Tunnel of Trees, Michigan

One of Michigan’s most spectacular drives, Michigan Highway 119 leaves the exclusive resort town of Harbor Springs, whisks you through an area once largely inhabited by the Odawa, or Ottawa Indians, and ventures north 20 miles to the town of Cross Village. This narrow road becomes engulfed in the over-story of a mixed forest, dominated by mature broadleaf and pine trees.

 Known as the “tunnel of trees,” the scenic beauty of this drive is splendid in the spring or summer, but offers special majesty during peak autumn color. Special attractions: The biggest attraction is the canopy of trees that surrounds you as you drive along the shore of Lake Michigan.

Spirit World? - Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is half a mile south of Cross Village.  The land in this preserve is also home to an elusive water spirit. Native legend has it the water spirit enters and exits through the cedar swamp.  Just past Middle Village, there is a U-shaped curve named Devil's Elbow. The name stemmed from a series of strange, unexplained occurrences in the area, but it's a bit of a misinterpretation--the original name means "where the spirits reside." perhaps that's still true today.