In 2011, Good Morning America viewers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northwest lower Michigan the "Most Beautiful Place in America." Long before the park was ranked as a national favorite, author Tim Mulherin began exploring the region - including Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties and other points north - as a frequent visitor. Now, in Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water: Field Notes from Up North, Mulherin tells of his love of the area and its people, and in turn encourages visitors to respect and enjoy this national treasure.

Mulherin joyfully shares his enduring, decades-long friendship with the region, born of hiking and cross-country skiing on woodland trails, dune climbing, trout fishing, sailing across Lake Michigan to camp on South Manitou and Garden islands, kayaking crystalline waters of local lakes and rivers, driving the scenic M-22 highway, and savoring downtime on Lake Michigan beaches. His essays are also a timely commentary on invasive species - both aquatic and human.

Anyone who has visited this special place - or plans to - will find Mulherin's writing a thoughtful and amusing representation of what being "Up North" is really all about.