A lot of people may get the name wrong ? think along the lines of Bear Sleeping Dunes, Sleepy Bear Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes ? but ultimately, one look is all it takes to know the real thing.

Five hours away from Motor City is yet another unique and fascinating side of Michigan ? the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In this area, you can enjoy numerous outdoor activities, from canoeing to fishing to hiking.

When walking at the beach, don?t forget to look for the Petoskey Stone, a fossilized specimen of a colonial coral that had been in the area since the Devonian period ? which was more than three hundred fifty million years in the past.

You should also check out the Lyle Gun firing event ? a daily re-enactment at the park?s Maritime Museum. For those who don?t know, the lyle gun was used in the early 20th century for rescuing ships in distress during storms.