Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.

The aroma of apples and fresh-cut wood. The taste of homemade maple candy and ice cream. The sounds of old-time music and old-fashioned hard work. Free activities, demonstrations and exhibits celebrating the area’s lifestyle of 100 years ago will fill the senses when Leelanau County’s southernmost museum hosts its 39th annual Heritage Day on Oct. 8.

Here are some reasons you may not want to come to Leelanau County: It’s out of your way. No matter where you are going, Leelanau County is not on the way unless you are in Leelanau County already, in which case you must either go back the way you came or get seriously wet. This has to do with the nature of peninsulas and there is nothing to be done about it.

The Glen Arbor Art Association announces a special fall workshop to by led by Sterling Edwards September 26-29, at The Homestead resort in Glen Arbor. This four-day program, “Exploring Watercolors from A to Z,” will focus on creative and expressive ways to paint a watercolor that is the artist’s personal interpretation.

Bob Moler of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) and host of Interlochen Public Radio’s Ephemeris program since 1975 has joined with Black Star Farms for an educational presentation of the summer skies over Leelanau County. Bob will bring a big telescope for viewing and invites you to bring your own.

Frankfort, Michigan artist Ellie Harold is the current Artist-in-Residence at the Glen Arbor Art Association. Her presentation for the public will be held on Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to hear the artist discuss her work and to enjoy light refreshments.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is celebrating National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and inviting the public to help clean up its beaches on Saturday, Sept. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. Admission to all national parks, including the National Lakeshore, is free that day, and volunteers will receive a voucher to use for entrance to various parks at a later date. So bring your family, your class, your troop, your group, or just yourself, and join others across the country in protecting our public lands.

According to Stefanie Kulpe of Michigan Travels, based in Ann Arbor, 700 German tourists will visit Glen Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 17, and Monday, Sept. 19. The German cruise liner MS Columbus will harbor in Traverse City this weekend, and over 330 passengers will visit Glen Arbor each day. They will come in in a total of nine buses, at staggered times, and stay in Glen Arbor for about 45 minutes.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will host a presentation on Lyme disease and ticks on Thursday, September 15, from noon to 1 p.m., in the auditorium of the National Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire. Visitors are encouraged to come and learn about tick identification, their life cycles, the diseases they transmit, and the measures used for prevention.

In mid-June, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) staff identified an ash tree near Little Glen Lake infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This was the first time EAB had been confirmed within the National Lakeshore. National Lakeshore staff is working with partners and visitors to assess and mitigate the damage caused by these invasive pests.