Glen Haven

Our trek along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore took us next to the historic village of Glen Haven.

We'd decided yesterday, after several expensive restaurant meals in a row, that we would peanut butter sandwich and picnic it today for lunch.  We hadn't really thought about exactly how chilly it was going to be today.  And, our picnic spot was just off Lake Michigan.  The temperature was in the low 50's today, but I can't imagine what it really was with the windchill.  Definitely not shorts weather!

It was a lovely view from our picnic spot though.

Okay, brrr!

After eating as quickly as possible, we explored the former cherry cannery, which is now a boathouse museum.

This boat has a mustache!

We explored the General Store, and learned quite a bit about D.H. Day and his development of Glen Haven over many decades.

We spent a few minutes in the blacksmith shop, watching and listening to the blacksmiths work and tell bout the history of Glen Haven.

We drove up to the Maritime Museum and Lifesaving Station, and learned about how the Lyle Gun was used to rescue shipwrecked sailors in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

We thought the old cork lifejackets were pretty cool!

We had to walk out to the water for a few minutes, but it was SO cold we didn't get in at all this time.

We learned about the endangered piping plover and how they are being protected along Lake Michigan.

There was a lot to learn about lighthouses and the coast guard inside the museum.

living quarters for coast guard