Things To Do
Glen Arbor is a cozy village along the Sleeping Bear Bay and nestled just beyond the beautiful blue waters of Big and Little Glen Lakes. Eclectic shops offer everything a traveler could hope to discover from chocolate covered cherries to exquisite works of art by Michigan artists. Enjoy an evening of a moonlit stroll on the beach, listening to music outdoors, or sharing a meal with friends at numerous local restaurants ranging from casual to inspired cuisine. Outdoor activities range from summer kayaking in the Crystal River or Sleeping Bear Bay, walking /cycling on the new Sleeping Bear Trail to winter skiing and snowshoeing.
In Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
You can take in the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the place viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America chose as the Most Beautiful Place in America. Its beaches, dunes, trails, overlooks and scenic drive are all spectacular. Some of the most popular tourist sites are the restored village of Glen Haven, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the Dune Climb, Empire Bluffs, and the hike and overlook at Pyramid Point.
If you like to hike and bike, or cross country ski or snowshoe, you’ll like the trails in the National Lakeshore and at Houdek Dunes, Whaleback Natural Area, Chippewa Run Natural Area, and Lighthouse West.
If you are a golfer, don’t miss the Manitou Passage Golf Club.
If you love the water, take the canoe trip on the Crystal River or Platte River, charter a fishing boat out of “Fish Town” Leland or take the ferry to the Manitou Islands, see the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum at the Leelanau State Park in Northport or the Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort.
For shopping, you’ll want to visit the towns of Glen Arbor, Leland and Suttons Bay, to name a few, as well as the galleries and studios that dot the county. As you travel through the area, take time to stop at several of the wineries in Leelanau County and Old Mission Peninsula.
What makes many of the activities unique is our setting. You simply won’t find the beaches, dunes, river and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore anywhere else, and whether you choose to enjoy them while swimming, walking, hiking, climbing, riding, fishing, kayaking, or sightseeing, they are guaranteed to make your stay memorable. Together they are a living laboratory for birding, wildlife sighting and all manners of nature walks, including dark skies and northern lights.