The highlight is the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Bike trail that runs for 20 miles from Empire to Northward to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore.
Right from the campground, you can hop on your bike and ride two miles to have a smaller dune climb experience by doing the Sleeping Bear Point Trail that takes you to Lake Michigan without having to do the killer 6.8 mile loop Dunes Climb Trail.
Instead we had a lovely walk along the lake after getting to the Point,
but I was still inspired to quick dip in the beautiful clear, but very cold Lake Michigan.
Had to stop by the Maritime Museum so John could take the Edmund Fitzgerald for a spin.
About two miles in the other direction from the campground is the lovely tourist catering town of Glen Arbor where we had 4 hours of outdoor music on a Thursday. Jimmy Olson was at the M22 wine bar where he was rocking two keyboards and singing originals and covers. We got the skinny about where to see music in Key West as the Michigan native heads there in the winter..
The Boondocks down the street was next stop where John was invited to play bass for Horse with No Name with Manitou Blue. 2 of the 3 played there regularly with the visiting percussionist who winters in Tampa and had a 60+ something desirable setup, that means not blaring loud even though we sat right in front of him. In addition to shakers, he had a set of congas and bongos, a cajon, and a bass foot pedal drum that was not like one in those cars that drive by and you think they must all be deaf inside. We were glad to be healthy and not Knockin on Heavens Door. It was an intimate and beautiful night on the deck. And, oh those long Michigan Summers, where you still had daylight to ride home for another hour after they stopped at 9pm. We were trying to get primed for the upcoming Traverse City Cherry Fest and had Cherry Cider, Beer and Cocktail. Although I read Cherry juice has naturally occurring Melatonin, we both had a hard time getting to sleep. The laptop as only a wee bit of battery left after my blogging and John’s late night computer gaming. We didn’t even need to set up the 25ft booster here either. Also nice, is from the campground, it is only a ¼ mile trek to Lake Michigan, and they even provide a boardwalk for most of it so setting up there for the day without a total body workout is quite doable.
Travels with Vinny VanGo 