Michigan Lakeshore, M-22 Self-guided Driving Audio Tour

Departure Point

• After booking the tour, search your emails for "self-guided tour." Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

Return Details

• The self-guided audio tour ends here near RG Siding 840 Avenue E.

Duration
8 hours - 9 hours

Languages Available

• Audio guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Great Lakes Bay
Michigan
Michigan sits in the heart of the Great Lakes, one of America's most interesting and in my opinion underappreciated natural wonders. By area, the Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth and contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater. The lakes are all connected, and if you follow the smaller lakes and rivers that drain them, eventually you'll reach the Atlantic Ocean. NOTE: This 120-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Lake Michigan in 5-6 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lake
Lake, Michigan
Michiganders love to use their hands as maps to show where they’re from. Hold up your left hand, and make a mitten-type shape with your palm facing away from you. Congratulations, you just created a map of the lower peninsula. This tour takes us along the outside of your hand, on the pinky-finger side.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Portage
Portage, Michigan
Coming up ahead is Portage Lake, a perfect encapsulation of the blessings and curses of lumber in Michigan’s history. The timber industry was booming in the mid-1800s, and lumber mills popped up in small settlements all along Lake Michigan’s coast. Trees made their way to mills for processing and were then shipped to cities via the Great Lakes. One of these sawmills was on Porter Lake.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Arcadia Marsh Boardwalk
Arcadia, MI 49613
In about a mile, we will arrive at the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve, one of only 15 remaining coastal marshes along Lake Michigan’s Lower Peninsula shoreline. Bird, butterfly, and botanical lovers will delight in this stop, where you can walk through the marsh on a dry and elevated boardwalk. It’s free to enter, but dogs are not allowed. The turn is a little easy to miss so I'll be sure to point it out as we get closer.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Crystal Lake Alpacas
4907 River Rd, Frankfort, Michigan
Crystal Lake was originally a bay on Lake Michigan before sand dunes closed it off around 2,000 years ago. Not to be deterred by a little geology, Archibald Jones, an entrepreneur and founder of the Benzie County River Improvement Company, wanted to remove the sands between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Green Point Dunes
1198 Green Point Road, Frankfort, MI 49635
This 2-mile hike will take you through shady and green-filled woods on your way to the golden, sandy beach along Lake Michigan. If you want to get to the beach, you'll have to descend some wooden stairs.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Frankfort Beach
Frankfort, Michigan
If you’re in search of a beach stop, Continue straight on Forest Avenue until you hit the water. There's a small parking lot for Frankfort Public Beach, which is a nice stretch of sand along Lake Michigan. There's also the picturesque Frankfort lighthouse and pier just offshore.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Point Betsie Lighthouse
3701 Point Betsie Rd, Frankfort, Michigan
one of the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan and it's surrounded by a particularly nice stretch of sandy beach. Visitors are welcome to tour the grounds and guided tours are offered Memorial Day weekend through late October for a small fee.
Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Sleeping Bear Dunes
6748 S Dune Hwy, , Empire, Michigan
One of the top highlights of M22 is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I'm guessing it is one of the reasons you've decided to drive this stretch of scenic road so I'm going to fill you in on some of its details before we arrive.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Old Indian Trail
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, , Empire, Michigan
Keep a lookout for a small sign marking the turn for Old Indian Trail. This National Park trail has two, roughly 2.5-mile loops that follow a portion of a path that early Native Americans established between their camp and fishing sites. It's a nice option for folks who are looking for a quieter hike or if you have several days in the area.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
9922 West Front Street, Empire, MI 49630
Alright, you’re coming up on the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and as I said earlier, I highly recommend starting your exploration of Sleeping Bear Dunes here. turn right onto West Front Street - that's the next street. Then look for the bluish building and park signs on our left. The visitor center is hard to miss.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Empire
Empire, Michigan
The Empire State was one of the largest and fastest steamer ships of its day, with 40-foot paddle wheels slicing through the water. It was launched in 1848 and carried passengers in luxury from Chicago northward, to destinations along the Great Lakes.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Dune Climb
6748 S Dune Hwy, Empire, Michigan
Coming up is one of the biggest draws at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore–the Dune climb. The nearly 300-ft dune is steep and one of the few places in the park where climbing on dunes is encouraged. There’s plenty of parking and you’ll see the towering sand right away. You won't miss the sign.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Alligator Hill Trail
Stocking Road, Empire, MI 49630
Coming up quickly is an interesting side trip - the Alligator Hill hike. This somewhat gentle uphill trail leads to the Islands Lookout where on a clear day you can see all the way out to the Manitou Islands. The hike to the lookout is about 3 miles roundtrip.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Glen Arbor
Glen Arbor, Michigan
Tourism was big in the early 1900s and still is today. Glen Arbor has quite a few art galleries, several wine and cider tasting rooms, and cafes, and it's a lovely spot to spend the night if you're not in a hurry to continue along the lakeshore.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Pyramid Point Trail
, , Empire, Michigan
I've mentioned the Manitou Islands a couple of times now, so let me fill us in on some more details on these Lake Michigan gems. Both islands are officially part of Sleeping Bear Lakeshore and are largely uninhabited.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Manitou Passage Golf Club
4600 S Club Dr, Cedar, Michigan
First is the turn for Port Oneida Beach and Pyramid Point. Pyramid Point offers one of the most gorgeous views of Lake Michigan. It's about a three-mile hike from the trailhead and totally worth it for the panoramic views of the lake.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Good Harbor Bay Trail
9922 W Front St, Empire, Michigan
I talked a bit about the Manitou Islands earlier on our tour but have yet to chat much about the waterway separating the islands from mainland Michigan - the Manitou Passage. Well, in the mid-1800s to early 1900s, maritime trade was booming and the waters of Lake Michigan were teeming with ships carrying goods.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Leelanau Peninsula

About a mile ahead is a turnoff for Good Harbor Beach, on your left hand side. The beach is a lovely place for a stroll, swim, or viewing the sunset. If you swim, be wary of waves and rip current-- there's no lifeguards, so use caution.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Historic Fishtown
203 West River Street, Leland, MI 49654
Leelanau peninsula and county was named by Henry Schoolcraft, who served as Michigan’s Indian agent in the 1820s, acting as a go-between with the US government and Native American tribes. When he was assigned to live in Sault Ste. Marie, he met his wife Jane Johnston.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Beaver Island
Beaver Island, Michigan
You are approaching the town of Leland, and a stroll through the town's historic Fishtown is a must-do. Leland is built on the site of one of the oldest Ottawa villages in the Great Lakes region. The spot where the Leland River flows into Lake Michigan provided a natural fish ladder so it's always been a popular fishing ground.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Northport
Northport, Michigan
The Manitou Islands are only two of the many islands that grace Lake Michigan's waters. The largest is Beaver Island located north of the Leelanau Peninsula. It has quite an interesting history including a stint as a self-proclaimed theocratic monarchy.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum
15500 N Lighthouse Point Rd, Leelanau State Park, Northport, Michigan
You are approaching Northport, a village on Grand Traverse Bay that has quite an interesting history. Northport was settled back in the mid-1800s after a state-wide epidemic of smallpox hastened a mass scattering of settlers.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Peshawbestown
Peshawbestown, Michigan
A man named Philo Beers was the 2nd lighthouse keeper, after taking the job from David Moon, who only lasted about 8 months before calling it quits. The lighthouse life isn’t for everyone.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Suttons Bay
Suttons Bay, Michigan
In a few moments, you will be passing through a portion of the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation. As you can see, it's just south of the original settlement at Omena led by Reverend Dougherty. Later, a different group of Odawa people moved in to what was called Eagle Town but was renamed, and continues to be called Peshawbestown after their Chief, Peshaba.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Ahead is the town of Suttons Bay. As the name implies, the town was named after a person, Harry C Sutton, who founded the port in 1854. Originally the town was called Suttonsburg, and it was considered a “gas station” stop for steamer ships. Cordwood was loaded onto ships that burned wood to heat their boilers.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Dennos Museum Center
1410 College Drive, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Michigan
Alright, you are approaching Traverse City, a city that sits at the head of the East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay, and let me tell you there is a lot to see and do here. Hopefully, you're planning on staying for a few days and maybe you're using it as a basecamp to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes and the rest of the Leelanau Peninsula.
Duration: 10 minutes

Additional Information

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Inclusions

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Exclusions

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Redemption Instructions
Set your tour up NOW ahead of your trip, while in wifi/cell signal. Do not wait until your travel date, your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR.

1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:

- Email: Search for “Action Tour Guide” with a subject line "Your tour operator sent you a message.". Check All Mail and Spam.

- Text: Search for “Action Tour Guide” sent from 14159804997.

- Viator App Messages: Viator App > Bookings > View Voucher > Contact Tour Operator

- TripAdvisor App Messages: TripAdvisor App > Account > Messages

Can’t find it? Ask Action Tour Guide to resend: actiontourguide.com/redeem/

2. Download The Tour NOW:

You MUST follow the instructions and download your tour BEFORE traveling to the site over WiFi/cellular. Do NOT wait until your travel date to download the tour.

Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. The tour is not tied to your travel date and is valid any day, any time for multiple visits for one year from your purchase date.

3. Audio Tour Tips

Not familiar with Action Tour Guide’s audio tours? Watch a short video: actiontourguide.com/tutorial

Important Note: Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.

CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use the phone speakers if needed.

Valid For One Year: Use your audio tour anytime, any day over the next 12 months. No need to change your booking if your travel date changes.

Support: Action Tour Guide is here to help! For quick answers read the Action Tour Guide website FAQs at actiontourguide.com/faq. For further help, call Action Tour Guide at 1315-291-0634, chat online at actiontourguide.com, or email support@actiontourguide.com.

Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the History with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.

This offer is not eligible for promo codes.