Telephone & Telegrams: Carlisle 1550.
Telephone & Telegrams: “Bank 5303 Liverpool”
Registered Office:
Martins Bank Chambers,
37 English Street,
Carlisle, Cumberland.
Field Manual No. 1: Three Days on the Little Finger
The little finger of the Michigan mitten. Dunes, cherries, cold clear water and a frankly unreasonable number of wineries.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Dunes
Morning Dune Climb before the crowds → lunch in Glen Arbor → Crystal River float → sunset at the Lake Michigan Overlook on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
Morning Dune Climb before the crowds → lunch in Glen Arbor → Crystal River float → sunset at the Lake Michigan Overlook on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
Day 2 — Up the West Side
Coffee in Leland → Fishtown smoked fish → Pyramid Point hike → wineries on the way north → Grand Traverse Lighthouse for golden hour.
Coffee in Leland → Fishtown smoked fish → Pyramid Point hike → wineries on the way north → Grand Traverse Lighthouse for golden hour.
Day 3 — East Shore
Suttons Bay breakfast → bike part of the Leelanau Trail → wine-trail afternoon (designated driver!) → movie at the Bay Theatre.
Suttons Bay breakfast → bike part of the Leelanau Trail → wine-trail afternoon (designated driver!) → movie at the Bay Theatre.
Packing List
- Water shoes (rocks)
- A windbreaker even in July
- Bug spray for the woods
- Cooler for cherries & smoked fish
- National park pass
- Patience for one-lane bridges
The Short List
- Sleeping Bear Dunes & the Dune Climb (Empire / Glen Arbor) — Go at sunset, from the Lake Michigan Overlook on Pierce Stocking. Do NOT run down the big dune to the lake unless you have 2 hours for the climb back.
- Fishtown (Leland) — Buy the smoked whitefish pâté. Eat it on the breakwall. Thank us later.
- Grand Traverse Lighthouse (Northport (tip of the peninsula)) — The beach rocks look best wet. Bring a water bottle and splash, like a professional.
- Pyramid Point (Near Glen Arbor) — Hang-gliders launch here on windy days. Do not attempt this without a hang-glider.
- Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (Empire → Glen Arbor → Good Harbor) — Stop at the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven to watch the old lifesaving drill reenacted (summer).
- The Wine Trail (Everywhere, frankly) — Designate a driver or book a tour. The roads are pretty; they are also curvy.
- Suttons Bay (East shore) — Catch a film at the Bay Theatre. It is precisely the right amount of old.
- Glen Arbor & Cherry Republic (Glen Arbor) — Float the Crystal River in a tube. It's 3 feet deep and moves at robot-walking pace.
- Manitou Islands (By ferry from Leland) — Check the ferry schedule before you plan the day. The lake decides; you comply.
Getting There
- TVC — Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City: 25–40 min to most of the peninsula
- GRR — Gerald R. Ford Intl., Grand Rapids: ~2 hr 45 min
- DTW — Detroit Metro: ~4 hr 30 min
- From Chicago / Naperville: ~5 hr 30 min via I-94 → I-196 → US-31 (the lakeshore way) or US-131
- From Detroit: ~4 hr 30 min via I-75 → M-72
- From Wisconsin: The SS Badger car ferry (seasonal) crosses Lake Michigan from Manitowoc to Ludington — then ~2 hr north. Absurd. Wonderful. Recommended.
Robot-Approved Base Camp
Overby Woods — a log cabin near Lake Leelanau, dead centre of the peninsula, so every day of this itinerary is a short drive. Dogs welcome. Booking direct gets you first pick of dates and the owner's own local guide.
Where to Stay
- Overby Woods, Lake Leelanau (Cabin) — house pick
- The Inn at Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay ($$$)
- The Homestead, Glen Arbor ($$–$$$)
- Leland Lodge, Leland ($$)
- Traverse City hotels, Traverse City (25 min) ($–$$$)
Live Events
See what's on this week: robotsalesmen.ltd/leelanau
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