For many visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, spring is a favorite time to venture into the sand dunes or sit among the wildflowers.
May marks the season of renewal and inspires a sense of wonder and creativity. Signs of new life are everywhere as the trees bud and birds chirp a cheerful song. The cherry blossoms burst with pink flowers, and the delicate trillium blankets the forest in white.
There are so many reasons to celebrate this May and plan a trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Take your pick with Mother’s Day, Michigan Wine Month, graduations, and that first 70-degree forecast.
Cherry Blossom Tour
May signals a time-honored tradition—the cherry blossoms. These flowering trees transform the landscape as soft pink and white flowers bloom across the Leelanau Peninsula. It’s one of the most popular natural attractions in Michigan’s wine region.
Depending on the weather, the cherry blossoms last for a couple of weeks and typically peak in mid-May. The region provides perfect conditions for them to grow with rolling hills, sandy soil, and the proximity to Lake Michigan.
Enjoy your own self-guided tour and stop off at the orchards and wineries to bask in the views of soft pink and white flowers. You can download a blossom tour guide or set off on your own adventure.
One of the most scenic Leelanau cherry blossom drives is north on County Road 641 from M-72, which winds through stunning cherry orchards and offers a few glimpses of Lake Leelanau, according to AwesomeMitten.com. Or head for the rolling countryside along M-22 and explore country roads across the Leelanau Peninsula.
Michigan Wine Month
May is also Michigan Wine Month, meaning it’s wine o’clock somewhere! The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail boasts over 20 wineries, so you can indulge in wine tasting all month long! There are scenic tasting rooms scattered across the peninsula with tasting room specials, winemaker dinners, nature trails, and outdoor seating. You’ll also find cideries, distilleries, and craft breweries if wine isn’t your thing.
If you’re planning a trip later in the month, kick off the warmer weather with Spring into Summer noon-5 p.m. May 30-June 1. The Leelanau wineries will showcase some of the new vintages they plan to release in the coming months.
Visit lpwines.com for updated events or details on individual wineries. You can’t go wrong with stunning landscapes, natural splendor, and delicious wine made in the Midwest’s No. 1 wine region.
Concerts, Art Exhibits & More
Leelanau’s quaint coastal towns come back to life with shopping, art exhibits, concerts, and more.
In the heart of Glen Arbor, the Glen Arbor Arts Center will ramp up classes, concerts, and exhibits for summer. Highlights include the start of the 2025 Artist-In-Residence stays and presentations and the opening of “Random,” a new exhibit by Mark Mahaffey. Visit glenarbor.org for more information.
“It’s a great time to discover, create, and connect at GAAC,” says Scott Bouma
Executive Director. “The Glen Arbor Arts Center is buzzing with activity this May and June.”
At Leland’s Old Art Building, on May 18, The Belle of Amherst: A one-woman play based on the life of Emily Dickinson, brings poetry to life uses Dickinson's work, diaries, and letters. The performance begins at 5 p.m., featuring Sara Hartley as Emily Dickinson, set in her Amherst, Massachusetts, home. Tickets: OAB Members $20; Non-Members $25.
Visit the OAB calendar for more details on upcoming classes and events, including Leland Air over Memorial Day weekend.
In Frankfort, Oliver Art Center will host a Spring Fever Fashion Show from noon- 2 p.m. May 17. It’s a great way to celebrate mom or gather up your gal pals for an afternoon of new spring looks from local boutiques and handmade wearables from regional artists.
The exhibit “Alchemy & Artistry” runs through June 20 in the Beck and Borwell Galleries. The exhibit explores the line between abstraction and representation, featuring artwork by watercolor artist Rocco Pisto of Ann Arbor, ceramic artist Gina Pisto of Kansas City, blacksmith Arthur Johns of Saginaw County, and Rochelle Aultman of Coleman, who specializes in immersive abstract paintings inspired by nature.
Visit oliverartcenterfrankfort.org for more details on classes, summer camps, and special events this summer.
Nearby, Interlochen Center for the Arts also celebrates the end of the school year with academy student and faculty performances. The schedule includes the Piano Department recital, an opera workshop, Contemporary Music Showcase, Festival 2025, and the Visual Arts Exhibition in May.
Some concerts and exhibits are free to the public, or plan ahead for Interlochen’s popular Arts Festival Summer concert series. View the full schedule of events at interlochen.org.
Bicycling, Hiking Trails Galore
After months of being stuck inside, May is a great month to opt outside and explore the region’s vast network of hiking and biking trails. You can ride for miles in nearly every direction.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail spans about 20 miles between Empire and Bohemian Road (CR-669) and take cyclists through the heart of the national lakeshore.
Learn more about Sleeping Bear’s 100 miles of hiking trails and stay updated on park conditions here. Spring can be mud season, so prepare for wet and slippery conditions. Dress accordingly and watch out for wildflowers if you plan to venture into the woods.
The Betsie Valley Trail recently earned a 2025 Pure Michigan trail designation and offers a scenic, leisurely ride from Frankfort to Beulah. The Benzie County rails-to-trails pathway runs for 22 miles along the former Ann Arbor Railroad, with portions of the trail being paved towards Thompsonville.
The popular TART trail connects many communities in the Grand Traverse Region, allowing visitors to explore the Leelanau Peninsula via bicycle. The 17-mile Leelanau Trail provides a paved off-road connection between Traverse City and Suttons Bay.
Whether you’re seeking solace in nature or want to celebrate good times with friends, you’ll find it among the woods, water, and wineries on the Leelanau Peninsula. Spring offers a slower pace, with fewer crowds, blue skies, and fresh air. Stay in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes and experience it all at The Homestead.
Marla R. Miller is a freelance travel writer, blogger, and content writer who enjoys exploring the Sleeping Bear area. Visit her website at marlarmiller.com.