Hike +Picnic

Hike + Picnic
Set your alarm clock. Grab your breakfast-packed backpack and walking shoes. We live
in beautiful Northern Michigan after all, and it’s time to take advantage of that hike-able
landscape! Here are four gorgeous trails with rewarding views, perfect for a hike and
picnic breakfast to enjoy on the trail.

Arcadia Dunes Overlook Trail // Elberta
Some say the views from here resemble being by the ocean. See the Lake Michigan
horizon and beautiful dune bluffs after a short 1-mile hike, thanks to efforts from the
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. There’s plenty of space to have breakfast at
the overlook.

Grass River Natural Area // Bellaire
Seven miles of trails and boardwalk in Bellaire make for an ideal morning hike and picnic
breakfast. Located along Antrim County’s Chain of Lakes, the watershed boasts forests,
flora, and fauna–plus lots of breakfast pit-stop options at the river shore.

Boardman River Nature Center // Traverse City

Operated by the Grand Traverse Conservation District, the trails at this nature center
trace the banks of the Boardman River and are ideal for exploring and sharing breakfast
on the shoreline. At the center, you can even rent a Discovery Pack filled with activities
to bring with you.

Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve // Petoskey
Channeling Northern Michigan's logging tradition, two-tracks line nearly four miles of
trails at this Petoskey-area nature preserve. Stop for breakfast on a river bridge, like the
one at spring-fed Minnehaha Creek.

Quick & Healthy Foods to Include in Your Breakfast Backpack
[from Chef Laura McCain, RD, Munson Outpatient Nutritionist]
1. Overnight oatmeal.
2. Soft boiled eggs.
3. Toss in an apple or pear.
4. Take along a couple of cheese sticks.
5. If you’re really going to be hiking off a lot of calories, bring homemade multigrain
fruit nut muffins.

 

By Courtney Jerome