Pure Michigan: Salt Free! — Streaming Sunsets

(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on October 3, 2026)

Once we left the caravan and crossed the Mackinac (always pronounced “Mackinaw”) Bridge, Tom and I continued our trip through the mitten of Michigan. (Think of a gloved hand, palm facing away, fingers tight.) We traveled along the pinky side of the glove, the west side of the state, and continued south, following the shore of Lake Michigan past adorable beach and lake towns, bountiful farm stands, and incredible dunes.

The King Orchards fruit stand sign advertising caramel apples and taffy dip, with a long row of orange pumpkins lining the drive under a bright blue sky — Pumpkin season at King Orchards

The signature of Pure Michigan grew even more apparent the farther south we traveled, through Petoskey, King Orchards, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and finally the Platte River and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We spent two nights on the pinky of Michigan at the Platte River campground exploring the giant dunes, walking the tiny towns, and standing in complete awe of the Caribbean-like blue waters of the lakes and shores.

Looking down through green pines from a high dune to turquoise water shading into deep blue Lake Michigan under a wispy sky — Caribbean blue from the top of the dunes

Sandra in a white visor and dark sweater standing at the sandy edge of a dune bluff beside a birch tree, brilliant turquoise water far below — Sandra at the edge of the dune bluff

A bank of fog drifting along the Lake Michigan shoreline below a forested headland, seen from a dune overlook with early fall color in the foreground — Fog rolling along the shore below the dunes

A pontoon boat crossing Glen Lake’s clear turquoise shallows and deep blue water, with forested hills and lakeside cottages beyond — Turquoise shallows on Glen Lake

Inside the historic boathouse at the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station, a long white-and-navy surfboat with oars and coiled line, the open bay door framing the beach and lake — A surfboat in the boathouse at the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station

Pink and gold sunset light over the mouth of a river winding past grassy dunes into Lake Michigan, with distant bluffs on the horizon — Sunset where the Platte River meets Lake Michigan

I have a new perspective on lake life! These Great Lakes are so much more than I could have ever imagined: beautiful clear water, sandy beaches, and unsalted.

Crystal-clear Lake Michigan water lapping over smooth pebbles onto a sandy beach, a wooded point on the horizon — Clear, calm, and salt free