Morningside Cottage is located in the 'Most Beautiful Place in America' at the heart of Northwestern Michigan's Vacation Country re 'Good Morning America'. Our area abounds in outdoor activities with sixty miles of Lake Michigan shoreline within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore just three and one-half miles from our doorstep. Countless miles of hiking trails (cross country skiing in the winter-time), miles of bike user-friendly roads with biking lanes, ten golf courses within 30 minutes of the cottage, restaurants, small villages with attendant stores, beautiful vistas, Interlochen National Music Camp with it's summer 'headliner' and student performances just twenty-minutes away . The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore's sixty miles of beaches are yours to use with hiking, sitting in the sun, beachside-fires for cook-outs, hot-dogs, or 'sa-mores' as the sun slowly sets over Lake Michigan. Point Betsie with one of the most photographed lighthouses in America and a Petoskey-stone beach. If your inclined you'll enjoy the 'winery trail' stretching through Leelanau County to the north along M-22, plenty of wine-tasting available and bring a bottle of wine or two back to Morningside Cottage for some leisure on the 'deck' overlooking Little Platte Lake and the surrounding hills. Nothing is complete when coming to our area for your vacation until you take a trip to 'Sleeping Bear Sand-dunes' at Glen Haven within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. It looks like a small pile of sand until you start up the dune and that's the time you realize how high it really is - but there is nothing like standing on the top and getting a beautiful over-view of adjacent Glen Lake. Another must-do is the Pierce-Stocking Drive which winds up through the wooded dune-area giving spectacular over-views of Little and Big Glen Lake. If you want the thrill and success of Salmon Fishing I'll put you in contact with my friend Charter Boat Cap'n Bob Smith of Glen Arbor in his boat the 'Mariah'. Cap'n Bob will have you pulling in King Salmon in short order. When he took us out last summer we took seven fish within two hours with the largest being a twenty-four pound King Salmon. Bob will fillet and package those salmon for you and they'll be ready for the grill or he'll arrange for 'Boondocks Restaurant',next door, to grill-up some of your fish for you and your crew right then and there, what a treat to sit down with Cap'n Bob and your 'crew' eating fish as fresh as it can get along with your favorite libations while sharing your favorite 'fishing tale' from your days adventure. South of Morningside Cottage, along M-22, is the Lake Michigan-port city of Frankfort-Elberta nestled around Betsie Lake. This harbor area is home to numerous restaurants, points-of-interest, gift shops, the county-indoor movie theater, and absolutely gorgeous beaches framed by boat channel break-walls which are great for a meandering stroll, fishing, or taking a jump-into-the-lake. If you wanted to have some of your salmon smoked you could take some of your catch to 'Monte's smoke-house' and he would prepare the most delicious smoked-fish you could imagine. Monte's smoke house which also features other fish of the area is located on 'Main Street' on the East end of town. As you round the corner don't forget to stop at the 'A&W Drive-In' as 50's as it gets but with that same great tasting root-beer, burgers, and dogs. Heading East on M-115 your destination is Benzonia where you'll find the Benzie Area Historical Museum located in the re-stored 1800's Congregational Church which served the early Congregational Assembly in the early days of this County in Northern Michigan where they built a college in the 'wilderness'. Traveling further East on M-115 will take you to Crystal Mountain Resort truely a gem for our Benzie County Area providing great family recreation with downhill/cross-country skiing in the winter-time and two great golf-courses in the summer. Retrace your steps to Benzonia and you'll find it's neighbor Beulah on the Beach of Crystal Lake. As with all of our small communities you'll find fun-restaurants, coffee-shops, deli's, and lots of small shops. Phoenix Cafe, East Shore Market, want great pizza's then try the 'Hungry Tummy' double-cheese super deluxe, Papano's Pizza, the 'Cherry-Hut's' famous cherry-pie, the Brookside Inn, then continue North on US-31 to arrive at the 'Cherry Bowl' Drive-In. This is the real-deal and a favorite for a large-area of Northern Michigan. A real-treat along with their 'snack-shop'. Your next stop is Honor with Papa-J's 50's themed restaurant - great food - oh and by the way all of the restaurant's in Benzie County and surrounding area provide great food at a modest price. Another treat in Honor is the 'Family Market' which features an 'old-timey' meat counter. Helen, Pat, and Dale Schneider, will take care of your grocery/wine/meat/ and bakery needs during your vacation period.