The drive took a lot longer than I had hoped, thanks to road construction (and a rather nasty thunderstorm) but I finally made it.
First stop, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which stretches for miles along Lake Michigan.
If you have never heard of it, Sleeping Bear Dunes is pretty much a huge beach - except with some rather large hills. The scenery is amazing with Lake Michigan to the west and Pere Marquette State Forest to the east. Sounds like a great place for a workout!!
There are many great places to stop for scenery in The Dunes, but if you are searching for a great workout and a challenging route for a run, without a doubt, that place is the Dune Climb (which you can find a few miles north of the village of Empire).
Essentially the Dune Climb is a large mound of sand that acts as a playground for many, but it also has a trail that is about a mile and three-quarters that ends at the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
Now, if that doesn't sound like a great distance to get a good run in, you have to realize that you will be running in soft sand over a seemingly endless number of hills. And when you add an uphill grade of about 45 degrees in some spots, oh yes, it is a workout. It took me about 30 minutes to do the 3.5 mile roundtrip that makes up the Dunes Trail.
It is definitely not your everyday run and reminds you that you're not in Cedar Rapids anymore! It is a place that you should add to your "places to see" list - especially in the fall when the leaves start to turn.
Nearby Traverse City is the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World and is also gorgeous in it's own right. Located on the southern tip of the Grand Traverse Bay, it has great opportunities for the runner as well as biker with a nice pathway along the waterfront. And if you do make a trip of it and are looking for some locals to run with, contact the Traverse City Track Club. They do some great things for the young runners in their community and offer group runs on Wednesdays as well as a get together at local restaurants for good socializing.
If it sounds like a future destination for you, check out these web sites for more info.
www.sleepingbeardunes.com
www.tctrackclub.com
Well, that is it for Michigan. It's on to my next stop. I'm heading east to the most well-known battlefield in the US - Gettysburg. That is, if my car makes.
Peace