OT: Sleeping Bear Dunes voted Most Beautiful Place in America by GMA
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/sleeping-bear-dunes-michig…
This was on MGoBlog a few weeks ago (Possibly fueled this to victory?). Only been there once but absolutely loved it. Great news for the state! Even though it's no secret that there is a lot of beauty within its borders.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
I am currently wasting time on the internet about 15 minutes from the dunes...and it's only because it's a cloudy day.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
I strongly disagree
August 17th, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^
I don't know....
I mean, it's nice. But I don't know.... something tells me there's nicer. Also that the most beautiful place in America probably doesn't have a lot of people living nearby to vote, nor does it have a lot of people who go there because it's hard to get to.
Whatever.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
The UP is sparsley populated. Of course, I have a somewhat biased opinion.
August 17th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^
Sleeping Bear Dunes is not in the UP. It is on Lake Michigan, west of Traverse City.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:05 PM ^
I was replying to the immediate preceding post stating that the most beautiful place in America has few voters due to its sparse population and few visitors due to its remoteness. Thus my comment on the UP.
And, while I was born in the UP, I lived in Traverse City for 3 years. I am well aware of the location of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
August 17th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
It is way too crowded. You have to go into the back country to get away from the crowds. Sleeping Bear Dunes is not near as crowded and it is great scenery. Nothing better than sitting on the top of the dunes watching the sun set over Lake Michigan.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
Was in Yosemite last week and agree, backcountry is the way to go. Before we went saw a statistic that said over 3million people visit Yosemite every year and only 5% ever leave the valley floor. As a recommendation to anyone who does go to Yosemite, start valley hikes/touring before 7AM. You'll get a much more quiet hike up, be almost alone when you reach the top of the trail, and then can laugh on your way back down at all the fat "ugly Americans" trying to hike the Mist trail in flip flops.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:29 PM ^
Visit Yosemite in the winter -- almost none of those 3 million people are there, and it's just as beautiful (if not more so).
August 17th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
I love Yosemite - but it wasn't one of the options in the poll, for some reason. Maybe they were looking for "underrated" beautiful places.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
I pissed there a few times. It was decent.
August 17th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
by the Prostate Awareness Memorial Fund.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
I love sleeping bear dunes and I'm glad it won, but I maintain that Pictured Rocks in the UP is more beautiful. Anyone who hasn't visited them is seriously missing out.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
I don't necessarily agree with GMA either, I can think of a few more spots in Michigan that could be considered better, like Pictured Rocks or Mackinac Island (without the horse droppings and such. The fort is really nice)
August 17th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Agreed. I really love the UP and wish I could go more often. I really loved Tahquamenon Falls and Copper Harbor as well as Mackinac and Pictured Rocks. So many great places to see in the UP.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
Doesn't get a whole lot better than that during the Summer.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
Kid Rock is that you?
August 17th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
You're blowing my cover, man.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
Leland is a beautiful spot.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
Yeah, but he sucks at picking lineups.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
That's funny.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
August 17th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
Brilliant... I'm heading up that way in a week. Can't wait.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Take that, Grand Canyon, you fugly piece of shit!!!
August 17th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
after visiting Sedona Arizona years ago its beauty was so overwhelming I bought a timeshare there and have returned every summer for 15 years now. I hate timeshares but you have to be a bazillionaire to buy there.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
Pure Michigan.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
I love Sleeping Bear, but two of the other finalists (Gran Teton and Sedona) are just clearly more beautiful, and that's excepting places like Yosemite, Glacier, Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, and the Columbia Gorge.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
Wow, that is just great for the state in general. Goin' up to the Yoop tomorrow, woo!
August 17th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
I have been to everyone of the places that were nominated, and while Sleeping Bear Dunes is beautiful, I wonder how many people have actually hiked from the Maroon Bells near Aspen to Crater Lake or gone into some of the parks around Sedonna, or for that matter, Peuget Sound with the Olympic range in the not too distant background or Point Lobos near Carmel and Big Sur where you can feel Ansel Adams' soul on a misty day. There is just no comparison of the scale.
I'm not from the UP or Michigan so I have no bias. Congrats to Sleeping Bear Dunes.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
If you haven't visited the far side of the Moon (as I have), you're not qualified to vote.
And yes, I hear your objection that the Moon isn't part of America, but which country's flag is planted there, huh, smart guy?
August 17th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
I would wager there are a ton of places in Alaska that are much more beautiful.
August 17th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
This was most beautiful places in America, not Canada/Russia
August 17th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
I guess the Grand Canyon doesn't count. It is great that Michigan got some positive publicity, though. It can certainly use it.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
Have you people no sense of decorum, the correct response is “yes it’s lovely this time of year” I bet none of you get invited to vacation slid show screenings.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:28 PM ^
As happy as I am to see Michigan get some attention I definitely agree that there are more beautiful places both in Michigan and definitely the rest of the US. We have so many beautiful national parks in this country and states like Alaska and Hawaii are rich with natural beauty, I would have to cast my vote somewhere other than Sleeping Bear Dunes.
August 17th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^
FUN FACT
no matter who won this meaningless poll conducted by an outdated, irrelavent infotainment show, people would disagree. Just celebrate the minor publicity it brings to the state that most of us call home and give it a rest.
August 17th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
I'm not sure that it's the most beautiful spot in the state, let alone the country. However, it's tough to compete with it at sunset over Lake Michigan. As for those other places in the country you guys mention....I'll buy it.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
i took a short trip to craig lake state park in the yoop (i live in negaunee) which is about a 25 minute drive on a two track north of us41. then a 1/5 mile hike to the lake/campground. surrounded by trees, creeks, trails and bear warnings. canoed the peaceful lake and got within 5 feet of a pair of loons diving for food. no motor sounds anywhere. thank you, good morning america, for keeping the yayhoo tourists in the LP. i'll enjoy god's country for myself.
August 17th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
You speak the truth.
August 18th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
well thats sweet for the NW michigan / traverse city tourism industry. it's too bad it didn't come out till the end of summer though. if this came out in march, I'd bet a ton of new people would've found their way up there in the last few months