In search of more summer-like temperatures I crossed the Mackinac Bridge into Michigan's lower peninsula. I'm a member of Anytime Fitness so a city having a location (1500 locations nationwide) tends to draw me. Traverse City had one so I made that area a destination. About 25 miles to the west of the city is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore which I visited and toured by first visiting the Phillip Hart Visitor Center in Empire, MI to buy the $10 weekly park pass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlGrw_yb4RGj9eizV3wniBXSzwJf50iHUDujLUuSeTZCkgvpuToZBLBGAjfub7pKMafY5Rr9-aBcZ-MwzMI6p-CC5XMtp5NxPdsCmMEXYyykC7yXmv7zdNp0pa-I_l2c8Pavx55UNiJE/s400/Pierce+Stocking.jpg) |
Lake Michigan from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive |
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The first stops were along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive which is a winding one lane 7.5 mile paved road loop with 12 stops for different views of the lake and the dunes. The scenery is just spectacular.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadBn9RCuAN2qONCloVOXv2voFXQ2mNY-bJhvyEl7q0-3n25ULBNr5dnmRtSDCljJKQzlU8hATZhfw5FeyCOPreLf1PQKnwPjGAKXKpM07P-aJOJglCNsy0Sah4ExHdLVN8fFJsgqR-Fg/s400/Lake+MI.jpg) |
The dunes beach along Lake Michigan |
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It takes about an hour and a half to complete the Scenic Drive loop depending on how much photography you want to engage in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQPO6AmixFcv54SypIrjDxXVbfDgwthn7ZwiG3_wsCJRwCbsYdM5gbcS32VNpzVv7IBl90BhAYVm0nCDebXp7nQo9zgaKTf4lfxewUBxJO1U8iWv71if9Q4r2C-kX_yPpeWTB8N1L-ks/s400/Ore+Carrier.jpg) |
There's an ore carrier way out on the horizon |
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Next up was the Dune Climb where you....climb up a 110 foot sand dune that seems more like a couple miles high. Here's the first part of the climb.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa-m80BOJpksEmxAoCsBYaB1umlRlo-q2G7sONyF21bALay9EuLmkjG17-EJ98yBB3RBFAfqN-pblsibyLmFWIeX5WJtQK4zQBf52zULwbGNFcOGui_xm1XpLfwNqJqSmdXrNhqctlY8/s400/first+part.jpg) |
Initially it doesn't look too tough. |
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The tough part of the climbing is you slide back several inches for every step you take.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnx-hj3LYW47BXsCNELMctYEdX8IhqhutaWlkeTyrzKsvJFCLyhJDsmBUMo5av3nfO2qxgqpmcZB7B2kdDP6zfHQUazhI4_ax2ZdOrkJzs_QSfaJX3IH9ooOnL630nTCyhcuJI-1fbD-M/s400/Glen+Lakes.jpg) |
Glen Lake from the top of the dune. |
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After dumping sand out of my Topsiders I continued on to the historical town of Glen Haven, a steamship stop at the turn of the 20th century. There's a Maritime Museum there built around an actual Coast Guard station that is free to visit (donations accepted).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjdjyqsSEuVOVmLwY-NZFbye5ryqUrHJaGAicH2XMeJOC8sjG0UJwbdLy9jIUunq9j7UIc8AUfU0gyKkjdk6bMFy3PpzJLF8-UoH2JCNaHS1RVYh_5-G33lQ982k75xi5V0y1oxtftV0/s400/coast+guard.jpg) |
Lots of exhibits of early 1900's life. |
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They had a miniature cannon that fired rope 400 yards out to a sinking ship that allowed crewman to be brought to shore on....pretty cool!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxcoDHuvskcugP7N7-bPM4G5JVkJ3xXMvALo1xTNroBf5ZwegqyID_XzoNKRfvEXmQidMMEOdyylUdLQNIMajrzDZgmqKK6zd9qARTrx247pi1kZZ48LkWM5BtY4qbFyVZ1E_LEqNqas/s400/Cannon.jpg) |
I'm a sucker for cannons. | | | |
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