TRAVERSE CITY, MI – The Traverse City area has been named one of National Geographic’s 10 Best Summer Trips 2012 for nature lovers and urban explorers.

“The region’s 180 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline basically trace the upper left edge of Michigan’s ‘mitten,’” National Geographic said.

Attractions include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Leelanau Peninsula.

Related: Sleeping Bear Dunes voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America' (video)

“Michigan’s monumental sandbox is best known for its 150-foot dune climb (or roll), but there’s also 35 miles of pristine Lake Michigan beach.”

National Geographic noted the area’s 149 inland lakes that help make the area “a rambling Cape Cod-on-freshwater summer playground: quaint port villages, sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, rolling orchards, family-friendly festivals (including the National Cherry Festival, July 7-14), and summer-only Traverse City Beach Bums pro baseball games (team members bunk with local families).”

To see other cities listed, go here.

Related: Sleeping Bear Dunes attendance climbs after 'most beautiful' honor

E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/grpressagar