Parts of the Dunes require a $25 fee or a National Park pass/
The Dune Climb required a fee/pass. I recommend doing this early in the day if you are there in the summer. From the Empire Bluff Trail, you pass the scenic drive first, but we chose to by-pass it to do the Dune Climb earlier in the heat.
View from top of first hill.
The scenic drive has a fee/pass.
Sleeping Bear Point Trail is a nice place to get in the water. It's a rocky beach but very pretty.
Good Harbor Beach to the north was very nice.