Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Empire, Michigan

 When I was ten years old my Grandpa and Grandma took me to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in Empire, Michigan. Their ability to find interesting places (even nearby) was astounding considering they didn't have the internet. They were epic travelers in the last stage of life. They went to Peru, Cairo, Japan, and even Australia. Their propensity to travel has fueled my love of it. So last week when I was lamenting my "Staycation" and basically just feeling sorry for myself for having "no where to go" I thought about this lovely place and the wonderful memory I had of my grandparents.

The drive was 2 1/2 hours. So it was a very long day trip. Upon arrival in Empire there were signs, but it almost seemed like you had to walk to the dunes. You don't. I didn't remember walking to them, nonetheless I needed the exercise and I wanted a walk, so I stopped along on of the trails and went on my way. There were signs to the dune climbs and it was a walk of about 2 miles. As I traveled along the trail I periodically stopped to fly my drone in the air and take beautiful pictures of the Michigan Skyline.

When I got close enough I could see the dunes and the parking area. I was sure there was a parking area and if I had driven far enough I could have just parked, but as I said, the walk was good for me. The woods were calming and I needed some peace. Michigan woods are the best place to find peace. 



When I got to the dunes I flew the drone as high as it could go and looked around the top of it. As I was flying it, I climbed. In a world of social distancing it was a great place to be. There were people on the dunes (not as many as I remembered when I was 10-) but there was lots of space and no one was anywhere near each other.  The sun beat down on the hot sand and I continued to climb until I came to the top. I discovered, 30 years later, the walk was not as easy, but it was just as satisfying. It was also more fun to run back down.