Sleeping Bear Dunes

We ran away to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park this last weekend.
It's on the upper North-West part of the state, on Lake Michigan.
It has been voted the most beautiful place in America, and I can see why.
It was fantastic! We had such a good time!


Prediction of rain that night?
Not in our tent.
We totally had a big thunder and lightening storm that night, but we were as dry as a bone inside our lovely tent. It was actually very cathartic to sleep to the rain.

There's a reason they call it Sleeping BEAR Dunes.
Lots of bears.
Good thing we had this handy 'man-hand only' food locker.

The Dunes!
Well, just a part of them. They are miles, and miles long.
And super duper big.
You see those tiny people on them???

Here's an aerial view I found online of the Dunes.

You can see how they are these huge drops into Lake Michigan.

(reference the tiny white things at the bottom of the dunes in the water- those are real sized waves)

Anyway- back to us.
Starting our assent up some of the dunes.

 

Toddler in 'sandbox' heaven.

 

It was unreal beautiful and clear

 

It totally felt like being out in the Sahara or something (minus the crazy heat)
I loved the striations in the sand.

We hiked about 6 of these dunes in a row (they're in a row leading up to the Lake).
Some Sophia walked, but mostly Daddy carried her.

View behind the Dunes of Glen Lake

 

Running up the dune!

At the top!

Hurray!

Mommy says hurray too!

So happy to be at the top (it was a long climb- probably about 150 yards at a 45 degree angle, and on slippery sand).
One down. Five to go.

 

The Lawrence of Arabia moment.

 

We finally got to a view of the Lake!

Beautiful.

Running down the dunes.
Much more fun than walking up.

Couldn't get over the view.

 

Mmmm- so happy

 

After our hike up the Dunes, we took a bike ride through the woods to the historic town of Glen Haven.
I love the forests out here.

"Are you coming? Or are you going to take pictures all day?"

"Probably take pictures."

Cute little town of Glen Haven.
Turn of the century stuff.
With the sand, historic town, and cypress trees- it totally reminded us of Monterey, California (one of our most favorite places).

Sophia checking out the Blacksmith shop

 

Even had a canning house like Monterey

The water was such a beautiful blue.
Almost tropical color.
Too bad it's super duper cold!

Sophie on the beach

 

Enjoying the view and frozen feet

 

All of our feet!

Sophia trying to skip rocks like daddy.

This used to be a harbor town actually
(lots of commerce comes across Lake Michigan).
Here's an old tug boat

 

Sophia having way too much fun!

The next morning (after the thunder storm) we got to our favorite part of camping.
Breakfast on the campfire!

Just a quick view of our campsite.
It was a walk-in site, which meant we had to cart everything from our car about 150 yards in to the woods. Not the easiest thing- but super secluded and beautiful.

Sophia helping to supervise making breakfast.
I love her with her mug. It just had granola in it, but it looks like she was having her morning cup of coffee- haha

 

Another quick hike down to the Platte River Beach, just a mile or so from our campsite.

Beautiful colors with the storm clouds passing through!
Unbelievable.

 

What else is there to do at a big lake, than throw rocks???

Sophia, once again, jumping and rolling in all the sand.

 

 

The token pictures of mommy

 

The light from the clouds was just awesome

View on the sand...

...so picturesque.
I decided it looked like a postcard.
"Wish you were here."

Sophia: The Forrest Ranger

Next was the Seven Mile Drive
Just a fun drive with the most scenic stops along the dunes.
More of the beautiful forest.

Glen Lake again.
Rick said he wants to live here now- seriously. haha!

A photography lesson (and I'm by no means an expert).
This is the photo I took.
Notice you see the people, the view, and their faces are lit and in focus.

The photo you get when you hand the camera over to strangers.
Zoomed in, barely any of the lake, and my face is fuzzy.
I know I'm picky- but this is why I'm never in any pictures!

Sophia enjoying the drive (can you tell?!)

Outlook over the dunes and Lake Michigan. 

 

That point of curvature is the just the beginning of the 200 yard very steep descent to the Lake.

Rick getting much to close to the edge for my comfort.

Us on top of the world!

 

Here's a better view of the descent.
You can see the tiny waves at the bottom (they're actually the size of normal ocean waves in a bay)
And you can see the tiny dots which are people climbing up and down the dunes.
They encourage you not to, because they're so steep, but know people are dumb and will do it anyway.
So they have signs warning of a 'rescuing fee' for all those who get stuck trying to get back up.

 

 

Looking over the dunes made by millions of years of glacial drift

Last stop at the top of Pyramid Point.

We had SUCH a great time!
So beautiful- definitely worth seeing.