Leaf-Peeping Weekends: Northwest Lower Peninsula
Perched between Lake Michigan and the sapphire waters of Glen Lake, the village of Empire is an ideal hub for a quick fall escape. Here, sugar maples and beech trees set the hills ablaze while dunes and bluffs frame wide-open lake views. Mix a scenic drive and short hikes with sweeping overlooks in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for one-of-a-kind fall views, and make sure to build in time for cider, farm stands and fresh-baked pie.
Whether you're driving along winding scenic routes, strolling through a farmers market or savoring a slice of pie in a cozy café, Empire offers everything you need for a classic Michigan fall getaway.
Scenic drives and hikes through Sleeping Bear Dunes
For a look at everything that makes Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore magnificent, set out on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. This 7.4-mile loop winds through dense strands of sugar maple and beech and then opens onto sweeping vistas of dunes, Glen Lake and the endless blue of Lake Michigan. Plan to pause at the dune and Lake Michigan overlooks, where fiery treetops tumble down to sapphire water. For an easy leg-stretcher, hike the Empire Bluff Trail (about 1.5 miles round trip) for postcard views of fall color rolling toward the lake. For a longer adventure, Pyramid Point, a 2.7-mile-long loop near Glen Arbor, rewards a short climb with a stunning lookout across Lake Michigan.
Sip cider and wine, and find the perfect pie
Nothing says autumn like warm donuts and fresh-pressed cider. In downtown Glen Arbor, Inn and Trail Gourmet prepares picnic-ready sandwiches, soups and snacks alongside a gourmet marketplace stocked with local specialties – from barrel-aged maple syrup to small-batch cocktail mixers. If you're craving a glass to match the season, try the M22 tasting room in Glen Arbor, which features specially made hard cider alongside a selection of local wines. Just down the street, Cherry Republic offers tastings of cherry wines and ciders in a garden patio setting perfect for soaking in the crisp air and fall colors. Prefer grapes to cherries? Good Harbor Vineyards is a short drive north and pours approachable Leelanau wines that pair perfectly with a sunny afternoon.
Paddle or pedal the lakeshore
On calm days, rent a board or kayak from Sleeping Bear Surf, Michigan's first full-service surf shop located in Empire, and slip onto the water for a shoreline perspective of color-splashed bluffs rising above Lake Michigan. Prefer wheels? The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail threads through dunes and hardwood forests for an easy ride, especially if you pause mid-route for a treat or cider tasting before rolling back under the autumn leaves.
Charming small-town stops
Walk along Empire's compact main street. Grab a burger and a local pint at Joe's Friendly Tavern, or drive 10 minutes to The Mill in Glen Arbor for house-made pastries and seasonal plates on the river. As the day winds down, make your way back to Empire Beach. Few places rival its sunset.
For more travel inspiration in the area, check out this road trip through Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula, or find even more fall adventures here.