211. Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan - Where cherries meet endless sand and sky

Episode 211: Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan — Where cherries meet endless sand and sky. Join us for a warm, practical guide to this lakeshore jewel, from farm-to-table meals to wind-swept dune hikes. Highlights include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Old Mission Peninsula wineries, and the Traverse City Cherry Festival, giving you a mix of outdoor adventure and seasonal flavor. We share travel tips on timing your visit (late June–July for cherries, fall for color), parking and fees at park overlooks, dune-safety and footwear advice, and the best spots for sunset photos along M-22. Food lovers will savor cherry-forward pastries, local wineries, fresh whitefish and hearty pasties, plus a stop at Cherry Republic for tasting and souvenirs. Landmarks like Empire Bluff Trail and Old Mission Point Lighthouse make perfect day hikes and scenic detours. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or a photo-driven road trip, this episode is a friendly roadmap to the tastes, trails, and towns that make northwest Michigan unforgettable. This episode was prepared with the assistance of AI tools, giving us more time to travel and bring you even more destinations. Travel Is Back -- over 200 episodes covering destinations across America and beyond.Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.