Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary

Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary is a calm hour on a 100-foot bluff above Lake Michigan just north of Manistee: 75 acres of old garden trees, woods and shoreline that Michigan Audubon keeps as a bird sanctuary. It suits birders, walkers and anyone who wants a quiet beach. Park on site, walk the trails down to the sand, and bring a picnic; restrooms are on site and a small donation is requested.

Michigan Audubon received the former Gray family home and property as a gift in 1988. The grounds were first landscaped as an arboretum, and many of the specimen trees remain. Look for the California redwood, the ginkgo and two Michigan champion trees, a giant sequoia and a sycamore maple.

About two miles of trails run through mature forest and around the property down to the beach. More than 170 kinds of birds have been recorded here, woodpeckers are resident, and eagles often work the shoreline. Bring binoculars.

The grounds are listed as open every day from dawn to dusk with no appointment needed. It is pet-free. The historic manor house next door now belongs to Lake Bluff Farms, a local nonprofit restoring it; the sanctuary itself stays with Michigan Audubon under a permanent conservation easement.