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Old 05-08-2013, 07:58 PM
 
Location: North Georgia
263 posts, read 798,928 times
Reputation: 137

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We're going to visit my Mother in Law in the SW corner of Michigan the middle of June and I'm looking for a place within about a 2 hour drive north where we could take an overnight trip. We'll be traveling with a 6 year old and a 19 month old (and the 83 yr old MIL). I'm wanting somewhere we could walk along the lake, maybe a pier to walk out on and a cute shopping area. Just looking at a map I'm wondering about Grand Haven....?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
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Old 05-08-2013, 10:46 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,942,559 times
Reputation: 2130
Quote:
Originally Posted by CalieCat View Post
We're going to visit my Mother in Law in the SW corner of Michigan the middle of June and I'm looking for a place within about a 2 hour drive north where we could take an overnight trip. We'll be traveling with a 6 year old and a 19 month old (and the 83 yr old MIL). I'm wanting somewhere we could walk along the lake, maybe a pier to walk out on and a cute shopping area. Just looking at a map I'm wondering about Grand Haven....?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Suggested Top 10 Things to See & Do - Grand Haven CVB

Grand Haven is strollable along the channel into the state park and there are a few "cute shops" on Chinook Pier (the red roofs here). Notice the railroad monument to the right.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

There are touristy storefront shops, eateries, and nightclubs with bands along Washington Ave.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Inside this building is a restaurant, brewpub/night spot with weekend bands, a coffee shop.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

Along North Harbor Dr are miscellaneous restaurants, but the Bil Mar is not highly-rated. The state park there is all beach.

Walking along the channel you will come upon small retail stalls (left) and the Snug Harbor restaurant (right) with nice views of the channel. To the right here you come upon the Coast Guard station. Further along you can walk out on the pier to the end of the channel.
There the state park begins.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

At certain times there is a Coast Guard festival, a musical fireworks display, and a street art festival. The weekends are quite lively. At the foot of Washington on North Harbor, there is a visitors' center.
Outside of this area and into Spring Lake it is mostly residential and big-box stores. Hope this helps.

Last edited by detwahDJ; 05-08-2013 at 11:13 PM..
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Old 05-09-2013, 10:41 AM
 
104 posts, read 241,836 times
Reputation: 116
Grand Haven is closer to 3 hours I think but it would be worth it since tourism on the East side of the state leaves a little to be desired. Caseville might be worth checking out, though.
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Old 05-09-2013, 11:47 AM
 
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
109 posts, read 205,756 times
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Grand Haven is a great town. a two mile walkway by the harbor from beautiful and thriving downtown to the light house pier. An old steam locomotive can be found just a block north of downtown along the walkway. Two free museums can also be seen downtown and boat rides I believe run on the hour during the summer months. They also have area trollies for limited hours. The worlds largest musical fountain can also be seen nightly from downtown between the start/end summer holidays. Also a movie theater and bowling can be found.

A block south of Washington (downtown main drag) you can find a few lovely historic homes and churches. Almost directly across Grand Haven State Park is one of two side streets that connect at the top of a hill with mansions and an over look of the city. Rose Mounds (park) can be found just south of town where you can climb a lot of steps for a sweeping view of Lake Michigan.

Just a couple minutes up the road is Muskegon with the states largest amusement park, museums including a war ship, an old cruise ship, a subarine museum, art museum and history museum (free). Make sure you see the Hackley homes here, possibly the most beautiful houses in Michigan. They also have a free extensive beach park with pier and a decent mall.

Together one could spend a while in this region. Holland is nice too but unlike Grand Haven the beach is not walkable from downtown, however, one thing you should consider is a dune ride in Saugatuck which is a Lake Michigan highlight. This town is just south of Holland. Felt mansion (open Sunday through Tuesday) is a gem too in the same town.

Other towns to consider is South Haven which has a great downtown with a walkway to the beach, a museum and boat rides on a ship that resembles the Mayflower I believe. Beautiful mansions just south of the river here. St Joseph is also great with a small museum and carousel on the beach which is just steps away (real steps) from their beautiful downtown. New Buffalo is a great town close to that corner of the state with the states largest casino. Here, the downtown and beach are also very close. Also a beautiful town.

Some prized light houses are the Ottawa State Park (Holland) Big Red (you can walk this pier but from the opposite side of the state park via a sidewalk going behind some buildings near the end of the road) and the Grand Haven lighthouse. One light house just north of Muskegon (White Hall) can be toured as it is a museum and you can walk to the top for a great view.

There are some fantastic beautiful options. I know you will enjoy yourself for your stay.
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Old 05-09-2013, 10:02 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,942,559 times
Reputation: 2130
St. Joseph has a riverwalk, long beach with walkway, a "gaslit cobblestone" downtown shopping area.
South Haven is sort of a scaled-down version of Grand Haven with storefront shops, a pier walk, beach on both sides of the channel.
Saugatuck has a touristy-quaint downtown, riverwalk, art galleries, fudge shop, etc.. Cute shops is what it's all about. You can take a paddlewheel cruise into Lake Michigan. I figure you've checked youtube for Grand Haven, so here's more on Saugatuck.


Saugatuck-Michigan Travel TV - YouTube

Oval Beach in Saugatuck Michigan July 16, 2009 - YouTube

Saugatuck - Douglas, Michigan - YouTube

Saugatuck's "Coolest Small Town" Victory Party - YouTube

Even Bing Maps caught the sternwheeler entering Lake Michigan.
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions

This restored ww2 amphibious landing craft, which tours the Saugatuck/Douglas area, is popular with tourists.

144_2881.MOV - YouTube

Also popular are the dune rides.


Bjelica - Saugatuck Dune Rides - 2011 - Part 2 - YouTube

C3VR Dune Rides at Saugatuck.wmv - YouTube

This google maps view shows the dune buggy trails.
Google Maps

Last edited by detwahDJ; 05-09-2013 at 10:22 PM..
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Old 05-10-2013, 09:06 PM
 
Location: North Georgia
263 posts, read 798,928 times
Reputation: 137
Wow! Thanks!! I didn't receive any notifications that I had replies, so I just decided to check and boom, here they are I can't wait to check out all the suggestions!
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:43 PM
 
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
109 posts, read 205,756 times
Reputation: 73
West Michigan Travel, Lodging, Vacation Packages, Events - West Michigan Tourist Association a site for West Michigan attractions. Also visit Beachtowns, Vacations and Packages Near the Beaches of West Michigan | Pure Michigan

Enjoy your visit. The inland cities of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids are worth checking out as well for culture value.
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:44 PM
 
Location: Michigan
792 posts, read 2,326,832 times
Reputation: 935
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Old 05-11-2013, 03:05 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,942,559 times
Reputation: 2130
Some more about Saugatuck. The first half of this "Michigan Under The Radar" show is part of Detroit, but the second shows more of the Saugatuck area. I'm still looking for more info on the small shops there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvs3noV2NHs

Saugatuck vs Grand Haven? Saugatuck is shadier and "quainter", probably more postcard-picturesque. You might drive through since it's on the way to G.H.
In the Saugatuck Drug Store, there is a neat old time soda fountain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMQiRPboiCQ
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/tr...anted=all&_r=0
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