20 Best Beaches in the World
By • Last UpdatedSleeping Bear Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
Experience the thrill of swimming in pure freshwater and marvel at the expansive views over Lake Michigan from the towering 450-foot bluffs. You can stroll from the former Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station, now a maritime museum, or take a walk along the Sleeping Bear Point Trail, which meanders over low-lying dunes to the beach. In the distance, you’ll spot North and South Manitou Islands, ideal destinations for hiking and camping.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a stunning National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, encompassing parts of Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire. This park stretches 35 miles (56 km) along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline and includes the scenic North and South Manitou islands. Established for its remarkable natural beauty, the park features lush forests, pristine beaches, unique dune formations, and ancient glacial landscapes.
Additionally, it boasts cultural landmarks such as the 1871 South Manitou Island Lighthouse, three former Coast Guard stations (originally part of the Life-Saving Service), and a vast historic farm district. In 2011, Good Morning America recognized this area as “The Most Beautiful Place in America,” and in 2014, a section of the park was designated as Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness by the United States Congress.