Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: For a parking permit and specific directions, stop by the visitor’s center in Empire. Popular spots include Alligator Hill, The Empire Bluff, Pierce Stocking Drive, The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, Good Harbor Bay, Pyramid Point, and Glen Haven Beach. If you have lots of energy, tackle the dune climb south of Glen Haven, then slog through miles of gorgeous dune trails to the isolated Lake Michigan beach (if you do, allow several hours for the journey, use lots of sunscreens, and bring shoes to protect your feet from the hot sand). Also, part of the national lakeshore, North and South Manitou Islands (access by passenger ferry from Leland) are ringed with miles of secluded beaches. Off South Manitou, snorkelers and scuba divers can view the shipwreck of the Three Brothers, a 162-foot wooden lumber hooker that was stranded in 1911, which sits in water from eight to 45 feet deep.

Northern Michigan has a wide variety of water inlets. Nearby we have options such as Lake Michigan, Lake Leelanau, Grand Traverse Bay and many other smaller inlet lakes. All have varieties of beaches to enjoy!

Van’s beach: Take a left turn at Van’s Garage in Leland and walk down the sandy trail to Lake Michigan.

Good Harbor Beach: This beach on the beautiful Lake Michigan and offers a wonderful view of the islands.

Cold Brook Beach: Enjoy the southern end of Lake Leelanau from this beach.

Elmwood Township Beach: This park was redone in the past few years to include a new playground, picnic tables and restrooms. You can’t miss it as you drive down M-22 next to West Grand Traverse Bay.

Empire Beach: Empire is a little jump to the west of Leelanau. There are two beaches that are in Empire; Lake Michigan beach and Cannon Park on South Bar Lake.

Leelanau State Park: 15310 North Lighthouse Point Road, is located just north of Northport. The beach is rocky so be sure to bring water shoes!

North Bar Beach: Located in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, north of Empire. There is a bit of a hike to get to the water, but it is worth it to experience the Dunes to get to the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Suttons Bay Municipal Park and Beach: This beach and picnic area are adjacent to the marina in Downtown Suttons Bay.

Leelanau County is well known for their amazing wineries. Our Leelanau Peninsula is the oldest and largest Michigan wine trail and has roughly 25 to taste from!

Sleeping Bear Loop:

Amoritas Vineyards

Bel Lago Vineyard & Winery

Boathouse Vineyards

Chateau Fontaine

Cherry Republic Winery

French Valley Vineyard

Good Harbor Vineyards

Laurentide Winery

Soul Squeeze Cellars

Northern Peninsula Loop:

Aurora Cellars

45 North Vineyard & Winery

Green Bird Organic Cellars and Farms

Leelanau Wine Cellars

Nathaniel Rose Wine

Silver Leaf Vineyard & Winery

Tandem Ciders

Verterra Winery

Grand Traverse Loop:

Black Star Farms

Ciccone Vineyard & Winery

Mawby

Rove Estate

Shady Lane Cellars

Two K Farms

Satellite Tasting Rooms:

BigLittle

Glen Arbor Wines

M-22 Winery

The Ridge at Verterra

Explore Leelanau County’s options of Microbreweries. Once you are done with those, hop over to Traverse City to see what they have brewing!

Microbrews in Leelanau:

Farm Club

Hob Lot Brewing

The Mitten Brewing

Microbrews in Traverse City:

Brewery Terra Firma

Right Brain Brewery

MiddleCoast Brewing Company

The Workshop Brewing Company

Rare Bird Brewpub

The Filling Station Microbrewery

North Peak Brewing Company

Earthen Ales

Mackinaw Brewing Company

Jolly Pumpkin restaurant and Brewery

Bahle Farms Golf Course is a 200-acre golf course that opened in 1999. It was formerly owned by members of the Bahle family, long-time residents of the Suttons Bay Area. The Bahle Family owns and operates several other local businesses, such as Bahle’s clothing store which has been open since 1876.

After 20 years of operation, Bahle Farms Golf Course sold to father-son duo Mark and Crosley Duckmann on June 9, 2021.

As the new owners, we are very excited to take over the next generation of breathtaking views and challenging golf at Bahle Farms Golf Course.

Our motto is simple. We don’t sell golf, we sell a good time on a golf course. While you’re out here, we want you to enjoy your setting, and have the time of your life. It’s pretty easy to do here in Pure Michigan.

Here’s to good times and great golf.