Top Glen Arbor Michigan Things To Do | M22 + Sleeping Bear Dunes | Hotels, Restaurants, Shops

Top Glen Arbor Michigan Things To Do | M22 + Sleeping Bear Dunes | Hotels, Restaurants, Shops | By Sherry Trautman | Traveling Michigan

Glen Arbor is a charming town located on Michigan's famous M22 between Sleeping Bear Bay (Lake Michigan) and the Glen Lakes. It's a great stop while riding the Heritage Trail and visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes in Northern Michigan. 

This lakeside town is a popular Michigan tourist attraction and a great destination for an epic Michigan vacation.

Where is Glen Arbor Michigan?

• The distance from Glen Arbor to Traverse City: 28 miles, 37 minutes
• The distance from Glen Arbor to Petoskey: 94 miles, 2 hours
• The distance from Glen Arbor to Grand Rapids: 158 miles, 2.5 hours
• The distance from Glen Arbor to Detroit: 272 miles, 4.5 hours

What is there to do in Glen Arbor Michigan?

Well, we love visiting Glen Arbor while exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes!  Glen Arbor is home to lots of cute shops, restaurants and wine tasting opportunities while enjoying Northern Michigan.  You can explore the town by renting a bike or see the streets by foot. 

• Grab our Ultimate Sleeping Bear Dunes Guide!

What is Glen Arbor MI Known for?

We love Glen Arbor for the shopping, art galeries, fun restaurants and the fact that it is on the Heritage Trail which is an incredible biking trail. You can rent bikes here to ride around and enjoy the region.

Glen Arbor is also on the iconic Michigan highway, M22 which is in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

It's also a great walking town. The Glen Arbor Chamber offers a walking map of the city.

Rent a Bike in Glen Arbor MI

Why walk when you can explore Glen Arbor and the region by bike? 

The Cyclery, located at 6260 W River Rd, Glen Arbor, MI 49636, is a great place to rent a quality bike. You can even rent tandem, fat tire and mountain bikes!  They are located right on the main street next to the M22 store.

Get the Gear!

Keep Your Phone and Wallet Safe

• Use a bike bag to keep all your belongings safe as you ride. Keeps your phone handy for maps or not preventing you from missing a call.

Thermal Softshell Cycling Jacket + Windproof and Waterproof

This AFFORDABLE, bright cycling jacket is windproof and waterproof-perfect for cycling the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail. It comes in tons of colors and is breathable. There are two pockets for storage. 

Glen Arbor Michigan Hotels + Glen Arbor Bed and Breakfasts

Great places to stay in Glen Arbor include:

• Bed and Breakfast: If it's all about the location, you will love the downtown Glen Arbor Bed and Breakfast because it is smack dab in the middle of it all. The Glen Arbor Bed & Breakfast and Cottages, located at 6548 Western Ave, Glen Arbor, MI is a great pick for your Michigan weekend getaway!

• Bed and Breakfast: The Sylvan Inn Bed & Breakfast's huge front porch will beckon you to sit and relax a bit.  Located at 6680 Western Ave, Glen Arbor, MI, this bed and breakfast is close to shopping, restaurants and fun as it's right on the main street.

• Glen Arbor Resort: The Homestead Resort Glen Arbor: Located at 1 Wood Ridge Rd, Glen Arbor, MI, this breathtaking resort is surrounded by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  Did you know the dunes was selected by the viewers of ABC's Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America?"

The Homestead resort features an incredible beach, spa, golf courses, tennis courts, watercrafts pools, hot tubs, restaurants, meeting facilities and lots of winter sports. Make it a winter Michigan getaway right in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! 

Glen Arbor Wine Tasting: Top Glen Arbor Michigan Things To Do

While visiting Glen Arbor, one of the most fun things to do is go wine tasting!  It's one of the top Glen Arbor Michigan things to do.

The M22 Glen Arbor (shown above), located on M22) has a great store and outside wine tasting area.  What a lovely spot to sit and relax while enjoying a glass of wine!

One of my favorite places for wine tasting is a the Cherry Republic!  I hate guessing how wine will taste (and I wanted to buy a couple bottles) so ambled over to the lovely wine tasting room.  I received several samples to try.  Since it was a lovely day, I enjoyed them out on their deck.

Glen Arbor Shops - Shopping Here is Fabulous!

The Coastal Shop in Glen Arbor offers trendy, seasonal clothing that you will love!  High quality, friendly staff and brightly lit, I found shopping at the Coastal Shop a joy.

It's great that parking is free in Glen Arbor MI.  It gets so taxing to have to constantly pay to park, so this was a breath of fresh air!

M22 Glen Arbor: One of my favorite shops in Glen Arbor is the M22 store. I mean you just have to to pick up a hat or shirt with the iconic M22 label...it's just what you do. When in Glen Arbor, right?

Right across the street from the Cherry Republic is this lovely shop with artwork by Beth Bricker.  Check it out!

The Cotton Seed Apparel shop in Glen Arbor features colorful, well made clothing that is on-trend for season.  They have good sizing and lots of choices. 

Cherry Republic falls under all of my categories: Shop, Restaurant and Winery!  The large barn shown is their retail shop that offers everything cherry: wine, bbq sauce, chocolate covered cherries, sodas and so much more.

Aren't the wood floor inside the Cherry Republic store just divine?  I love wandering in their shop as it's so cheerful, bright and everything is displayed so beautifully. 

Glen Arbor Restaurants

Art's Tavern is a hotspot in the summer as they have outside patio seating!  They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it's a great spot to relax a bit while taking a break from shopping.  Grab a sandwich and a cocktail to enjoy the beauty of the day.

Grab coffees, pastries, sandwiches and other treats to go at the Inn and Trail Gourmet.

The Western Ave Grill in Glen Arbor is also right along the main street (6410 W Western Ave, Glen Arbor MI) and has patio seating.

They have yummy appetizers like wings and jalapeno poppers with soups, salads, flatbreads. The Western Ave Grill's ribs and pulled pork are worth trying too!

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Keep Reading! There's Some Cool Stuff Here!

So guys, we've compiled a Michigan color tour guide I think you will love. It's chuck full of scenic hiking trails, awesome overlooks, super cute farm markets, pretty cities and well, a freakin' awesome scenic drive. 

Check it out! ---------> Best West Michigan Fall Color Tour + Interactive Map

Oh, and Have you been to Sleeping Bear Dunes?  It's just incredible! Scenic drives, breathtaking overlooks, dune climbs, tons of hiking trails and more!  

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