Among Saugatuck/Douglas, Ann Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes, there is something for everyone in Michigan
By Bryn Dippold
In the Midwest, we are geographically lucky. Even though we are landlocked from the oceans, we have five incredible great lakes to explore. Michigan, a state with over 3,000 miles of shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes and 19.3 million acres of forest land, is one of the best places to see all the Midwest has to offer thanks to its cities, lakeside towns, sand dunes, state parks, hiking and camping. In Ann Arbor, Saugatuck/Douglas and Sleeping Bear Dunes, there are endless opportunities to explore “Pure Michigan.”
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, a city of about 120,000 people in southeast Michigan, is a great destination for travelers wanting a city with a small-town feel. The walkable downtown is filled with art galleries, shops and world-class restaurants. There are over 400 restaurants in the city, with cuisine ranging from Ethiopian to Eastern European, Korean to American classics. Local farmers lend fresh vegetables, meat and grains to the dining scene.
Ann Arbor is also home to the University of Michigan, the oldest college in Michigan and one of the earliest American research universities, making it a college town and a center for tech innovation.
Outside of the dining scene and the university, Ann Arbor is recognized as an “urban oasis.” The Huron River, which runs through the city, offers kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding in the summer, while in the winter you can cross-country ski, snowshoe and ice skate. Nearby cities like Chelsea and Ypsilanti have mountain biking trails, hiking trails and golf courses with incredible views.
Saugatuck/Douglas
Located on the west side of the state and right on Lake Michigan is Saugatuck/Douglas, two towns that are technically separate but geographically adjacent, divided only by the Kalamazoo Lake. Both towns are noted art destinations, with galleries lining the streets and dozens of artists calling the towns home. Only about 2,000 individuals live in Saugatuck/Douglas year-round, meaning the area is prime for visitors.
Saugatuck/Douglas have award-winning beaches, a vast culinary scene and area “social districts,” where you can stroll through the downtown areas of Saugatuck, Douglas and nearby Fennville drink in hand while waiting for a table at a local restaurant. You’ll find no shortage of places to shop for jewelry, clothing, antiques and Michigan-made gourmet food.
For someone looking for an active vacation, the Saugatuck/Douglas region is home to one of Condé Nast’s Traveler’s Top 25 Beaches in the World, with six public beaches to choose from. There are also miles of trails for hiking, whether that be up Mt. Baldhead or a sandy dune. The expanse of Lake Michigan offers opportunities to enjoy a paddleboat, a chartered sailing or fishing boat, or a kayak or canoe to explore on your own accord.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Named the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America, Sleeping Bear Dunes is a hot spot tourist attraction in northern Michigan. Its National Lakeshore is located just west of Glen Arbor, Michigan, and bookended by Point Betsie, known as the most iconic lighthouse on the Great Lakes, in the south, and Leland, a historic fishing village, in the north. Within these 35 miles of lakeshore, you’ll find endless adventure.
Hiking is one of the biggest attractions at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and there are six well-known trails along the lakeshore. If you aren’t feeling like a long hike, a walk on the beaches of Sleeping Bear can be just as picturesque. Biking is also an option for visitors, and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is particularly challenging, as the trail is used by cars and buses, has many turns and has substantial elevation. For those looking for a challenge, Sleeping Bear Dunes has options.
Golfing, birdwatching and camping are also available, with camping being one of the best ways to see most of the region. North and South Manitou Islands, which are a short boat ride away from Leland, offer most of what the lakeshore does, and have more than a dozen Lake Michigan shipwrecks for brave divers to explore.
Though the best of Sleeping Bear Dunes lies at the dunes, in Leelanau County, there are options for dining, shopping, arts and museums, meaning there is truly something for everyone at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and in Michigan.
