Whether you are planning a family vacation or a couples weekend getaway, the state of Michigan has much to offer, especially towns neighboring the great Lake Michigan. From restaurants, antique stores, and unique shops, these beach towns are a great place for adventure or relaxation, depending on your mood. At any given time, you can find a parade, festival, or sidewalk sale at any of these towns on the lake shore.
The first cities you will hit once you cross the Michigan border are New Buffalo and Union Pier. These towns share the major Red Arrow Highway, which is home to many antique stores. New Buffalo has a large beach with parking and a restroom. It also has various restaurants and shops if the weather is cool, and there are beautiful houses to drive past which overlook Lake Michigan. Union Pier has a smaller beach area where many families spend the day swimming and relaxing.
About an hour north of New Buffalo is South Haven. This is a larger city with many options for shopping and dining. They have a beautiful lighthouse on the beach and a large beach area. There are many bed and breakfast inns, as well as some upscale hotels in town. Dining won’t be an issue with the variety of options to choose from. This is a great place to spend a long weekend away to relax and unwind.
Grand Haven and Holland, which are the next large cities on the lake, are touristy towns with many fun places to visit. Grand Haven has a beautiful beach area and road where you can drive up and down the coast of the lake. If you’re in the mood for camping, there is a very clean campground off the main road where you can stake a tent or an hook up an RV for a few days or weeks at a time. In Holland, there is the famous Dutch Village park where you can spend the day as a Dutch settler from years ago. Take a few minutes to watch a Dutch dance or look around the gift shop where wooden shoes and tulips are sold.
The next city on your way up the northern coast of the lake is Muskegon. If you’re interested in horse back riding, you can pretend you’re from the wild west at the Double JJ Ranch. The ranch is located on many acres of open land, and houses manh other animals besides horses. Feel free to eat in the mess hall or do a little line dancing. In the winter take a romantic sleigh ride through the forest.
These are just a few of the great cities Michigan’s coast has to offer a traveler. If you decide to stop in at any of these, you will not be disappointed for they each have something unique to offer. Not only will you come home with pictures to share, there will be great stories to tell of all the fun times Michigan had to offer.
