Fog behind Southern Style as we pulled out Friday morning
Along the way we passed the Point Betsie Lighthouse
Along the way we passed the Point Betsie Lighthouse
The Point Betsie Lighthouse was built in 1858 and manned until an automated light was installed in 1983. This light is just north of Frankfort, Michigan and south of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. It is one of 4 lighthouses in this part of Michigan known as the Manitou Passage. This passage separates North and South Manitou Islands from mainland Michigan and is used by deep draft freighters as a short cut along the lake saving ships valuable time not having to go out around the islands.
Close up of Point Betsie Lighthouse
Once arriving in Frankfort, we met up with harbor host Craig Jackson. Craig was so kind to give us a ride into Traverse City so we could pick up a rental car for the weekend. Our plans in Frankfort really required auto transportation.
Saturday Keith played golf at Arcadian Bluffs Golf Club. This is a beautiful course designed by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith. Its length is 7,300 yards and is a par 72 on approximately 245 acres. It sits on the bluffs above the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and was designed to resemble a seaside Irish links course. It was ranked #68 of Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Courses 2017-18. Keith very much enjoyed his round.
While Keith was playing golf, I took the opportunity to take a kayak ride around the harbor. Then I walked around the farmer's market and downtown a bit. When Captain Keith returned from golf we relaxed on the back of the boat and in the evening we tried the sushi place in downtown. It was a hit.
My sushi plate (Capt. Keith had the same)
We then walked out to the beach to watch the sunset.
Our seat
Sunset in Frankfort Saturday the 15th
Sunday was our big trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. The park got its name from the Native American story (that varies somewhat). In one common version a mother bear and her two cubs were forced to swim across Lake Michigan to escape wildfires in Wisconsin. The two cubs did not survive the swim. Finally the exhausted and grieving mother bear reached the Michigan shoreline. To relieve her distress the Great Spirit had her fall into a deep sleep. Thus was formed the "Sleeping Bear Dune". In remembrance of her two cubs, the Great Spirit created the North and South Manitou Islands just off shore from Sleeping Bear Dune.
In more modern times, much of Sleeping Bear Dunes was owned by a local Michigan lumberman, builder and land speculator named Pierce Stocking. Stocking had started buying land in the region in the 1940s and 1950s accumulating over 10,000 acres. He felt it would some day make a wonderful park and had even speculated that the US government might purchase some of the land. It was not until 1962 however that a bill was introduced into Congress to purchase the land in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region and form a National Park. As is common, the government moved at a tediously slow pace, and so Stocking used the land to build his own park. He created roads through the scenic region, build overlooks and even a covered bridge. He also conducted some guided hunting and fishing expeditions over the years. He charged admission to his park lands, but it was a struggle financially as well as a time consuming job. It took over 20 years and much legal wrangling with the federal government, but eventually the land was sold to the National Parks Service to create Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Pierce Stocking died Sept. 3,1976 the day after he received his check from the federal government. He was 68 years old. Today the park is a Michigan gem. In 2011 the area won the title of "The Most Beautiful Place in America" from Good Morning America.
We took the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive through the park. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is just over 7 miles of road built by the original owner with stops along the way of breathtaking views in the park.
What a fun day we had with chamber of commerce weather. We got back to Southern Style in time to get cleaned up and drive the rental car back to Traverse City. Harbor hosts John and Sandra O'Neal picked us up and drove us back to Frankfort. We all had fantastic dinner at Birch and Maple. We can not say enough about the harbor hosts here in Frankfort as they have all been so helpful to us and allowed us to really make the most of our stay in Frankfort.
In more modern times, much of Sleeping Bear Dunes was owned by a local Michigan lumberman, builder and land speculator named Pierce Stocking. Stocking had started buying land in the region in the 1940s and 1950s accumulating over 10,000 acres. He felt it would some day make a wonderful park and had even speculated that the US government might purchase some of the land. It was not until 1962 however that a bill was introduced into Congress to purchase the land in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region and form a National Park. As is common, the government moved at a tediously slow pace, and so Stocking used the land to build his own park. He created roads through the scenic region, build overlooks and even a covered bridge. He also conducted some guided hunting and fishing expeditions over the years. He charged admission to his park lands, but it was a struggle financially as well as a time consuming job. It took over 20 years and much legal wrangling with the federal government, but eventually the land was sold to the National Parks Service to create Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Pierce Stocking died Sept. 3,1976 the day after he received his check from the federal government. He was 68 years old. Today the park is a Michigan gem. In 2011 the area won the title of "The Most Beautiful Place in America" from Good Morning America.
We took the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive through the park. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is just over 7 miles of road built by the original owner with stops along the way of breathtaking views in the park.
Some of the park is forested
Some are sand dunes. The Sleeping Bear is the Farthest Dune. South Manitou Island is in the distance.
It may not look like it, but that is 450 feet down to the water
We also hiked to the top of Pyramid Point for more spectacular views
The trail on the way down from Pyramid Point
After all this exploring, we continued on through Glen Arbor and found this cool little lunch spot. "Market 22" was the name of the place, and they had an awesome make your own Bloody Mary Bar.
Bloody Mary Bar at Market 22
Our creations (Captain Keith's Bloody Mary overfloweth)
What a fun day we had with chamber of commerce weather. We got back to Southern Style in time to get cleaned up and drive the rental car back to Traverse City. Harbor hosts John and Sandra O'Neal picked us up and drove us back to Frankfort. We all had fantastic dinner at Birch and Maple. We can not say enough about the harbor hosts here in Frankfort as they have all been so helpful to us and allowed us to really make the most of our stay in Frankfort.
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