The area and alternatives for your family

Sleeping Bear Dunes
The
Interlochen Center
for the Arts is located in
Grand Traverse
County in the northwest corner of Michigan's lower peninsula. This corner
of the state is one of Michigan's most popular tourist areas. Loaded with more
inland lakes than you can count and also a very short drive from Lake Michigan,
this area is a summer paradise.
For anyone interested in attending the workshop but also taking a nice vacation
with the family, you can do both in one outing. There is plenty for the rest of
the family to do while you're attending the workshop and it's all close enough
for you all to spend your evenings together.
Interlochen State Park
Interlochen State Park is located adjacent to the campus.
It is literally right across the road and provides safe clean campgrounds,
access to Green Lake and Duck Lake, hiking, fishing, swimming, a picnic area
and concession store. This could be a great home base as it puts you in easy
walking distance to the workshop leaving the rest of the family free to take
the car and tour the area.
Traverse City
Traverse City
is the largest city in northern Michigan and one of the larger metropolitan
areas in the state. With an atmosphere somewhat like the Ann Arbor of the
north, Traverse City also has a huge maritime culture sitting right at the
foot of Grand Traverse Bay. TC will give your family a decidedly more urban
feel with tons of shopping and a huge variety of fine restaurants and clubs
while still being only minutes away from nature, the lakes, the dunes, etc.
Other Towns and Day Trips
Besides the town of Interlochen itself, the campus is also a short drive
from several other quaint and popular tourist destinations. Any of these
could be places to stay or simply places for the family to visit during
the day.
Glen Arbor
About 30 miles northwest of Interlochen, Glen Arbor is surrounded by the
shores of Lake Michigan, Big Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake. You can find
shopping, good food and drink as well as hiking, canoing and some wonderful
beaches.
Empire
About 25 miles northwest of Interlochen, Empire is the spot where M-72 hits
Lake Michigan. There is a visitors center there as well as some nice shops,
a beautiful Lake Michigan municipal beach and hiking on Empire Bluffs.
Leland
About 45 miles northwest of Interlochen, Leland sits right on Lake Michigan.
There are places to eat, places to shop and a great beach. Plus you can head
down to the marina and walk through historic Fishtown or catch a ferry over
to South Manitou Island.
Frankfort
About 25 miles southwest of Interlochen, Frankfort also sits right on Lake
Michigan and offers a historic downtown and some great beach areas.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The
Sleeping Bear
Dunes really are one of Michigan's jewels. Designated a national lakeshore
and voted the most beautiful place in America by Good Morning America viewers
in 2011, the park covers a 35 mile stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline
and also contains North and South Manitou Islands. There is a ton of hiking in
the dunes and lots of access to the lake. There is also a scenic drive
(Pearce-Stocking Drive) and a Dune Climb that isn't for the faint hearted.
All in all, there is no end of stuff to do and you can't really go wrong
no matter what you decide. Use these suggestions or do a little research
and find something different. I've barely scratched the surface. Feel free
to ask me questions as well and I'll do my best to get answers for you.