Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Beach - Empire, Michigan

Address:Empire, Michigan

Get ready to be wowed by America's Midwest! With miles of pristine beaches, sweeping lake vistas, massive dunes and historical sites too, at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Beach, you'll do everything but sleep! Named for a native Ojibway legend about its formation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Beach is located on a 60 km stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline and is all about fun in the Michigan sun. The pristine beach, warm weather and clear waters create the perfect environment for classic beach activities, from sunbathing and building sand castles, to splashing in the waves of Lake Michigan to just strolling along the water. Kids and adults alike will be wowed by the tall sand dunes here—which boast great vistas from their peaks—and everyone is sure to enjoy cooling off in Lake Michigan with a swim (please note that there are no lifeguards on duty). Fido is certainly welcome but keep your furry friend on a leash no longer than 6 feet while visiting Sleeping Bear, and stay away from beaches where Piping Plovers are nesting, please. Besides great beaches, visitors will also be amazed at the other natural features which surround the are that can be enjoyed with hikes through the beech-maple forests, brushy fields and nearby pine plantation. History buffs will find fulfillment here to at the series of preserved historic farmsteads, the 1871 lighthouse, and three former Life-Saving Service/Coast Guard Stations.