Sleeping Bear Dunes and Surrounding Areas

June 9 - July 16. 2026

Our volunteer docents' gig has been in full swing for the past month and we've settled into a routine. We've learned a ton about Glen Haven historic village and the US Life Saving Service and perfected our spiel for each museum: the Cannery/Boat museum, the USLSS and Maritime museum, the blacksmith shop, and the general store/DH Day museum. Of course, we add tidbits to them as we continue to learn, often from visitors who had family connections to the place. Matthew and I are having a blast apprenticing to the blacksmiths one day a week. 

One of 4 deer that visit every evening

Saying goodbye to co-worker Cathy (next to Matthew) with Becky, Wendy, and Judi

We've been exploring the area on our days off.

Leeland Fishtown

We've crossed this so many times in so many different states

Hiked out to the dunes from the Treat Farm

Root cellar and garage at the Treat Farm

Following the advice of Rod, the campground host, we took the trail to the left, which led us to steep climbs with steep drop-offs, narrow overgrown paths, and lots of cursing of Rod. But the views were beautiful.

The volunteers were offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the archive collections

Spent a day exploring Point Betsie Lighthouse and Frankfort Lighthouse

Point Betsie Light

A magical portal

So lovely to see this inclusive welcome

Great visual at Frankfort beach

We chose not to go closer since waves were coming over the seawall

Mayfly

Drove up to the top of the Leelanau peninsula to the Grand Traverse Light, only to realize we had already been herea few years ago.

The biting flies were thick and horrible here, so we promptly left. This image is after Matthew had already brushed a bunch off himself

Historic Woolsey Airport Terminal

Funky private residence in Northport

Cool

Appropriate urinal at the Mitten Brewery in Northport

Oh Michigan

Leelanau School fireside amateur poetry/song/story telling evening

100th anniversary of the Traverse City Cherry Festival

We went to the Anishinabek Powwow

Finally got the kayaks in the water. It's been too cold or too stormy up until now

Matthew's father's day gift from me. We asked Sebastian to call us Oma and Opa but he forgets these unfamiliar terms and calls me Uma, and Matthew Oompa - hence the shirt

Matthew and I are apprenticing in the blacksmith shop one day a week

Things Cheryl made so far

Matthew made this

and this fire poker

Eighty-three year old Stan (overalls) came in from Lancaster County Pennsylvannia to teach all the balcksmith's advanced skills

My tomato plant has become a community endeavor as the other camp volunteers help water it and upright it when it blows over. Hopefully Dan's rigging will work

Fourth of July at the park was enhanced by a lovely visit from Ann and Dan

Saving Raggedy Ann with the breeches bouy

Matthew was invited to put on a costume and ride along in this float, but alas he had to work

Campground visitor - seen several times now

The M/V Paul R. Tregurtha, the "Queen of the Lakes," is the longest ship on Lake Michigan at 

1,013 feet and 6 inches long. She can haul up to 71,000 tons of cargo, like coal and iron ore,

The smoke from fires in Canada and the Boundary Waters arrived on the 15th

Our usual view

Our current view