The mountains and high alpine lakes of the west, and New England’s rolling mountains lush with green forests create some of the nation’s more memorable national parks. But don’t overlook the Heartland’s beautiful lakeshores, prairies, rivers and thick forests of the upper Midwest.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the top summer attractions in the Heartland and around the Great Lakes. About 2 million visitors came to climb the dunes and enjoy this pristine environment last summer.

Known for its great downhill and cross country skiing and snowmobiling during winter, Michigan's Traverse City is also one of the country’s top summer destinations. National Geographic lists it as one of the Top 10 Summer Trips; Family Fun writes it’s one of “America’s top 10 tourist towns;” and Women’s Day calls it the “Top Small Beach Town in the USA.

A visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore should be high on your Heartland “bucket list.”

What’s the “Most Beautiful Place In America?” More than 100,000 viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America voted for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.