Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of my favorite destinations.
We've visited the park many times, in several different seasons, and we make it a point to try stopping first at the park's Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center every time we're in the area.
Phillip A. Hart was a Democratic U.S. Senator representing Michigan from 1959 to 1976. Hart, a strong proponent of issues like civil rights and environmental protection, earned the honor of having the park headquarters bear his name because he was the driving force behind getting legislation passed to protect the park for future Michigan residents and visitors.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes owe their name, if you can believe a popular Native American legend, to the sad story two bear cubs that died trying to escape a forest fire. The cubs and their mother attempted swimming to safety as a forest fire drove them from their northern Wisconsin home. The mother made it across Lake Michigan, while the cubs tired and drowned just short of safety on shore in northwestern Michigan. Today, a large sand dune represents the mother who climbed atop a bluff in Michigan hoping to see her cubs make it to shore, while two islands represent the cubs where they drowned just short of shore.
Visitors can learn about the Sleeping Bear legend, ongoing efforts to protect the area, and check out a several exhibits about the geology, ecology, and history of the park at the visitor center.
The center also has other resources to help visitors make the most of their time at the park, which covers 71,000 acres and includes 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the big dune, scenic drives, 58 miles of marked hiking trails, camp grounds, North and South Manitou islands, and areas open to hunters and boaters.
You can find a lot of information about the area, its attractions, and seasonal events with the Sleeping Bear Dunes online visitor guide, but visiting the center is even better because you can pick up detailed hiking trail maps, pick up park brochures and booklets, and talk to park rangers to ask specific questions. The visitor center is also one of the best places to purchase your park pass (the $10 for a week-long pass or $20 for an annual pass goes toward park maintenance and improvement) or hit the restrooms before getting out to enjoy the park.
One of my favorite features of the center is the gift store. I've purchased books, caps, T-shirts, scrapbook stickers, and other gifts at the visitor center over the years. You might be able to find a few of the items elsewhere, but I like buying them at the visitor center because that money also goes to support the park.
The Phillip A. Hart Visitor center is about 22 miles east of Traverse City in the village of Empire and is open every day but Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Want to read more about the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore? Check out these stories at Midwest Guest:
Port Oneida Rural Historic District celebrates northern Michigan's agricultural heritage
Conquering the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb
Seven sensational Great Lakes National Parks
You might also enjoy one of these books about the park and its history:
Soaring and Gliding: The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Area (Images of Aviation)© Dominique King 2010 All rights reserved
This sounds like a great place to visit on my way to my mothers house in Michigan.The park pass is pretty cheap and my kids will probably have a wonderful time there.Cant wait to see it!!
Posted by: I love washington scenic drives | September 16, 2010 at 12:11 PM
It's a great park, f'sure. We've been there during different seasons, and there is always plenty to see and do...hiking, cross-country skiing, climbing the dunes, touring historic ghost towns, etc.
Posted by: Dominique King | September 16, 2010 at 05:38 PM