2008 Tour de Leelanau - Saturday, May 25
The 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau bicycle race will be held next Saturday (May 25). This race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, UCI, and USA Cycling and is a heck of a lot of fun!
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The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor is hosting a Mother's Day Brunch this Sunday (May 11) from 10 AM to 2 PM to benefit Leelanau County Habitat for Humanity. This is a terrific brunch for the whole family and funds raised will help pay for a habitat house that is currently under construction in Maple City.
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses.
Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor—sweat equity—into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
The Bay View Trail is divided into small loops that total 8 miles. There are many exciting things to see along its many different routes. Part of the trail runs directly behind the barn of the Charles Olsen Farm which is home to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. The Port Oneida School is located just off of the trail and you can stop and pump some water and rest your weary bones on the front porch or a picnic table under a tree near the school. Lookout Point gives a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. The trail along the edge of the woods on top of the bluff overlooks fields of wildflowers and former farmland with Lake Michigan in the background. Hiking the Bay View trail gives you several beautiful vistas of Lake Michigan, the farms, and North and South Manitou Islands.
For even more information on the Bay View Trail, you can ask the National Parks Service.
Cool things to do: Rest at the Charles Olsen Farm, check out the buildings and go inside the house to learn some history about the area (Port Oneida), or rest at the Port Oneida School, cool off with some hand pumped water, or sit on the porch relaxing.
Make sure to return to the area on the 10th and 11th of August for the Point Oneida Fair.
Glen Arbor is located on a small strip of land between Glen Lake and Lake Michigan in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake's natural beauty attracts visitors throughout the summer. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire state, local legend says that Glen Lake was recognized as "the most beautiful lake in the world" by National Geographic Magazine (though the magazine denies ever having published such a ranking).
Glen Arbor was first settled around 1848 when John LaRue moved from South Manitou Island in order to set up a trading post on the Sleeping Bear Bay. As other families moved into the area a wooding station was built to provide fuel for passing steamers. In 1856 a dock was built to aid in the loading of the steamers, which soon became known as the Central Dock. By 1868 the township of Glen Arbor had 200 people, three docks, two hotels, four stores, a blacksmith shop, and a copper shop. The Empire and Southeastern Railroad stopped in Empire just a few miles away, providing transportation to the area. It is said that before the 1900s there were numerous cranberry bogs along the banks of the Crystal River. The Crystal River runs from Little Fisher Lake to Lake Michigan. Signs of the old cranberry bogs can still be seen along the banks of the river.
Kayaks or canoes are available to rent from several businesses along the Crystal. If you are feeling really adventurous, either paddle around Glen Lake, or begin your expedition in Big Glen Lake, paddle through Big Fisher, then Little Fisher, then follow the Crystal River all the way to Lake Michigan. The famous Dune Climb is just minutes away from Glen Arbor, and there you can climb up the 150 foot dune.
If a less crowded hike is more to your liking then head on over to Glen Haven for the Sleeping Bear Point Trail. The Glen Arbor area has years and years of history and much can be found at the village of Glen Haven, which has been renovated to look like the town did in the 1920s. The historic Sleeping Bear Point Lifesaving Station, which was built in 1901, can be found just minutes from Glen Haven.
Thanks everyone for telling me that the annual Glen Arbor Winterfest already happened. It had been added to our calendar by someone with the wrong date - my apologies! Here's the report on the event from the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce:
2008 Chili Cook-Off Winners (There were about 400 chili tasters) Traditional Chili
1st place-Peace Pole Makers
2nd place-Glen Lake Schools Non-Traditional Chili
1st place-Bear Paw
2nd place-LaBecasse
Fishing results
1st. Jeremy Plamondon 13.25 in. 16 oz.
2nd. Tim Egeler 13.25 in. 15 oz.
The Homestead Resort is holding a bridal show at their new Mountain Flowers Lodge next Sunday (Feb 3) from noon to 5 PM. The event features a fashion show, tours and vendors of wedding services showcasing their services and answering your wedding questions.
You can register to win any of dozens of prizes and there will be food, wine and music. For more information, call 334-5100 or visit www.thehomesteadresort.com.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers guided snowshoe hikes every Saturday during January and February. Hikes begin at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center on Highway M-72 at the edge of the village of Empire at at 1 PM and you can call the Visitor Center at 231-326-5134, ext. 328 to make a reservation and check here for more about skiing & snowshoeing trails in the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
We have to point out that most of the trails in the Lakeshore are well marked and easy to navigate, so if you can't make a guided tour, don't let that slow you down!
For the second year in a row, they are not spending a dime to promote winter tourism," said Steve Kerschner, director of snow sports at Shanty Creek in Bellaire and president of the board of directors for the Michigan Snowsports Industry Association (the group that represents all of Michigan’s ski facilities). "They have invested millions using actor Tim Allen’s voice to create Pure Michigan commercials that promote summertime, but nothing to promote winter. They tell us that they get a better bang for their buck that way. But winter tourism is important to this state. Collectively, our resorts up north spend a ton of money promoting winter. The State could help some."
We have re-launched our Ski Leelanau! page for the 2007-2008 ski season.
We'll be posting regular ski reports for the Homestead Resort's Bay Mountain ski area and nearby Crystal Mountain. We also have cross-country trail reports and a blizzard of skiing and winter fun links and photos for Leelanau County, Traverse City and the surrounding area.
The annual Glen Arbor Pajama Party & Sale is held the morning after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov 23) from 5-7 AM and features shoppers in their PJs and bargains galore! More information on area shops & stores from the Glen Arbor area chamber.
Leland's PJ Party will be held Friday as well with stores open 8-10 AM with special sales, clever display of PJ's and pre-holiday discounts. You can get free gift wrapping at Cyber Espress-o (w/ receipts from local merchants). More about Leland from the Leland Chamber of Commerce.
One of the highlights is the Empire Eagles' Field of Screams Haunted Hayride held this weekend and next (Oct 19 & 20 and 26 & 27) on M-72 just east of Gilbert Road. (more info)
Other Halloween events include:
Haunted Lighthouse at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum on October 20 & 21 from noon - 4 PM. Visit grandtraverselighthouse.com for details!
Cedar's Halloween Haunted House on October 26, 27, 28 and Halloween night from 6-9 pm (at the south end of Nelson St - call 228-3426 for details)
Glen Arbor Trick or Treating for Children on Sunday (Oct 28) - Glen Lake Chamber
Children's Halloween Party at the Empire Town Hall on Halloween at 6 PM (call 326-5439)
If you know of any more, please post a comment below!
The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor is hosting a Mother's Day Brunch this Sunday (May 11) from 10 AM to 2 PM to benefit Leelanau County Habitat for Humanity. This is a terrific brunch for the whole family and funds raised will help pay for a habitat house that is currently under construction in Maple City.
The Homestead Resort is holding a bridal show at their new Mountain Flowers Lodge next Sunday (Feb 3) from noon to 5 PM. The event features a fashion show, tours and vendors of wedding services showcasing their services and answering your wedding questions.
The annual Glen Arbor Pajama Party & Sale is held the morning after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov 23) from 5-7 AM and features shoppers in their PJs and bargains galore! More information on area shops & stores from the 
