Sunny Old Bob's Guidebook to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes
Sightseeing
A local gem! Get all your urgent needs or plan a water adventure. End your evening with some ice cream sitting around their fire pit.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Riverside Canoe Trips
5042 N Scenic HwyA local gem! Get all your urgent needs or plan a water adventure. End your evening with some ice cream sitting around their fire pit.
A must do! Climb the dunes and run down them. It's best to visit early in the morning before the heat of the day. Walk back toward Lake Michigan to catch a glimpse of the two cubs (North and South Manitou).
Sleeping Bear Dunes Entrance
A must do! Climb the dunes and run down them. It's best to visit early in the morning before the heat of the day. Walk back toward Lake Michigan to catch a glimpse of the two cubs (North and South Manitou).
Paddle board or take your own/rented boat up river to Platte lake and enjoy a day on the sand bar with other locals.
Platte Lake
Paddle board or take your own/rented boat up river to Platte lake and enjoy a day on the sand bar with other locals.
Join the tubing seen with a float down to where Platte river meets Lake Michigan
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Platte River Point
Join the tubing seen with a float down to where Platte river meets Lake Michigan
A great hike to an overview of the iconic Empire Bluff view.
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Empire Bluff Trailhead
Empire Bluff TrailA great hike to an overview of the iconic Empire Bluff view.
Visit during the spring and summer to feed the goats and alpaca. It's a quick stop but fun for the kids.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Crystal Lake Alpacas
4907 River RdVisit during the spring and summer to feed the goats and alpaca. It's a quick stop but fun for the kids.
Perfect for a quick hike, fishing off the lake dock, or cross country skiing. The lake used to host a summer camp and is still a nice place to kayak and swim.
Platte Plains Trail
Trail EndPerfect for a quick hike, fishing off the lake dock, or cross country skiing. The lake used to host a summer camp and is still a nice place to kayak and swim.
Gwen Frostic was a writer and illustrator who fell in love with Northern Michigan. You can see the original printing presses and pick up some of her iconic stationary while visiting this handmade stone and live roof building.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gwen Frostic Prints
5140 River RdGwen Frostic was a writer and illustrator who fell in love with Northern Michigan. You can see the original printing presses and pick up some of her iconic stationary while visiting this handmade stone and live roof building.
The library runs a summer read-a-thon with prizes from the local businesses. One rainy days, head to the library and have the kids read their way to free root beer, ice cream, and a surprise toy. The view of Bestie Lake makes this one of the most beautiful libraries in Michigan.
Benzie Shores District Library
630 Main StThe library runs a summer read-a-thon with prizes from the local businesses. One rainy days, head to the library and have the kids read their way to free root beer, ice cream, and a surprise toy. The view of Bestie Lake makes this one of the most beautiful libraries in Michigan.
Interlochen is world renowned as a Arts Boarding School with an open air concert venue. Before your visit in the summer, check out what artists may be in town.
117 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Interlochen Center for the Arts
4000 J. Maddy PkwyInterlochen is world renowned as a Arts Boarding School with an open air concert venue. Before your visit in the summer, check out what artists may be in town.
Empire Beach has a swimming beach on Lake Michigan and South Bar Lake as well as two playgrounds. It's one of the few surf spots on Lake Michigan.
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Empire Beach
Empire Beach has a swimming beach on Lake Michigan and South Bar Lake as well as two playgrounds. It's one of the few surf spots on Lake Michigan.
Cherry Bowl is a traditional drive-in complete with double feature and concessions stand. Features change weekly.
76 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre
9812 Honor HwyCherry Bowl is a traditional drive-in complete with double feature and concessions stand. Features change weekly.
A scenic drive with several stop and hike locations. You'll be able to learn about the unique ecosystems of the National Lakeshore as well as the history of the Glen Lake area.
66 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Entrance
South Dune HighwayA scenic drive with several stop and hike locations. You'll be able to learn about the unique ecosystems of the National Lakeshore as well as the history of the Glen Lake area.
PERFECT for a rainy day! Visit the team and many animal friend at this hands on science museum. They open their VR lab on Saturdays.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
COGNiTiON Science and Discovery Center
232 N Michigan AvePERFECT for a rainy day! Visit the team and many animal friend at this hands on science museum. They open their VR lab on Saturdays.
El Dorado Boat Launch
6430 Lake Michigan RdYou can drop tubes in here for a 30 minute trip to Lake Michigan.
Premiere downhill skiing, fat tire biking, and scenic cross country trails in the winter. Alpine slide, laser tag, and outdoor pool in the summer.
135 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Crystal Mountain
Premiere downhill skiing, fat tire biking, and scenic cross country trails in the winter. Alpine slide, laser tag, and outdoor pool in the summer.
Food scene
A cute historic town with quaint restaurants and shops. Eat at The Cove overlooking the falls or enjoy pretzel bread sandwiches from the take out only Village Cheese Shanty.
84 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fishtown
203 W River StA cute historic town with quaint restaurants and shops. Eat at The Cove overlooking the falls or enjoy pretzel bread sandwiches from the take out only Village Cheese Shanty.
A family favorite! Enjoy a great steak in a scenic location
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Boone's Long Lake Inn
7208 Secor RdA family favorite! Enjoy a great steak in a scenic location
Best burgers in the area. MC's Olive Burger was Sunny Old Bob's favorite.
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Joe's Friendly Tavern
11015 W Front StBest burgers in the area. MC's Olive Burger was Sunny Old Bob's favorite.
Upriver Wood Fired Pizza
1681 Benzie HighwayMichigan is one of the growing number of states with a legal marijuana industry. This location offers hands on service, curbside pick up, and delivery.
Lume Cannabis Co.
9899 Honor HwyMichigan is one of the growing number of states with a legal marijuana industry. This location offers hands on service, curbside pick up, and delivery.
Michigan produces 1/6th of the world's cherry crops. Stop by this restaurant and pick up their famous cherry pies and jams. The menu harkens back to the days of diners and meat and threes.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Cherry Hut
211 N Michigan AveMichigan produces 1/6th of the world's cherry crops. Stop by this restaurant and pick up their famous cherry pies and jams. The menu harkens back to the days of diners and meat and threes.
Stormcloud Brewing Company opened in June of 2013 in the harbor town of Frankfort, Michigan.
Tucked between the soaring sand dunes and stormy shores of northern Lake Michigan, Stormcloud specializes in brewing Belgian Inspired ales.
99 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stormcloud Brewing Company
303 Main StStormcloud Brewing Company opened in June of 2013 in the harbor town of Frankfort, Michigan.
Tucked between the soaring sand dunes and stormy shores of northern Lake Michigan, Stormcloud specializes in brewing Belgian Inspired ales.
St. Ambrose Cellars is rooted in over 30 years of beekeeping and honey harvesting tradition. Kirk and Sharon Jones have been raising hives, extracting honey, and producing honey-based products since the late 1970s in Beulah, MI and Florida.
86 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
St. Ambrose Cellars
841 S Pioneer RdSt. Ambrose Cellars is rooted in over 30 years of beekeeping and honey harvesting tradition. Kirk and Sharon Jones have been raising hives, extracting honey, and producing honey-based products since the late 1970s in Beulah, MI and Florida.
"What makes Farm Club so special is that it takes an arguably bougie concept—farm-to-table—and makes it accessible, low-key, and familial. No tasting menu, no waiting list, ingredients aren’t revealed from under a smoking cloche. We’re sitting on a picnic table, looking out at some onion stalks, having a few cold beers while kids kick a soccer ball around." - Bon Appetit (https://www.bonappetit.com/story/heads-of-the-table-farm-club)
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Farm Club
10051 Lake Leelanau Drive"What makes Farm Club so special is that it takes an arguably bougie concept—farm-to-table—and makes it accessible, low-key, and familial. No tasting menu, no waiting list, ingredients aren’t revealed from under a smoking cloche. We’re sitting on a picnic table, looking out at some onion stalks, having a few cold beers while kids kick a soccer ball around." - Bon Appetit (https://www.bonappetit.com/story/heads-of-the-table-farm-club)
Port City Smokehouse
1000 Main StThe smoked trout dip is worth the stop!
Their chocolate comes from small scale farmer association primarily in Ecuador. They travel to Ecuador once a year to meet with farmer partners and often bring customers along on these trips.
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grocer's Daughter Chocolate
11590 S Lacore StTheir chocolate comes from small scale farmer association primarily in Ecuador. They travel to Ecuador once a year to meet with farmer partners and often bring customers along on these trips.
Neighborhoods
Visit beautiful Frankfort and stroll the Main Street or swim at the beach front while enjoying the lighthouses.
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Frankfort
Visit beautiful Frankfort and stroll the Main Street or swim at the beach front while enjoying the lighthouses.
A delightful, artsy town with little shops and restaurants
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Glen Arbor
A delightful, artsy town with little shops and restaurants
Visit Suttons Bay when you need a day away from the beach. There is a hipster coffee shop, several restaurants, and a toy shop that is very hands on.
102 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Suttons Bay
Visit Suttons Bay when you need a day away from the beach. There is a hipster coffee shop, several restaurants, and a toy shop that is very hands on.
City/town information
Home to more Millennial Millionaires than anywhere else in the US. Traverse City has a burgeoning Health and Tech scene with young start-up workers finding their happy place with a lower cost of living, proximity to nature, and short commutes.
260 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Traverse City
Home to more Millennial Millionaires than anywhere else in the US. Traverse City has a burgeoning Health and Tech scene with young start-up workers finding their happy place with a lower cost of living, proximity to nature, and short commutes.
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ukuhamba nabantwana
Baby powder removes beach sand easily from legs and feet.
It even removes wet sand.
Izinto omele uzipakishe
Bring beach towels.
We do not stock beach towels, but you'll need them to visit any of the area beaches.
Amasiko nenkcubeko
Fishing licenses can be purchased at Riverside Canoe Trips.
You must purchase a fishing license if you are 17 years of age or older to fish. If you are under 17, you may fish without a license, but you are required to observe all fishing rules and regulations. Any adult actively assisting a minor who does not have a license must have a fishing license. Please note, a license is required when targeting fish, amphibians, crustaceans and reptiles.