How Sleeping Bear Dunes Was Liked

Sure, we all like the national lakeshore but the most beautiful place in America? As Carl Sagan said, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".

The evidence is that Good Morning America saw 22,000 votes for Sleeping Bear due to the mobilization of social media in northern Michigan.

See Crain's Detroit: The sleeping giant behind Sleeping Bear: How scenery and social media created ‘The Most Beautiful Place in America'

This time of year, the Sleeping Bear website typically gets about 1,500 to 2,000 hits a day. On Aug. 17, when the “Most Beautiful Place” selection was made, the site got nearly 15,000 hits.

Sleepy Bike Tours

Via Leelanau.com: Regular bike tours scheduled for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

This is a great idea and I am happy to see the NPS add it to their services.

If successful then perhaps it could lead others to start full-fledged bicycle touring businesses?

How Lazy?

Via Leelanau.com: National Park Proposes Tunnel to the Lake Michigan Overlook

A tunnel through the sand dune so people can drive to the view on the other side? Unbelievable. I was recently in Boulder, CO and hiked a trail that was crowded with kids, dogs, and senior citizens; and it was a strenuous hike. No one there was asking for a tunnel through the mountain for a better view.

The document and commenting options are here: Lake Michigan Overlooks Environmental Assessment

I'm surprised to read that the NPS favors Option D, the tunnel, and rejected the idea to close the Outlooks completely.