Two posts in 1 day? Can it be!!?? Michigan and all its beauty.....

Being someone that has seen many sunrises and sunsets from different spots in Michigan I can truly say that Michigan is amazing. It has SO many natural beauties. The dunes, national forests, waterfalls, gorges, Great Lakes, inland lakes, Mackinac Bridge and highways with tree's that canopy you as you pass. You cannot find many states that can say they encompass all of these wonders.

Let's go over one thing at a time.....

The Sand Dunes: Located along but not limited to, much of the west coast of Michigan, dense population in and around Glen Arbor area. For more detailed notes on locations and entrance points to the dunes, follow this link! Lake Michigan Sand Dunes!


The dunes ARE HUGE. They are never ending. Try and climb them, as fast as you can (only if a Doctor approves it) and not stop. It's pretty much impossible. People don't realize how big they are. They think "aww a sand hill!" No. No. Not a sand hill, sand MOUNTAIN! They are DUNES! Climb to the top of a tall one and you can see... MORE sand!! It looks like a desert. In Michigan. Yes, it is torture climbing them. Yes, that sand gets wicked hot in the middle of a summer day. Yes, there is nothing more frustrating than climbing for 5 minutes and only getting a few feet up the dune.
BUT.
There is something about sitting in that sand, your calves and thighs burning from your ascent, skin prickling from the hot sun taking in the view of Lake Michigan. Don't worry, I didn't forget the fun part.......getting down the dune. You can be lame, or awesome getting down this dune. You can either walk down the dune (lame), or leap down the dune (awesome).

**WARNING: Learn how to do this before you try it, you can really hurt your knees (or just yourself basically) if you don't do it right. Also not suggested for people afraid of high speeds or eating sand.

Leaping down the side of a dune is the closest thing you can get to free falling. Bounding down the side of the mountain of sand jumping as far out as possible with your next leap leaves you feeling weightless and you can feel gravity doing its job. It is impossible to leap like this and not have the biggest grin ever cross your face, sometimes a scream comes out when you jump out further than you thought you had and you catch air for MUCH longer than anticipated. It's ok...just calculate your landing and enjoy the ride!!

Suggestions/Tips: Stretch before you climb, wear cool clothing, bring a hat/sunglasses, wear sunscreen, bring plenty of water, TAKE YOUR TIME, find a dune that drops into a body of water (Silver Lake Sand Dunes for example), look back during your climb to take in the view (it changes every step you take higher), don't forget your camera!! Take a deep breath when you get to the top and enjoy the view!

Just in case you thought I was lying...here are some photo's from Dune's trips I have made....

The view of Lake Michigan from the Dunes, Glen Arbor, MI

Never ending climb.....

Silver Lake Sand Dunes


                    A special note about Sand Dunes....Sand Dunes are fragile, yes it seems like..."it's a pile of sand, what do you mean it's fragile?" trust me. They are. They shouldn't be abused (DON'T LITTER). 

~TAKE NOTHING BUT PHOTOS,LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS~

 

Have any questions? Leave it in my comments! :)