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Torch Lake offers a piece of the Caribbean in Michigan, and it’s hard to argue why. Its incredibly clear waters are known to change from green to fiery gold to deep turquoise. Additionally, the gorgeous sunsets and stunning views across the lake are a sight to behold. For partygoers and social butterflies, the parties here, in particular, the 4th of July party at Torch Lake Sandbar, can rival those on Caribbean beaches. There are also plenty of fun things to do in the area from water activities like swimming, boating, and snorkeling, to other outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
(10 best reasons why you should visit torch lake)

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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¨Ever wonder where the perfect place is for your dream adventure? Book your stay in Sault Ste. Marie today and find unlimited exploration options along specially tailored water trails and Voyageur Island. The island is a hidden gem on the St. Marys River that takes you to a place where you will feel like you are on your own private estate. You will have a front-row seat to passing freighters and have the chorus of birds as your soundtrack. The beauty of this retreat is that it is only a 30-minute kayak paddle from Rotary Park in the Soo!

There is something to be said about experiencing the St. Marys River from land and from the water. The ability to quietly paddle through its crystal clear water brings you so close to nature and the true spirit of Sault Ste. Marie. Take a few moments to gaze at the reflection of the sky on the surface of the water as you float along the river. You’ll find the stress from the hustle and bustle of everyday life melt away. Before 2016, Voyageur Island was a lost wilderness of overrun hiking paths. With the direction of Dennis Dougherty and a team of 70 volunteers, what was once a dream became a reality of well-maintained trails and newly-built paddling docks. Voyageur Island is now a free destination for all to explore¨(Sault Ste Marie).

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Curtis is one of the best snowmobile hubs in the Mid-West.  Because of our central location, we put you right in the middle of our area lodging, restaurants, lounges, entertainment, and attractions. Bring your family and friends and experience the thrill of the our trails. Find out why so many have said that we offer the best snowmobiling adventure in the U.S.(manistique lake area tourism bureau)

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"Rich in history, beautiful scenery and natural wonders, Munising is a healthy, wholesome environment in which to raise a family or operate a business, and a quiet, relaxed place to retire. Discover the friendly people and the vitality that makes our community a special place to be" (Munsing Gateway to Adventure).

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"This lake is 724 acres in size. It is approximately 70 feet deep at its deepest point. When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch"(Crystal Michigan).

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Logan G: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore

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Logan G: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore

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"One of the best places to visit in Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. In fact, if you are looking for a great first experience in Michigan, this is where to start. It is located on Michigan's western coast with a 35-mile shoreline along Lake Michigan. The glacier-carved region has a unique environment, with lakes, streams, and beaches.

The sand dunes are the main draw at Sleeping Bear Dunes, as visitors climb them and capture memorable vacation photos trekking the 300-foot-tall face. The area has 70,000 acres of wilderness, so there are many outdoor experiences to fill your agenda, from hiking and camping to swimming and kayaking."
(Planet ware.)

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“Lake Michigan’s definitely moody. It’s not just bi-polar, but beyond schizophrenic. It’s dozens of surrounding lakes and waterways never know what to expect on a day to day basis. She is awesome at calm and awesome at dangerous” (goodreads.com).

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"When Traverse City transforms into a snow globe, the fun begins! Race a sled down the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or take a quiet snowshoe hike in the woods" ("Traverse City").

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It has been called one of Michigan's most beautiful rail trails. The village has a nine-hole disc golf course and a skate park in Village parks. Both are free. Middleville is between the Middleville State Game Area and the Yankee Springs State Game, and Recreation, Areas ("Middleville, Michigan").

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"Lake Michigan, third-largest of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one lying wholly within the United States. Bordered by the states of Michigan (east and north), Wisconsin (west), Illinois (southwest), and Indiana (southeast), it connects with Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac in the north"(Lake Michigan).

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"Deer Park Lodge Resort on Muskallonge Lake offers lakefront family vacation fun with sandy beaches, sitting areas, fire pits, boat rentals, and great scenic sunsets. Sit and relax with family and friends along the edge of Muskallonge, roast hot dogs and marshmallows at our beach fire pit, and watch a beautiful sunset. Muskallonge Lake is situated between Muskallonge Lake and Lake Superior.  This area is known very well for its lakes, forest, streams, and beaches" ("Deer Park Lodge Resort").

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"Rich in history, the Manitou Islands are a part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with almost their entire area available for hiking, camping and exploration. The 15,000 acres of North Manitou Island are (with the exception of the village area) managed as a wilderness area, and the island is home to numerous species of hawks and eagles. Manitou Island Transit provides regular ferry service to both islands for campers and day trips to South Manitou" ("The Manitou Islands").

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"The daydream-worthy North African country of Morocco is a fascinating destination for a romantic honeymoon or family vacation, whether you are looking to just lounge at a resort by the beach, experience the vibrant cities and culture, or trek through the Atlas Mountains" ("15 Resorts In Morocco").

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"Modern-day Detroit has trendy neighborhoods to visit for dining and artsy experiences, like Midtown and Rivertown. The Eastern Market is a fun place to visit, with more than 150 years of history – it's one of the best things to do in southern Michigan. The open-air market is the largest historic public marketplace in the United States".
(https://www.planetware.com/michigan/best-places-to-visit-in-michigan-us-mi-98.htm Hamper)

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"Experience the thrill of zooming through the trees on our Zipline Adventure Tour, spend the day on the water at Deer Lake, or explore the ambiance of Northern Michigan from a scenic chairlift ride. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and your sense of adventure, we'll provide the rest." https://www.boynemountain.com/summer-activities

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"Rise and shine and set up your camera anywhere along the beaches of Lake Huron. Thomson Park, Starlite Beach, and Bay View Park are great Lake Huron locations right in the city of Alpena." ("Alpena"s most shareable photos").

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"Kitch-iti-kipi, The Big Spring. Two hundred feet across, the 40-foot deep Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest freshwater spring. Over 10,000 gallons a minute gush from fissures in the underlying limestone. The flow continues throughout the year at a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit. By means of a self-operated observation raft, visitors are guided to vantage points overlooking fascinating underwater features and fantasies. Ancient tree trunks, lime-encrusted branches, and fat trout appear suspended in nothingness as they slip through crystal waters far below. Clouds of sand kept in constant motion by gushing waters create ever-changing shapes and forms, a challenge to the imagination of young and old alike" ("Kitch-it-kipi").

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"Whether Silver Lake is your actual hometown or simply a home-away-from-home for you and your family, let us extend a warm welcome to you this holiday season!
The festivities are already in motion here as lights and trees are going up, and events and activities are packing the calendar. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you and your family can celebrate this magical season right here in Silver Lake!"
(" Make Silver Lake Your Home for the Holidays").

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"The lake's islands are a popular destination, with the Beaver Island Archipelago and the Manitou Islands as tourist favorites. The Manitou Islands are part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is known for its expansive dunes that are perched on headlands along the shoreline.

This state park is one of the most visited, noted for its variety of hiking trails and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, which spans 7.5 miles along the coast. Other impressive lakeshore dunes include the Warren Dunes in Warren and the P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon" ("14 Top-Rated Tourist Attraction in Michigan").

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"With over 2,000 acres of sand dunes, several miles of Lake Michigan coastline, and charming downtown areas, Silver Lake and surrounding communities offer visitors endless opportunities for swimming, boating, ORV recreation, shopping, entertainment, and more" ("Hart Visitor's Bureau").

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"This little city of 15,000 residents may look to the naked eye like just another scenic lake town. But rest assured, Traverse City is so much more. This northern Michigan destination has, over the years, earned a reputation as a culture and foodie hub that has certainly added to its already awe-inspiring curb appeal. One of the biggest film festivals in the country, the Traverse City Film Festival, is held in Traverse City every year. Not only that, but its annual National Cherry Festival is one of the largest events in the country" (Travel News)

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"Located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Saugatuck is a haven for visitors and locals come summertime. You can grab a spot in the sand at one of several beaches (Oval Beach and Saugatuck Dunes State Park are both popular) or get out on the lake via a boat cruise. Just make sure you leave some time for browsing the goods sold at the town's eclectic boutiques" ("Best Places to Visit in Michigan").

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¨St. Ignace is the “Homeport to the Upper Peninsula”, where the great waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. Enjoy an area filled with green forests, blue waters, sand dunes and incredible places of discovery. Come and savor a slower, simpler lifestyle where people know each other’s names and would like to share their community and their area history with you.¨(Saint Ignace Chambers of commerce )

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"With the hustle and bustle of everyday life - vacation has become a precious commodity that few dare to waste".

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''Lake is superior the largest and northernmost of the Great Lakes of North America, and among freshwater lakes, it is the world's largest by surface area and the Third largest by volume''.  ("Words of Adam Augustyn")

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"Lake Michigan has many beaches. The region is often referred to as the “Third Coast” of the United States, after those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. With more than 275,000 acres of sand dunes lining the shores of Lake Michigan, Michigan is home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world". (justfunfacts.com)

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''The largest dunes here -- at more than 400 feet -- are more than four times higher than the tallest on North Carolina's Outer Banks (or anywhere else in the eastern United States, for that matter"https://www.cleveland.com/travel/2011/07/scaling_the_sand_dunes_on_mich.html

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As I reach the apex of the highest dune, I can just make out a mirage in the distance.

Except it's no mirage -- it's Lake Michigan.

I have never been to the Arabian desert, yet I imagine this is what it looks like: sand, and only sand, as far as the eye can see.

But I'm not in the Middle East; I'm in a state park on the west coast of Ohio's northwestern neighbor. And I can't help but think: This is Michigan?

The answer, astonishingly, is yes.

On Michigan's west coast, no fewer than a dozen parks boast these towering mounds of sand, huge dunes that visitors can climb up, slide down, dig in, drive around or simply stare at in awe.

"You just don't expect dunes of this size along Lake Michigan," said Dusty Shultz, the superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a 71,000-acre federal park in northwest Michigan.

The largest dunes here -- at more than 400 feet -- are more than four times higher than the tallest on North Carolina's Outer Banks (or anywhere else in the eastern United States, for that matter).

Exploring the dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

: Start your visit and pick up maps at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, on Michigan 72 in Empire. A weekly pass, which gives you access to the Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and the rest of the park, is $10.

Distance from Cleveland: about 420 miles.

nps.gov/slbe

or 231-326-5134.

Ludington State Park

: Plan ahead if you want to camp here; sites fill up six months in advance. Admission to the park for nonovernight guests is $8 per day per car. Climbing the

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

is another $2 per person.

Distance from Cleveland: about 390 miles.

michigan.gov/ludington

Silver Lake State Park

: Ludington and Silver Lake are just 25 miles apart, so it's easy to do these two parks on the same trip. Admission to the park is $8. For information on taking your own vehicle into the off-road vehicle area, go to

tinyurl.com/silverlakeorv

. For guided tours of the area, or to rent a Jeep or dune buggy, see a list of businesses at

thinkdunes.com

(our hourlong tour with

was $130 for four).

Mac Wood's Dune Rides

(macwoodsdunerides.com) operates daily through early October; tickets are $16; $11 for ages 3-11.

Distance from Cleveland: about 375 miles.

michigan.gov/silverlake

Related stories

Michigan beach towns offer diversions away from the dunes

Five Great Lakes beaches dubbed the best by Dr. Beach

The biggest -- they're called perched dunes -- are more than 10,000 years old, created when massive glaciers passed through the region, leaving behind both the Great Lakes and large rocky deposits on Lake Michigan's southern and eastern shores. Strong winds from the west keep the dunes covered in sand.

"It was referred to me one time as icing on a cake," said Shultz. And what a treat it is.

I have been trying get back to this part of Michigan for years, since vacationing here as a child and being awestruck by the scenery. I finally made a return trip last month.

What a relief to know that my memory didn't play tricks on me.

These dunes looked positively monstrous to me as a child in the 1970s. And they still look enormous, especially when I'm only halfway up the side of one and already completely out of breath.
Two steps up, one step back
We started our tour at one of the northernmost spots on the Lake Michigan shore where these mountains of sand emerge from the water: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It's also where the dunes stretch the tallest, as high as 450 feet above the water.

First stop: the Dune Climb, a 110-foot-high hill in the center of the park, which is designed to satisfy the human urge to scale one of these giant sand hills.

It's not as easy as a walk on the beach.

For every two steps up, I slide back one. My kids time my ascent: 6 minutes and 30 seconds of huffing and puffing. And then my descent: 20 seconds of long strides down, as I try to keep the top half of my body from cascading over my feet (my 10-year-old wasn't as cautious, tearing down the hill in a sprint, then landing face first in the sand).

At the top of the climb, we anticipated a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Instead, we saw nothing but hill after sandy hill. From here, it's a nearly 2-mile hike to the lake -- and this is not easy hiking.

So we played around in the sand a bit more, then headed to the car for one of the region's great scenic drives.

The 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive winds from forest to sandy lakefront back through forest, with numerous opportunities to stop and hike, take photos or simply enjoy the views. Lumberman and land speculator Pierce Stocking built and operated the drive starting in the late 1960s, a decade before the land became a national park.

Stop No. 9 on the route offers a spectacular view from atop the park's highest bluff, 450 feet above Lake Michigan. My older daughter and I were tempted to descend the dune here, having seen photos the day before of friends who had made the same trip down.

But we knew the climb back up would be seriously strenuous, and a sign warned us not to try ("may cause injury or heat illness; rescue fees will be charged"). My husband, too, was less than encouraging. "I've got 9 and 1 dialed on the cell phone," he called to us, after we'd taken about 30 steps down.

So we scampered back up, dissuaded in part by the fear factor but also because we want to be good environmental stewards.

Thousands of footsteps here and elsewhere have taken their toll in the park, said Steve Yancho, chief of natural resources at Sleeping Bear. The sandy top layer has been stripped away in parts, leaving a more rocky base on the side of the dune, and a shallow trench where climbers have carved out a path.

We decided to expend our hiking energy at another couple of scenic spots: along Sleeping Bear Point, where we walk through the dunes to a magnificent beach, with crystal clear (and cold!) water, and exceptional views west to the Manitou islands; and atop Pyramid Point, also with stunning vistas, where we again contemplated a climb down the bluff to the water (and again opted not to).

All this sand walking left our legs fatigued -- and our arms in need of some attention.

So we headed to the tiny town of Glen Arbor, completely surrounded by the national park, and rented a couple of kayaks from Crystal River Outfitters. The Crystal River, one of several Lake Michigan tributaries that run through the park, is as lovely as its name suggests: crystal clear, and with just enough of a current to make serious paddling optional.

The relaxing float turned exciting only once: The guide who drove us to the put-in spot told us we could avoid the hassle of portaging our kayak over a road if we were gutsy enough to squeeze through a culvert under the bridge. He advised us to then pull hard left to avoid a stand of trees on the other side of the road.

After having my bravery questioned on the dune climbs, I wasn't going to wimp out here. My daughter and I made it successfully through the culvert, then landed smack in the trees.

Ah well. At least we didn't damage the dunes.

We continued our dune tour south from Sleeping Bear to Ludington, a town of about 8,200 and home to Ludington State Park, one of the state's most popular -- just try to get a campground reservation here between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The park is 5,300 acres sandwiched between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, with 6 miles of sandy, hilly shoreline. The dunes here aren't in the same league as the steep pitches of Sleeping Bear, but they are fun to explore.

Our day here was rainy and cool, so we had to scratch a few activities, including tubing on the Sable River. We did get a nice hike in, weaving in and out of the dunes along the beach all the way to Big Sable Point Lighthouse, a beautiful, black-and-white striped tower, built in 1867 and rising 112 feet above the lake.

Inactive since the early 1970s, the lighthouse was in severe disrepair when the Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association formed in 1987 and launched a decades-long restoration. The lighthouse here, and two others nearby, are staffed by volunteers with the association. They live on-site for two weeks at a time, giving tours and maintaining the property.

It was extremely foggy during our visit, so we resisted the temptation to climb the 130 steps to the top. (We got another chance, a day later, to climb to the top of its sister lighthouse, the equally lovely Little Sable Point, in nearby Silver Lake.)

We retreated through the dunes back to our car, stopped for lunch in downtown Ludington, then continued our tour south.

My strongest childhood memory of this region centers on a dune ride through the sand. And for this, we traveled to Silver Lake, 25 miles south of Ludington, and the only place in Michigan (and all of the eastern United States) that allows private off-road vehicle owners to drive on the dunes.

The park's 2,000 acres -- a rolling mass of sand with Silver Lake to the east and Lake Michigan to the west -- are divided among three purposes: one-third is set aside for pedestrian exploration; a third is leased by private tour operator Mac Wood's Dune Rides; and a third is open to off-road vehicles. We explored all three.

First up: Mac Wood's, a 40-minute rollick through the dunes, named for the longtime resident who started offering these tours in 1930. As many as 20 passengers are strapped into a souped-up, open-top Ford truck that travels up to 30 mph over the sand. Kids in the back seats raise their arms in the air, as if on a roller coaster. But the 7-mile tour isn't really a thrill ride (though there are a few thrilling spots).

Driver Bob Collins gave us some background about the desolate landscape that surrounds us: Hundreds of years ago, the dunes were covered with white pine forest. Then, in the late 19th century, lumbermen arrived and harvested the wood, in part to help rebuild Chicago after its 1871 fire.

Today, in part because of the rapidly shifting sand and in part because of human development, little plant life exists on the dunes, though "ghost forests" are common -- fragments of trees, choked by sand, now petrified and poking up through the ground.

Those trunks create a bit of an obstacle course in the off-road-vehicle area, as I found out when I got behind the wheel myself.

First-time visitors to Silver Lake can rent a buggy or a Jeep and explore the place on their own -- but the thought of doing that intimidated me.

So we signed up for a spin with Razor J's, which offers guided tours through the park -- you're driving your own vehicle, but following someone who knows what they're doing.

My husband, two kids and I strapped ourselves into a four-seat Polaris Ranger RZR and followed guide Torrie Lucas onto the sand.

This activity is not for the faint of heart. It's not difficult to drive in the sand -- at least not if you're in an appropriate vehicle. But what makes the experience so nerve-racking are all the vehicles around you.

Driving on these dunes has become so popular that the state of Michigan in recent years has instituted a lottery system to decrease the wait time for drivers queuing up to enter the park. On busy summer Saturdays, there can be as many as 2,000 other vehicles zooming and spinning and flying around you in the sand.

All buggies and Jeeps and all-terrain vehicles must be outfitted with a 10-foot-high orange flag on top, so that drivers can see who's close by, even when a mountain of sand is eclipsing their vision.

There are no lanes in the sand. There are no red lights, no turn signals, no driving rules of any kind (well, that's not entirely true: seatbelts are mandatory; no alcohol is allowed; and in certain areas, one-way traffic is enforced).

It's impossible to spend an hour driving on the dunes and not come to the conclusion that this place can be a very dangerous playground for people who like to drive fast and push limits. (And indeed, there are several serious injuries at the park every year, according to the Oceana County Sheriff's Department.)

Needless to say I was not -- as a middle-age mother of two -- the average demographic on the sand that day.

Without Lucas to follow, I'm certain I would have been too terrified to even depress the gas pedal. With her guidance, I had a blast, flying up and down the dunes, maneuvering through a figure 8 and listening to my kids squeal in the back seat.

Then I got stuck -- three times -- on the mountain of sand they call Test Hill. I either didn't give it enough gas to begin with, or took my foot off the juice too soon. Each time, I was instructed by Lucas to back down the hill and try again.

Finally, Lucas, concerned that I would burn the engine, showed me an alternative route, around the big hill. "It's not your fault," she assured me. "The sand is soft, and you have four people in your buggy."

Nobody in our car believed her.

When our heartbeats returned to a more normal rate, we set out to explore the pedestrian area of the park, a wide swath of sand between the lakes -- again, like the off-road-vehicle area, without trails and without much vegetation.

It had just rained when we visited, and the skies were still ominous, so we had the dunes largely to ourselves. The rain-hardened sand made the dunes easier to climb, so we kept walking and gawking, mesmerized by the desolate surroundings.

We descended an especially large dune and found ourselves completely surrounded by sand, with not a single other soul in sight.

It was here the landscape felt the most foreign and utterly unfamiliar. It looked like a different planet, or at least a different continent.

But it was no mirage. It's Michigan.

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Scaling the sand dunes on Michigan's west coast

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As I reach the apex of the highest dune, I can just make out a mirage in the distance. Except it's no mirage -- it's Lake Michigan. I have never been to the Arabian desert, yet I imagine this is what it looks like: sand, and only sand, as far as the eye can see.

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"Torch Lake will remind you of the Caribbean with its crystal clear turquoise waters, white sandbars, and raucous summer parties. The lake was once part of the much larger Lake Michigan but was separated into its own lake by the formation of a sandbar across the northwest mouth of the lake. The lake is now the second largest in the state of Michigan, nearly 19,000 acres and a maximum depth of 285 feet." (Nace).

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"Muskegon Lake has been a fishing and boating destination in Michigan for many years. Travelers come from all over the country to catch large fish and sail on the lake's calm waters. Other popular activities on the lake including water skiing and knee boarding. While there are many fun activities on Muskegon Lake, most of them start at one of the lake's numerous marinas. Below are 3 marinas, each one offering its own unique and fun activities on Muskegon Lake" ("Activities on Muskegon Lake").

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"With over 2,000 acres of sand dunes, several miles of Lake Michigan coastline, and charming downtown areas, Silver Lake and surrounding communities offer visitors endless opportunities for swimming, boating, ORV recreation, shopping, entertainment, and more" ("Hart Visitor's Bureau").

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"If your family is looking for a fun vacation that really gives you the chance to unplug, then check out Mackinac Island.  Just a seven-hour drive from Indy, a trip to Mackinac will make you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. With a ban on motorized vehicles throughout the island, you’ll travel by foot, bike or horse and buggy – which makes appreciating the Victorian architecture throughout the area that much more enjoyable" ("five reasons").

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"Frankenmuth is known for its serious shopping. Not only can you explore an excellent outdoor mall and the largest Christmas Store in the world – you can also go back to a time of plentiful mom and pop shops" ("10 Things To Do During").

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"On the north side of Hastings, on Woodlawn Ave., is Bob King Park the home of TangleTown, handicap accessible play structure constructed 1997. Bob King Park is a great place to take children of all ages. If parents feel their children are not quite ready to play in the huge play structure there is a smaller fenced in area with playground equipment designed for younger children. There are also tennis courts and a baseball diamond" ("Bob King Park").

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"Starry nights, crisp air, beach breezes. Torch Lake has all of this – plus the crystal clear, Caribbean blue waters it's famous for. In fact, it's often referred to as the “Caribbean of the North.” The lake was a local hidden gem for years but social media has changed that for good" ("Torch Lake").

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¨Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forests, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound "  (¨national lakeshore mi").

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¨... laid back community with a rich history on the shores of Lake Michigan’s clear waters and sugar-fine sandy beaches. It surrounds a 500-acre inland lake that’s fed by a vibrant river. Rows of downtown businesses offering an eclectic mix of shops, places to eat, and a Village Green that’s a centerpiece park for many fun events year round¨. (¨Pentwater, MI¨)

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"The largest island in Lake Michigan, Beaver Island hosts many activities for every nature lover. The year round population is approximately 600 – with a large percentage of Irish descent. Time slows down here, offering a peaceful, relaxed way of life. Tour the Island by bicycle, or bring your car over on the ferry or rent a car to circle the Island in an afternoon" ("Discover beaver island").

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https://www.pinclipart.com/pindetail/ixohJ_michigan-clip-art-shape-of-michigan-lower-peninsula/

It is better than the upper one.

"...the Lower Peninsula is nicknamed "the mitten", with the eastern region identified as "The Thumb"."
("Pinclipart").
...

Remington

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"During the summer, popular activities at Wolf Lake include swimming, fishing, and boating. Water recreation also includes personal watercraft, water skiing, and wave running. The public parks offer boat launch areas and beach access for swimmers, with designated areas for each activity. Another boat launch, located on MacArthur Road on the lake’s east side, features gravel pavement and can accommodate medium-sized boats. Hiking trails around the lake and in nearby wooded areas provide another way to enjoy the lake’s scenery. During the winter, Wolf Lake affords opportunities for ice fishing" ("About Wolf Lake").

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"Barnes Park features 1200 feet of sandy beach, picnic and play area, hiking and bicycle trails. Come enjoy some of the best sunsets on Lake Michigan. Enjoy great walking trails and the beautiful scenery" ("Barnes Park").