The legend of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is so sad. You can read one version here, but basically a mother bear and her two cubs were swimming across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin and the two cubs drowned before they reached the shore. Overcome with sorrow, the mother laid down on the edge of the shore and died. The Great Spirit put two islands in the lake and a sand dune on the shore to mark their final resting places.
When I visited, I wanted to get a close-up look at a dune and also get a good view of the "mother" and her two "cubs." I was able to do both of those things, so I was excited. If you have a whole day, you can also take boat rides out to either of the islands or go tubing or paddling on the Platte River. The highlight of the park, though, is the Pierce Stocking scenic drive, created in the 1960s by a Michigan lumberman to both show off and protect the beauty of the dunes he loved.
Most of the scenic drive is in woodland; you emerge every so often onto the dunes.
They call this Alligator Island. Can you see why?
That's me!
A close-up of the dune grass, which is so important in protecting the dunes from erosion. The park service encourages people to stay off the dunes, but of course they don't.
This is the sleeping mother bear, with one of the Manitou Islands in the background.
Even though there were a decent number of people around, there were some secluded, peaceful spots like this one.
This is the "Dune Climb," which the park service has provided so people can experience climbing a dune safely. I was too scared to try it, not so much going up but coming back down!
The Glen Haven General Store, which has exhibits about the dunes area and lots of neat, old, store stuff.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising,MI
The Pictured Rocks stretch along the shore of Lake Superior from Munising to Grand Marais for about 40 miles. While mostly sandstone bluffs and cliffs, there are some stretches of beach in which, believe it or not, people actually swim!
The best way to see the rocks is on a boat cruise. I went with Pictured Rocks cruises and had a great time. You can take your lunch or some snacks on the boat, and the tour is narrated. Basically, you see some neat rock formations and,of course, the "pictures."
Caused by spring water running over the rocks and reacting with different ores, the pictures are basically use-your-own-imagination. Much like looking at the clouds, people reportedly see all kinds of images in the rocks. Here are a few of my best shots.
Bridal Veil Falls
Castle Rock
Indian Head Rock
Lover's Leap
Check out the tree on top; its roots are stretching back to the rocks behind it to reach the soil.
And now for some of the pretty colors:
We also got to see an old lighthouse on Grand Island in Lake Superior.
I hope you get to check out both of these great national park units for yourself one day!
I love Michigan, I am headed there in a few days myself.
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