Down in Northern Michigan

We have moved about a hundred miles south of the UP to Kalkaska by Traverse City. After being to the Indiana Dunes more times than I can count, I was not sure what to expect at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but it is waaaay more than I thought. Near the northernmost point, there was a cherry canning company that brought life to the area. Three Indian tribes shared the area and so there is a lot of Indian influence and history up here.

This is not like the Indiana Dunes – road, trees, dune, beach, water. 8000 years ago, the glaciers receded and the forests flourished. Logging took its toll but the government and private concerns rebuilt the forests and protect them now.
North and South Manitou Island offer ferry rides and tours. If you like roughing it, there are even primitive campgrounds on both islands.

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