Michigan
Alger County ~ Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore
Grand Sable Dunes ~ Dunes Trail
Burt Township, MI
Our Rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* We absolutely loved this hike, it was super fun to watch the landscape change from a typical forest into a sand dune the higher you got up. The views at the top are also extremely rewarding and breathtaking to see. We went midweek and were lucky enough to be the only ones on the trail.
About the place:
You won’t want to miss this beautiful stop if you’re in Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. These huge dunes take up 5 square miles and are the result of debris left by ancient glaciers. According to https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature/sanddunes.htm, about 4-6,000 years ago, when the earth was at it’s last high water period, the waves eroded the rocks creating sand that was then blown onto shore, creating the dunes we see today. I am not positive how long the trail is, it was a 3/4 mile hike from the parking lot to the trail head and then about another 3/4 mile hike to the view of the dunes.
How to get there:
The 3/4 mile trail from the parking lot to the trail head can be difficult to find especially when the greenery is grown in. If you have difficulty finding it like we did, it is located just next to the bathrooms in the corner of the parking lot. Follow this trail for 3/4 of a mile and then start onto the Dunes Trail.
Things near by:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 2.6 miles (4 mins)
Emmet and Cheboygan counties
Mackinac Bridge
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Hwy. Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Our Rating:
*3 out of 5 stars* The Mackinac Bridge is beautiful to see especially from a distance.
About the place:
The Mackinac Bridge is known as one of the worlds largest suspended bridges and splits right between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. To be exact, this bridge spans 26,372 feet long. You can get a great view of this bridge from the Alexander Henry Park.
How to get there:
The Alexander Henry Park is located on North Huron Road and the bridge is located on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway in Mackinaw City.
Things near by:
Wawatam Lighthouse 4 miles away (8 mins)
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry 5 miles away (10 mins)
Mackinac Bridge 8.1 miles away (12 mins)
Mystery Spot
N916 Martin Lake Rd. St Ignace, MI 49781
Mackinac County
Our Rating:
*3 out of 5 stars* This was a super fun & quick stop! We had a great time exploring through this mystery area. You will truly be mind blown by the odd occurrences that happen during this short tour.
About the place:
The Mystery Spot is known to be world famous due to the very odd things that happen in this small area. There are a few of these mystery spots that have been discovered throughout the States. It’s difficult to capture these strange events on camera, so it really is a place you have to see for yourself. The tour is said to take about 45 minutes, although we went on a week day and it only took us about 15-20 mins, it probably depends on how many people are apart of your tour. Warning: If you have an issue with nausea this may not be the best place for you. People often tend to get light headed and feel the odd effects of the location. If you’d like to continue the fun, there are also zip lines, mini golf, an arcade, a maze and a gift shop!
How to get there:
You will see the signs for the Mystery Spot well before you get there so it’s fairly easy to find. To get there turn off of U.S. Hwy 2 E onto Martin Lake Road.
Things near by:
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry 5.4 miles away (7 mins)
Wawatam Lighthouse 5.4 miles away (7 mins)
Mackinac Bridge 12.1 miles away (18 mins)
Alger County
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising, MI
Our Rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* The Pictured Rocks is truly a magical place to visit. It’s incredibly beautiful and something everyone should see. This has been on my bucket list for years, so happy we got to finally visit!
About the Place:
Pictured Rocks was the United States very 1st National Lakeshore, established in 1966. Although, that was not when it was first discovered, this location had been appreciated for hundreds of years prior to this by Native Americans & explorers. These beautiful cliffs found along more than 42-miles of Lake Superior are littered with the most beautiful colors. These unique colors come from the minerals as ground water seeps out of the cracks of the cliffs, carrying all different minerals with each droplet. The blue & green comes from copper, the red & orange from Iron, white from Limonite and the brown & black from Magnesium. The best way to view this beautiful landscape is by taking one of the Pictured Rocks Cruises (https://picturedrocks.com/) in Munising. The Captain on this Cruise will provide you with tons of knowledge on the history of the location, get you up close to these incredible cliffs and give you once in a lifetime views of those very cliffs that are eroding everyday. Another popular attraction that we didn’t get a chance to check out is the Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours (https://shipwrecktours.com/). This 2 hour cruise takes you over 2 shipwrecks, gorgeous views of cliffs and so much more. There are also many beautiful overlooks that you can hike to, the Miners Castle is my personal favorite. You can access a beautiful view of Miners Castle without hiking by parking at the large parking lot on Miners Castle Road and walking over to the upper & lower lookout platforms. Grand Sable Dunes is also an incredibly beautiful landmark in the Pictured Rocks that I wouldn’t miss. The Dunes trail is a perfect hike to see the best views of the Dunes.
How to get there:
There is no one way to get here since the Pictured Rocks takes up 42-miles of lakeshore but the Cruises are located in downtown Munising.
Things near by:
Traverse City 27.8 miles (37 mins)
Grand Sable Dunes 2.6 miles (5 mins)
Leelanau & Benzie County
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Our Rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* This has become one of our favorite places we’ve ever visited. The absolutely stunning views at this park will truly blow you away. We highly recommend checking this stop out, it is definitely a bucket list spot!
About the Place:
This park is truly an incredible place and not anything you’d ever expect to be in Michigan. This location right on Lake Michigan is filled with tons of trails and beautiful views, below is the details on the trails/scenic drives that we were able to visit while passing through on our 2022 road trip. It is important to note that the National Lakeshore charges a visitor fee of $20 per car for a 7 day pass or $40 for an annual pass.
Empire Bluff Trail
About the place:
The Empire Bluff trail located at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a must do at this beautiful park! This trail is approximately 1.5 miles round trip and offers the most rewarding views. It’s a sandy hike so you will definitely need a good pair of shoes to hike in.
How to get there:
The Empire Bluff Trail is located off of Wilco Road where there is a decent sized parking lot and the start of the trail head.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
About the place:
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is also a must do while visiting the park, especially if you’re short on time. This is only a 7.4 mile one-way loop that has 12 incredible stops with overlooks & other unbelievable views. At the tops of these dunes there is nothing but the bluest water for as far as the eye can see, it’s hard to believe that this is not an ocean.
How to get there:
This scenic drive is nice and easy to find, the GPS will take you right to it. Incase you have a difficult time finding it, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is located right off of South Dune Highway.
Things near by:
Dunes Climb 0.3 miles away (4 mins)
Empire Beach 6.1 miles away (11 mins)
Pyramid Point Overlook Trail 9.8 miles away (18 mins)