North of Fort Wayne, we drove through a large swath of Amish country, especially around Shipshewana, IN, where we passed a number of families riding down the shoulder of the highway in horse-drawn buggies and saw quite a few farmers plowing their fields with six-horse teams. Looks like hard work.
We reached the shore of Lake Michigan in Ludington, MI. We'd planned to hit the coast a little further south in Muskegon, but the Memorial Day traffic was heavy there, so we kept on going. Stearns Beach in Ludington is part of a nice lakefront park, where a few people were still out and about enjoying the last of the long weekend.
Stearns Beach, Lake Michigan
It was a beautiful afternoon as we continued north along the lake, stopping at scenic overlooks and eventually reaching Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. First hike of the trip: Empire Bluff Trail, 1.5 miles. Thankfully, there was boardwalk where needed, so no trudging through deep sand.
Arcadia Scenic Turnout
Empire Bluff Trail
Lodging: Grand Traverse Motel, Traverse City, MI, for two nights. An older, independently owned motel, conveniently located on Front Street, which seems to be the main drag. Clean, comfortable, and a great value.
Gilbert the T-Rex
Home away from home in Traverse City
Dinner: Middle Coast Brewing Co. Good food, great beer, thumbs up!
Good selection of tasty brew
After dinner, we drove north of town to the end of Old Mission Peninsula. Lots of wineries on this jut of land, and a lighthouse at the point, but we were here for the sunset. Gorgeous!
Mission Point Lighthouse
Mission Point
Jana claims Lake Michigan
Scenic sunset