21 Lake StThe picture isn't the real restaurant. The real restaurant has the traditional drive-up/drive-through. It has a great breakfast menu.
Mead, wine, beer, and cider are made from local ingredients. It's a destination - especially for those that are gluten-free.
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St. Ambrose Cellars
841 S Pioneer RdMead, wine, beer, and cider are made from local ingredients. It's a destination - especially for those that are gluten-free.
Only open in the summers, this food truck makes some of the best pizza we have ever eaten. The dough is to die for with the perfect topping to sauce ratio.
Upriver Wood Fired Pizza
1681 Benzie HighwayOnly open in the summers, this food truck makes some of the best pizza we have ever eaten. The dough is to die for with the perfect topping to sauce ratio.
It's a local watering hole with unusually good food.
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Dinghy's Restaurant & Bar
415 Main StIt's a local watering hole with unusually good food.
City/town information
This is a historic fishing village. The village cheese shanty has sandwiches on pretzel bread. The Cove Restaurant has a deck that over looks the falls.
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Leland
This is a historic fishing village. The village cheese shanty has sandwiches on pretzel bread. The Cove Restaurant has a deck that over looks the falls.
Our favorite quick day trip. Lots of restaurants, a small movie theatre, beach, and quaint shops. There is also a grocery store and brewery.
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Frankfort
Our favorite quick day trip. Lots of restaurants, a small movie theatre, beach, and quaint shops. There is also a grocery store and brewery.
Home to more millennial millionaires than any other zip code in the US. It's a surprising tech and healthcare hub. There are a few public beaches and a delicious food scene. The downtown area is very walkable with lots of food and shopping options.
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Traverse City
Home to more millennial millionaires than any other zip code in the US. It's a surprising tech and healthcare hub. There are a few public beaches and a delicious food scene. The downtown area is very walkable with lots of food and shopping options.
The colorful buildings and friendly locals make this a good day trip.
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Suttons Bay
The colorful buildings and friendly locals make this a good day trip.
Sleepy little town within the Lakeshore. Enjoy ice cream, a chocolatier, small shops, and an awesome beach. We have seen locals surf off this beach.
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Empire
Sleepy little town within the Lakeshore. Enjoy ice cream, a chocolatier, small shops, and an awesome beach. We have seen locals surf off this beach.