Top 15 Things To Do in Empire, Michigan

Why Empire Belongs on Your Adventure Shortlist

Empire is a place the map underplays: a strip of small-town storefronts, a handful of beaches, and a gate into one of the Midwest’s most cinematic coastal landscapes—Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The dunes themselves are the headline, a sculpted ridge of sand that rises from the lakeshore like a shorebound desert. But the full picture is marine and aerial as much as it is terrestrial. On any given morning you can swap the dune climb for a kayak paddle along sheltered bays, rent a boat to chase quiet coves, or sign up for a boat tour that rearranges perspective—suddenly the lighthouse, bluffs, and distant islands become the subject rather than the backdrop.

This is a place for mixing modes and moods. Adventure here is plural: water activities alternate with landward rambles, family-friendly sightseeing tours sit next to salt-of-the-earth fishing trips, and summer afternoons can be filled with jet-ski rentals or more measured sailing sessions. In shoulder seasons, when the day-trippers thin out, the shoreline and the inland trails take on a different quality: light is longer, campsites breathe more easily, and the soundscape shifts from motor hum to wind and wave. For travelers who want to pack variety into a weekend, Empire’s density of things to do—boat rental, kayak, sailing, fishing, sightseeing tours, even ATV/UTV or jet-ski options in nearby outfitters—lets you design days that balance adrenaline with downtime.

Practically, Empire works as a soft basecamp. Outfitters along M-22 and in Glen Arbor handle rentals, guided kayak trips, and boat tours with clear launching points and shuttle options. The Dune Climb is both a rite of passage and an efficient viewpoint if you’re short on time; the park’s trail network and scenic overlooks reward longer itineraries. For winter visitors, the region’s winter activities and snowmobile routes open up a different set of possibilities—blanketed dunes and lakeside quiet if conditions allow. Whether you’re chasing a family-friendly walk, a multi-hour kayak loop, or a salty sunset sail, Empire’s half-hour scale means you can swap a morning boat rental for an afternoon bike rental and still make dinner reservations without running late. That practical accessibility—fewer logistics between activities—turns Empire into a deceptively capable adventure gateway.

Access and convenience make Empire a standout. Multiple put-ins for kayaks and small boats sit within short drives of town; guided sightseeing tours and boat tours provide interpretive context for the area’s maritime history and the Sleeping Bear Dunes formation. Outfitters also coordinate with local launch sites for fishing, sailing, and jet-ski rentals, so you can layer activities without reinventing transit plans.

Pair the active with the slow: after a day of water activities, stroll Glen Haven’s historic docks, find a lakeside picnic spot, or take a late-afternoon bus tour or city tour to learn the local stories. Shoulder seasons—late spring and early fall—offer quieter access to dunes and trails and more comfortable temperatures for both hiking and paddling.

Choose Your Adventure Level