Posted on 08/17/2011 9:45:02 AM PDT by Lakeshark
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, tucked away in the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, won the title of "Good Morning America's" Most Beautiful Place in America.
Tens of thousands of viewers voted online for this Michigan park, which is one of the nation's best-kept secrets. The hidden gem boasts 64 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan, two islands, 26 inland lakes, more than 50,000 acres of land, and the monumental sand dunes from which it gets its name.
In June, "GMA" set out in search of the most beautiful places in America. Viewers nominated their favorite places online, sending in thousands of photos from across the country showcasing spectacular sunsets, regal mountaintops and jaw-dropping views, many with awe-inspiring stories to match.
From there "GMA" narrowed the field down to 10 -- Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mich.; Newport, R.I.; Cape Cod, Mass.; Point Reyes, Calif.; Aspen, Colo.; Sedona, Ariz; Destin, Fla.; Asheville, N.C.; Lanikai Beach, Hawaii; and Grand Teton National Park, Wyo.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
For once, a good news Michigan ping.
:-)
Most Beautiful? I have nothing against the Great Lakes but looking at those photos not sure that’s the location I’d pick. I like the name, though.
Thanks. Will be there in about a week.
America is loaded with beautiful places.
Big Sur, the Maine Coast, the Grand Tetons...so much to see here.
I had no idea that Yosemite was no longer in America. Just kidding, congrats to MI.
Most beautiful? Hmmmmm... that’s an impossible thing to judge. Certainly a topic for harmless conversation.
I’ve been their, it’s gorgeous, and not far from the UP. I love northern Michigan. (Am I, as an Ohioan, allowed to say that?)
Actually, I’ve been THERE, sheesh.
“Ive been their, its gorgeous, and not far from the UP. I love northern Michigan. (Am I, as an Ohioan, allowed to say that?)”
Hey brownsfan, we use to vacation in N.Michigan. Gorgeous up there...Mackinaw Island awesome... The fishing awesome...the weather unpredictable even in Aug....the golf awesome....the Beer awesome....we just spent a week in Grand Haven and did the sand dunes near Muskegeon. Nice State and very underrated except for a crappy football team in Ann Arbor.
I don’t know about all that. I like the view out my office window here in Texas. I can see a highway, some other office buildings, some dead grass, some trees, a few longhorns, etc.
It may not be an idyllic scene, but I know that everyone down there is free. I can’t say so much for people in Michigan.
Since U of M ended their football program, Ohio is a now a friendly neighbor state. One of my favorite drives in the country is along the north bank of the Ohio River Valley on Route 52 between Cincinnati and West Virgina. Beautiful!
Those pictures don’t do justice. The beach there is among the most beautiful in the world.
Beautiful pictures.
I grew up on the north end of a sand bottom lake called Crooked Lake (Calusa - Indian Name) located in a sleepy town called Babson Park in Central Florida. The area is named the “Ridge” because of the high elevation. Bok Singing Tower is five miles North. This lake is over 100 miles around the shoreline. My house faced East on the coveted North end and the sunrises were magnificent. When your home is on a hill looking out over that huge lake, you feel like you’re in paradise because you have a birds eye view, not at all what is usually seen in areas of the rest of the State. Lots of great fishing too! Bald Eagles everywhere. Oh, and no snow.
Thanks for posting and bringing back some wonderful memories.
Had a great visit to the dunes in the summer of ‘63.
Re: the videos of the ten places. When will the TV folks quit placing those infernal crawls across the bottom of the viewing screen? They always block part of the scene and in many instances, the most important part of what is being shown. But, it is all about them, isn’t it.
No offense, but I would put this place last in the list of 10.
“Since U of M ended their football program, Ohio is a now a friendly neighbor state. “
And in response, OSU has ended theirs.
Lots of beautiful places in Michigan.
If I die tonight, I hope I wake up in Grand Marais Michigan.
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