Mackinaw Island & Sleeping Bear Dunes - How best to visit?
 

Will be traveling to Northern Michigan early July and want to visit Mackinaw Island and visit Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes (different day). Would love some tips on how best to visit. Will be traveling with husband and 2 adult children. All in good shape for walking/biking, etc. How crowded will the ferries be? Do we need to get there super early? Is it better to drive across the bridge and ferry over from that side? And what sites are best to visit on the Island? Also, any tips on visiting the Dunes would be appreciated, as well. Thanks in advance!

Hi there, Michigan summers are pretty awesome and usually crowded.

For Sleeping Bear Dunes you should take the Pierce Stocking Scenic drive. It’s part of the NPS and has a lot of stops and overlooks.
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/pierc...enic-drive.htm
A really nice hike to a beautiful scenic view of Lake Michigan is the Empire Bluff Trail.
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/empire-bluff-trail.htm

Mackinaw Island is unique in that no vehicles are allowed. We have always caught the Ferry in Mackinaw City. I would suggest going early to have more time on the island.
If your family enjoys bike riding there are bike rentals and you can pedal around the island.
There are also trails you can hike to go up to the fort.
The Grand Hotel is a must see, but there is a fee for walking on the porch.
Enjoy your trip, Northern Michigan is beautiful.

Definitely take an early ferry from Mackinac City (Lower Peninsula), especially if you want to rent bicycles to ride around the Island (highly recommended) and tour Fort Mackinac, the Natural Arch, etc. I would also make lunch reservations.