US #5258 – Sleeping Bear Dunes

2018 $24.70 Priority Mail Express

A long the northwest coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the Sleeping Bear Dunes are a place of ancient lore and beautiful views.

The legend of the Sleeping Bear Dunes comes from the Chippewa people.  In their tale, a giant fire raged on the western shore of Lake Michigan.  To escape the blaze, a mother bear and her two cubs jumped into the lake and began to swim to safety on the opposite shore. 

The swim was too much for the cubs, who became tired and drowned.  The mother bear reached the shore and waited on the bluffs, but her cubs never arrived.  The Great Spirit was impressed by the mother bear’s faith and created two islands (North and South Manitou Islands) to honor the cubs.  Over time, wind covered the mother in sand, where she still waits for her cubs.

Established as a National Lakeshore in 1970, Sleeping Bear Dunes has been called one of the best-kept secrets in the US.  The 50,000 acres of land is home to 64 miles of beaches, two islands, and 26 inland lakes.  Over 1.5 million people visit Sleeping Bear Dunes annually for year-round activities including hiking, fishing, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing. 

Good Morning America named Sleeping Bear Dunes America’s most beautiful place in 2011, helping the area become a popular national tourist attraction.