Glen Arbor

Mar 4, 2008 Lynda Twardowski

Brian Confer

Nestled near the Sleeping Bear Dunes, which are named for a Native American legend about a mother bear forever waiting on shore for her two drowned cubs, the tiny hamlet of Glen Arbor is pure storybook.

Ready yourself for a peek inside by first stopping at the town's corner bakery, Barb's Country Oven (5921 Lake St., 231-334-3686). Pick up a sticky pecan roll and stroll north up Lake Street to Sleeping Bear Bay. A go-on-for-miles beachwalk is welcome - so long as you stay near the waterline - and so is Petoskey stone hunting. Come up empty? You'll find Petoskey and precious stones in remarkable jewelry at Becky Thatcher Designs (795 Lake St., 231-334-3826).

Refuel at Art's Tavern (6487 Western Ave., 231-334-3754) with a true Lake Michigan-lover's lunch: a whitefish burger and pint of Sleeping Bear Brown Ale. The electrifying tales of the tavern's early days are a must-read menu option. If they leave you hankering for more, you're next door to historic log cabin turned The Cottage Book Shop (5989 Lake St., 231-334-4223). Among the bestsellers, find local auther Linda Alice Dewey's Aaron's Crossing.

Ask directions to the trail at the base of Alligator Hill that leads you to the real-life ghost story's cemetery setting, but first, two pre-hike stops: the whimsical Cherry Republic (6026 Lake St., 231-334-3150) for some trail-worthy dark chocolate-cherry-caramel turtles with pecans, and The Yarn Shop (Village Sampler mall, 231-334-3805) for a pair of ski walking poles (skiwalking.com). Yes, The Yarn Shop sells yarn too, so be warned: You may be invited to sit in one of the cozy shop's rocking chairs and learn to knit before you go. Take the owner up on her offer. A pair of needles, a skein and a dream of a scarf-to-be make for a happy ending to a full day.

Stay the Night
The Homestead: exceptional accommodations, ski, golf and hiking overlooking Lake Michigan, stay & dine packages, 231-334-5100 or thehomesteadresort.com

Visit Up North Vacation Rentals: homes, cottages and condos in and around Glen Arbor, 888-334-3051 or visitupnorth.com

Glen Arbor Lakeshore Inn: walking distance to downtown and Lake Michigan, 231-334-3773 or
lakeshoreinnmotel.com

Leelanau Vacation Rentals: variety of properties in and around Glen Arbor, 231-334-6100 or leelanau.com/vacation

Lynda Twardowski is travel editor at Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
lmt@traversemagazine.com

Note: This article was originally published in March 2007 and was updated for the web February 2008.
Bookmark and Share Email this page Email Print this page Print Feed Feed

Add your comment:
Marketplace Links