Empire Articles

Experience the Art of Forest Bathing in Northern Michigan’s Woods

Northern Michigan is synonymous with lush spring wildflower walks, summer evening strolls, fall color hikes and winter snowshoe treks. But have you...

Visit Treat Farm in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Explore this beautiful trail and Treat Farm in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this winter in Northern Michigan. This article first...

Making Tracks Through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Go behind the scenes with John Mallon, a member of the volunteer team responsible for the crisp, velvety Nordic ski tracks along the 22-mile...

Explore Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The Pierce Stocking Drive, located within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, provides a gorgeous scenic drive, beautiful lookouts over Lake Michigan and North Bar Lake and a lovely, short hike on the Cottonwood Trail.

July 2023 Events Calendar: 20+ Can’t-Miss Summer Events

Summer is heating up in Northern Michigan with 20+ local events taking place across the region. Be sure to check back! We’ll continue to update this...

Red Hot Best 2023: The Best of Benzie & Leelanau

The votes have been counted and the results are in for the BEST in Benzie and Leelanau County! From Frankfort to Northport, here are your 2023 Red...

Red Hot Best Winners 2023: The Best of Northern Michigan

The 2023 Red Hot Best results are in! Explore all 46 categories, 8 regions and 900+ winners below or search by region and make this your Red Hot...

Start Your Summer with 30+ Northern Michigan Events

It's finally feeling like summer in Northern Michigan! We’re kicking off June with 30+ festivals, concerts, community celebrations and more local...

4
5

Explore Empire

Planning a Sleeping Bear Dunes Vacation

Tour History in the Empire Region

Empire Region Outdoors

Hike to Spectacular Views at Empire Bluffs

Kayak Fishing in Sleeping Bear Bay for King Salmon

directory

Clear Filter

Empire Region Restaurants & Local Foods

Grab Breakfast (and Dinner) at Joe's Friendly Tavern

Craft Drinks in Empire Region

Tour the Leelanau Wine Loops

Up North Kids

Summer Camps for Kids

These Northern Michigan summer camps embrace a love of the outdoors and the arts.

Endless Summer Family Fun

There are endless opportunities for outdoor fun, so we’ve created this list of 10 healthy and affordable Northern Michigan summer activities to keep your family moving. 

Best Beaches For Kids

We asked our readers to share their favorite spots to take young children to cool off (bonus points for places with playgrounds, restrooms, and picnic tables). These are their picks for best Northern Michigan beaches for kids.

Fun Things To Do With Kids in Traverse City (even on rainy days!)

From exploring the Children's Museum to family-friendly wineries, Traverse City offers endless options for kids and families!

Best Biking For Kids

Sometimes difficult terrain or cars zipping by can make riding too difficult for kids. Read on for our picks of the best Northern Michigan bike trails for kids.

Make It a Day on Mackinac Island

Forts, fudge, biking the island and horse-drawn carriage rides. It's kid heaven...and parents love it, too!