Okay wow, so I have a massive blog post today! A cool little town, the perfect lookout spots and hiking trails, and delicious eats. Just a handful of awesome places in a short, condensed amount of time. Lets dive in shall we?
First and foremost, the eclectic town of Glen Arbor. Sitting right between Lake Michigan and beautiful Glen Lake, Glen Arbor neighbors Empire and the Sleeping Bear Dune climb along M22. This little city is chock full of art galleries, clothing stores, and restaurants.
Arts Tavern is a locally owned and operated pub in Glen Arbor known for its extremely DELICIOUS and WORTH IT tater tots. It’s interior decor is one of kind, or how locals describe it, authentically Arts. The walls are decorated floor to ceiling with old pictures, celebrity signed souvenirs, university banners, and a two headed fish. You read that right. A two headed stuffed fish. If you’re looking for a quick pizza fix look no further than Riverfront Pizza and Deli. Along with tasty pizza pies, Riverfront also offers a variety of sandwiches and unique specialties. Once you’ve ordered, sit down to enjoy your meal on their patio right next to the lazy flowing Crystal River.
Right next door to Riverfront Pizza and Deli is Crystal River Outfitters. They offer daily river trips on the crystal river along with daily canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals. In the winter they offer cross country ski rentals and snowshoe rentals as well. They also
offer a full service bicycle shop, called the Cyclery, where you can rent a bike to ride around Glen Arbor, M22, and the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.
Also in Glen Arbor is the M22 Store! Here you can find M22 apparel, stickers, and magnets along with many other goodies. If you’re not completely sold, they also offer daily wine tastings, even in the morning! I always make sure to stop in to the M22 store when I’m in Glen Arbor because not only are you supporting local, you’re supporting the M22 lifestyle. I feel a special connection with M22 and the people that run this company get it. M22 isn’t just a road, it’s a way of life.
The area around and along M22 is very hilly offering for some amazing trails and views. Glen Arbor has one more little gem left before we move on and it’s one of my favorite hiking destinations, the Alligator Hill trail. On this trail there’s a lookout stop for both Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Both views are stunning and the network of trails are of relatively moderate skill level. The lookout over Lake Michigan is insane and sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s even real.
If you drive a little farther north along M22 you’ll come across the rural historical district of Port Oneida which has a large collection of older farm homes that are untouched by modern development. In Port Oneida is yet another wonderful trail, which has an amazing view of Lake Michigan, called Pyramid Point. Though this trail is shorter it provides the craziest view of all the trails I’ve shared with you through this blog.
The scenic lookout is literally a dune that plunges straight down into Lake Michigan. It’s crazy! There are no guided boardwalks or safety rails so I would definitely be cautious when you visit Pyramid Point. I also most definitely do not recommend descending the dunes, not just because of their steepness, but because it’s a long way down and the climb back up would be less than appealing. It’s not a gradual slope, it is steep.
Also in Port Oneida is my favorite beach of all time. Bohemian Beach. A family jewel. Sure there’s public access at Bohemian but if you actually drive down the dirt roads on either side of the beach parking lot, you will find barely there paths into the woods that lead to secluded beach spots. I find myself arriving here at 10 am and never leaving until 4 or 5 that afternoon, hunting for native petoskey stones and wasting my day away under the sun. Just set up a beach chair and let your worries wash away in the lap of Lake Michigan’s tide. It truly is a dreamy experience.
Each spot I shared with you today is so amazing that my words do not even begin to sum up the actual experience. Whether you hit them all in one day or spend a week exploring, you’ll end up with a vacation you’ll never forget!
Your Michigan Girlfriend 
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