Empire, Michigan
Indigo Bluffs RV Resort Key takeaways:
- Luxury RV Resort with full hookups, spacious sites
- Full sized pool
- Dog-friendly with easy access to green space
- Beautifully landscaped, paved sites
- Located in northwestern Michigan near Lake Michigan
- Easy access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Our Campground Stay:
Indigo Bluffs RV Resort is a beautiful campground on the northwestern side of Michigan near Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We stayed on the RV Resort section of the campground, exclusively for Class A’s, Super C’s, and 5th Wheels over 30’. This section features spacious, stamped concrete sites, beautiful landscaping, and full hookups. The natural setting provided plenty of green space for the dogs. The location was ideal for easy day trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan, and many dog-friendly beaches, hikes and activities.
What to Do:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
Visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With miles of trails, sandy beaches and high bluffs, the park offers spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Start at the visitor’s center in Empire for maps and park information. Drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive through the park with many overlooks and historical sites. For the adventurous, climb the Dune Climb – a strenuous hike up a sand dune. For a pet-friendly hike, climb the Empire Bluff Trail, a 1.5-mile round trip trail with spectacular dune and Lake Michigan views. Bicyclists will find numerous trails throughout the park.
Dog-friendly Beaches:
There are several dog-friendly beaches in the area and in the Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore. Check out the park website for seasonal pet restrictions for trails and beaches. Our dogs enjoyed the Glen Haven Beach just west of Glen Arbor.
Glen Arbor/Glen Haven:
Visit the quant town of Glen Arbor for restaurants and shops. For cherry lovers, the Cherry Public House is a must stop with cherry themed food, wine, ice cream, pie, and more. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas.
Leelanau Peninsula/Leelanau Wine Trail:
Take a scenic drive on the Leelanau Peninsula. Explore the Michigan wine scene on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. We enjoyed the Leelanau Cellars with over 50 wines to sample — no we did not sample them all — with plenty of options from dry to sweet. The Black Star Farms Winery at Sutton Bay sits on a 160-acre estate with an awesome outdoor terrace for wine sipping.
Traverse City/Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail:
Explore Traverse City, a charming lakeside community with great restaurants, shopping and beaches. There are numerous wineries in the Traverse City area and the Old Mission Peninsula, and many are dog friendly. Honestly, we thought all Michigan wines would be sweet, but we were pleasantly surprised with the wide selection of dry wines. We’d love to come back to this area to check out more wineries.
Chili & Cedars’ Review: 4.8 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
Indigo Bluffs RV Resort was very clean with pavers and lots of grass — mom likes us when we are clean! So during this stop we hiked the Empire Bluff Trail to see the pretty dunes, we romped on the Glen Haven Beach and swam in Lake Michigan. We visited the Chateau Chantal Winery in Traverse Citty and the Stormcloud Brewing Company in Frankfurt. Whew – we’re tired!
