SZ

Hi, all -- my husband and I are planning on spending Labor Day weekend in and around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The question is, where should we stay?

Should we base ourselves in Traverse City? Are there other, smaller towns you can recommend?

We're not terribly fussy, which is good because we don't want to spend a whole lot. A decent mom-and-pop motel or low-end to mid-level chain would work well. I've checked out the TripAdvisor hotel reviews for Traverse City, so if you think that's a good base for us I can pick from one of the recommended places.

Thanks! Looking forward to my first Michigan trip.

luvtravl

We stayed in Glen Arbor a few years ago and LOVED it! Lovely, small town on Lake Michigan.

rapunzll

You can check out http://visittraversecity.com and even make room reservations by calling
800-872-8377

ltt

i stayed at the sugar beach http://www.tcresorts.com/ and really enjoyed it. they had lots of beach chairs out and it was lovely sitting out there in the evening. the rooms were very nice. i arrived right after labor day and think i paid around $100/night. it's mom & pop place but i liked it.

dockruins

The Homestead resort is nice, has a lot to do and is near-by.

rapunzll

The Sugar Beach is not a Mom & Pop place by any stretch of the imagination. Just want to straighen that out, because it as well as the Grand Beach are very nice properties and M & P doesn't have good conotations for everyone.

mikesmom

I agree with Rapunzll - Sugar Beach and Grand Beach are not Mom & Pop operations.

We like The Beach Condominiums in Traverse City. One bedroom condos right on Grand Traverse Bay.

We stayed at the brand new Tamarack Lodge in Traverse City at the end of May. Absolutely fabulous, but will be very pricey over Labor Day weekend.

artman

OK heres the deal. Traverse City is a fine small town city( one of the nicest in the country I think) but it has nothing to do with Sleeping Bear NAtional Lakeshore. SBNL is a world class national park. It ,as most national parks are,is a natural wonder. People go there to experience nature, the vistas, the great lakes. While TC is on a bay of Lake Michigan is has a completely different feel. And its a long 40 minute drive from the park. Any motel you get in Tc is going to be on a busy traffic street surround by Pizza Huts and miniture golf course. I would strongly recommend staying in either Empire at the Lakeshore Motel or The Maple Lane Resort . Empire is where the Park Headquartes is and has a wonder place to eat for three meals a day called Friendlys. Glen Arbor is also in the park and has the Sylvan Inn and the Arbor Inn both great places walking distance to everything in GA. The Homestead is a more expensive alternative but really isn't worth the money. Its nice but not as posh as they think they are. Hope that helps.

SZ

Thanks, all. On Artman's advice, we decided to stay closer to the park -- specifically, at the Sylvan Inn in Glen Arbor. All the reviews I've seen have been great.

Any advice on the best things to do in Sleeping Bear Dunes? We are a couple in our late 30s, no kids, love hiking. Is it worth taking the ferry out to South Manitou Island? How's the tubing on the Platte River? Thanks in advance.

SuzieTrue

DH & DD love South Manitou. It is possible to do it as a day trip or camp overnight on the island. The ferry goes out of Leland.

ltt

sorry, i meant to say that sugar beach was NOT a mom & pop place - missed the word NOT.

SZ

Many months later -- here I am with a belated thank you. Staying at the Sylvan Inn in Glen Arbor was PERFECT. Traverse City would really have been a schlep, since all we wanted to do was go to Sleeping Bear.

We had such a great trip. The dunes and lake were just so beautiful and peaceful.