The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding communities are suffering growing pains as we’ve become a prime destination for tourists from all over the world. Conscious of these growing pains, a new group called the Sleeping Bear Gateways Council is stepping forward to facilitate dialogue between the National Lakeshore, local business leaders and civic leaders.
For visitors looking for something to do beyond the dunes in the National Lakeshore, they might consider having fun in the cultural areas of the park. Historic Sleeping Bear, an official partner of the National Lakeshore offers summer activities for the family at the Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center/Olsen Farm 4 miles north of Glen Arbor, located on the Heritage Trail.
Learn about the history of the area through bike, car, horse and wagon tours, and several programs offered by Historic Sleeping Bear, a partner group of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Bike Tours through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District will be offered on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m.
Historic Sleeping Bear (formerly named Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear) celebrates its 20th anniversary as a partner of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore working to preserve and interpret the historic structures, landscapes, and heritage of the National Lakeshore.