Our noisy neighbors hadn't settled down the previous night, so Steve complained to the owner with hopes that our next five nights would be a little quieter.
Our destination today? Down to Glen Arbor to visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes! One of my friends from college got engaged at the dunes, so I was curious to experience the beauty and see where her proposal happened. We had another nearly 2 hour drive and were becoming pretty familiar with the northern part of the lower peninsula.
Once we got to Glen Arbor, we ate a restaurant called the "Boone Docks" because really, we were in the boone docks.
It took a little asking around, but we found the place to actually climb one of the sand dunes. When we saw the dunes from a distance, I wasn't really impressed. It's just a bunch of sand, right? But up close, it was amazing! See those little people waaaay up on top? Well, there's another hill just past that too! And a third hill past that!
And here we go! Ready to climb!
I wish I could have been able to capture how steep the first hill was and these pictures just don't do the dunes any justice. We'd climb for a few minutes and then take a little break. Here Amaya is taking a quick rest break.
Whew, made it up the two hills!
Resting at the top!
This trail leads to the third hill and heads toward Lake Michigan. That trail was described as a 3 1/2 hour strenuous hike that the three of us didn't think we were quite prepared for in flip flops and with only one bottle of water.
The view overlooking Glen Lake - beautiful!
Coming down the sand dunes was a piece of cake, although we had to be a little careful not to twist our ankles.
We stopped at the Visitor's Center and got a map to take the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. We were guaranteed to get awesome views of the sand dunes and of Lake Michigan.
And amazing views we got!
A different view of the sand dunes.
Steep, steep, steep dunes leading down to Lake Michigan
The boardwalk along the coast of Lake Michigan
After the drive, Steve took us to one of the beaches so we could do a little wading in the lake. It was CHILLY!!
So, we just played a little in the sand.
Amaya's "Sand Castle"
After our day in the sand, we ate in Traverse City at the Red Mesa Grill (mexican). Steve had chicken with purple potatoes and jicama and LOVED IT!! Amaya changed it up from her usual grilled cheese/mac n cheese/hot dog order and got a cheese quesadilla. And I mixed it up too and instead of ordering barbequed something or other, got chicken and steak fajitas! Delicious!
Headed back to our campsite and were pleasantly surprised to find two neighbors had left and the pop-up tent next to us was QUIET! Awesome night sleep!!
It took a little asking around, but we found the place to actually climb one of the sand dunes. When we saw the dunes from a distance, I wasn't really impressed. It's just a bunch of sand, right? But up close, it was amazing! See those little people waaaay up on top? Well, there's another hill just past that too! And a third hill past that!
And here we go! Ready to climb!
I wish I could have been able to capture how steep the first hill was and these pictures just don't do the dunes any justice. We'd climb for a few minutes and then take a little break. Here Amaya is taking a quick rest break.
Whew, made it up the two hills!
Resting at the top!
This trail leads to the third hill and heads toward Lake Michigan. That trail was described as a 3 1/2 hour strenuous hike that the three of us didn't think we were quite prepared for in flip flops and with only one bottle of water.
The view overlooking Glen Lake - beautiful!
Coming down the sand dunes was a piece of cake, although we had to be a little careful not to twist our ankles.
We stopped at the Visitor's Center and got a map to take the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. We were guaranteed to get awesome views of the sand dunes and of Lake Michigan.
And amazing views we got!
A different view of the sand dunes.
Steep, steep, steep dunes leading down to Lake Michigan
The boardwalk along the coast of Lake Michigan
After the drive, Steve took us to one of the beaches so we could do a little wading in the lake. It was CHILLY!!
So, we just played a little in the sand.
Amaya's "Sand Castle"
After our day in the sand, we ate in Traverse City at the Red Mesa Grill (mexican). Steve had chicken with purple potatoes and jicama and LOVED IT!! Amaya changed it up from her usual grilled cheese/mac n cheese/hot dog order and got a cheese quesadilla. And I mixed it up too and instead of ordering barbequed something or other, got chicken and steak fajitas! Delicious!Headed back to our campsite and were pleasantly surprised to find two neighbors had left and the pop-up tent next to us was QUIET! Awesome night sleep!!