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Photo by Todd & Brad Reed Photography
Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Leelanau County, Empire is about 30 minutes north of Frankfort. A small village of about 400 people, Empire is a destination for fishermen, nature enthusiasts, beach lovers and ice explorers. Discover Empire Bluffs, which offers the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Walk on one of the many trails within the natural area at the south end of Empire. Empire is home to the Empire Asparagus Festival during the month of May, which is a unique celebration of Spring.
Empire offers a very wide mix of shopping that offer everything you need while visiting this beautiful town nestled in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With a compact and very walkable downtown you’ll find everything from local art, artisan handmade chocolates, friendly restaurants and a well stocked hardware store. Within a short walking distance of downtown Empire, you can explore beautiful beaches, the Empire Area Museum and South Bar Lake.
Home to the visitors center for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire is often a first stop for people looking to experience the beautiful dunes and trails along the Northern Michigan Coast. Empire has many of its own trails, including the Empire Bluffs Trail which has a spectacular view of the coast of Lake Michigan. Just north of town is the Chippewa Run Natural Area with 112 protected acres of natural beauty.
Located in the peaceful Village Park beach in Empire, the Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse was built as a memorial in 1990 for long time resident Robert H. Manning. Mr. Manning enjoyed fishing offshore and often returned from those fishing trips late at night. He wished to see a lighthouse in the area to aid his navigation, so after his death in 1989, friends and relatives raised funds to build the lighthouse as a memorial. The 38-foot tall lighthouse is the second newest lighthouse in Michigan, and one of three memorial lights in Michigan.
Suttons Bay, in Leelanau County, is midway up the eastern shore of the Leelanau Peninsula and is a very popular destination.
Festivals and events celebrating many aspects of life are scheduled throughout the year in the Leelanau County area.
Glen Arbor, home of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, is a beautiful small town nestled between Sleeping Bear Bay and Glen Lake.
Peterson Park is just minutes from Northport in the Leelanau Penninsula of West Michigan.
Located along the Lake Michigan, Leland is the site of an area nicknamed “Fishtown” for its charming historical preservation.
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes has miles of sand trails and hills, where hikers are rewarded at the end with spectacular views of Lake Michigan.