We hiked the dune climb and talked about life while our four children played around in the sand. Being ankle deep in sand made me feel so grounded, and the fresh air was so purifying. It had been a stressful week for all of us adults, and being outdoors in that incredible place put everything in perspective. No problem feels very big when you're standing atop a giant hill of sand. No problem feels permanent when the very ground you stand on was dropped by glaciers over a million years ago and shifts with the wind. Everything will be okay.
And then, there was this:
People climbing up the 450, a 450 foot tall and very steep sand dune, sloping down to Lake Michigan
The Sleeping Bear Dunes are gorgeous. When we walked out to overlook the 450, the view took my breath away even though I have been here many times before. The water was so blue and the lake and sand and sky are so immense. We could see Lake Michigan in three directions, and we could see the Manitou Islands in the distance.
The beauty is so powerful that it was not much of a surprise to me when the Sleeping Bear Dunes were voted the most beautiful place in America this week. It sure does feel good to have a place in Michigan recognized in this way. It has been hard to live in a state that has had it so rough in recent years, and a state who has been the butt of so many national jokes. It feels good to finally get some national recognition of the things that make our state a great place to live.
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