alainaflute
Greg
Jody
E.G.D.Today’s Featured Guest Writer/Photographer is Beth Dole:
Sleeping Bear Dunes in Northern Michigan has wonderful beaches, and few ever get out to explore their winter beauty. This week Good Harbor beach made national news for a peculiar formation of ice balls on the beach (see last picture). I couldn’t wait to get out there and check them out, but by the time the weekend rolled around the dynamic beach had of course changed. Now it was frozen sand and ice, with frozen ice balls. The beach was icy enough one could ice skate on it, the rocks were frozen solid with great ice formations to explore.
Winter Wonderland at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
My advice to all is to visit the beach all year round, winter can be delightful on the beach.
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Ice Balls (Photo by Leda Jo)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Northwestern Lower Michigan along the shores of Lake Michigan. The Visitor Center is in Empire, MI about 25 miles from Traverse City. Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. Sleeping Bear Dunes is as old as continental ice sheets and as young as the 1970 Establishment Act that set aside the Lakeshore for preservation of the natural resources and for public use. The most prominent features, and those for which the park is named, are the perched dunes above Lake Michigan. These immense sand dunes are “perched” atop the already towering headlands that are glacial moraines. The dune overlooks at the Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above Lake Michigan. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water oriented.
About the Author: Beth Dole is the mom of two teenagers, avid outdoors person, loves the beach, can be found hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, kayaking in the north country when not writing blogs about heart disease.
A couple more helpful links:
The Official Website of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau
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Please stop by and visit Beth at her very informative and helpful blog: Rehabilitate Your Heart.
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Just a note: Beth, you are so right! Any time of year is the perfect season for a trip to the beach. Your photos are absolutely wonderful! Many, many thanks for sharing your beautiful, beachy part of the world with us! ~Jody
