So many beaches! Who needs the ocean when Lake Michigan provides so many beach destinations on the western side of the state of Michigan? We visited in July and there were plenty of activities both on and off the beach in Holland Michigan. Here is what we found to do!
Riley Beach
This tiny little public beach was just across the road from the house we rented through Airbnb. Though there was plenty of free parking here, I would not make this a destination. The benefit of Holland’s location along Lake Michigan means there are a lot of little spots like this. Find the one nearest you and enjoy a swim or catch a sunset!
Riley Trails
Another great spot along Riley Street is Riley Trails found here. You wouldn’t know from the photos but this area surrounds a closed and capped landfill! The county has turned an eyesore into a public asset. It was a beautiful place for a morning walk.
A map of the various hiking and biking trails can be found here. This area is primarily used for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. There is no fee and plenty of parking and the trails are open from dawn to dusk.
Holland State Park Beach
This beach has ample parking, restrooms, concessions, and the best views of Big Red. All this convenience brings crowds but it was still a great spot for a picnic, a swim, and some games in the sand. More information can be found here.
Tunnel Park
Named for the concrete tunnel through the dune, Tunnel Park is a great beach for younger children for many reasons. First and foremost is the cool concrete tunnel through the dune. Not only will kids enjoy the echos, it also removes the need to drag beach supplies up and over the dune.
For those without small children or anyone desiring more of a workout, there is also a stairway over the dune that leads to a beautiful elevated view of Lake Michigan and then continues to the beach below.
Besides the beach, Tunnel Park is also great for kids because of the large grassy area with a playground, picnic tables, shady trees, and restrooms. There is a parking fee here in the summer but it is well worth it for a day spent at this park. All this can be found here.
Mt Pisgah
Mount Pisgah was a fun, adults-only early morning walk, not because it wouldn’t be great for kids too, but because sometimes it’s just nice to enjoy a bit of quiet before starting the day. There was ample parking just past the trailhead here.
We arrived by 7:30am and saw only a few other visitors who were using the boardwalk for exercise. The 200+ steps take visitors up 157 feet to sweeping views of Lake Macatawa, Lake Michigan, and the Big Red Lighthouse.
The distance to the overlook is only .4 miles. From this point though, one can continue on and make a lollipop loop through the wooded dune for a round trip of just under 2 miles. Alltrails ranks this hike as easy.
After working up an appetite the Ottawa Beach General Store had fresh donuts and coffee. This is also a great spot to bring kids for ice cream later in the day!
Ludington State Park
This was one of the most beautiful parks I have ever visited. We spent a whole day here and I hope to return someday to explore even more. You can read more about our day at Ludington Beach State Park here.
Dutch Village
This cute little park exceeded our expectations. To be honest, we were not sure what to expect. We were drawn to the Hollandness of this attraction and the reduced admission price. We figured it would be worth it just to walk around and it definitely was.
There was definitely a kitschy feel to the place. But that was part of the charm! We tried on wooden shoes, learned Dutch dances, tasted cheeses, and raced in tandem skis with wooden shoes attached to them!
We made the assumption that our kids were too old for kiddie rides but I guess you never really outgrow a carousel or ferris wheel.
There was also a nice petting area with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits, and a llama! The kids hung with the kids! We sampled fudge and listened to the large 1800’s street organ. You can visit their website here to plan your own Dutch Village adventure!
Saugatuck Dunes State Park
The walk to this secluded beach from the parking and picnic area is nearly a mile but once you are there you will be treated to two and a half miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. This scenic area can be found 10 miles south of Holland. Turn onto 138th Street and follow it to State Park Drive.
Pack a backpack with your favorite beach gear and spend the day swimming and building sandcastles. If walking in nature is more your style, this park has over 1000 acres including coastal dunes over 200 feet high, and covered with a mix of trees and grass. Like other Michigan State Parks, a $12 annual recreation passport is required for Michigan residents. Out of state visitors can pay a $9 single-day fee.
Windmill Gardens
Another essential stop for embracing Holland’s Dutch roots and history is Windmill Gardens. This beautiful park bordering downtown Holand is a great place to relax or pick up some Holland, MI souvenirs.
The main attraction of the Gardens is the Windmill itself. Named DeZwann or The Swan, this 250-year-old working windmill arrived in Holland Michigan from the Netherlands in 1964. It is both the last windmill to leave the Netherlands and the only working Dutch windmill in the United States.
What I thought was especially powerful about this windmill was that an original blade was laying beside it, riddled with bullet holes from when it served as a lookout tower during World War II.
Before leaving, we wandered through the shops and picked out our own little pair of wooden shoes which they engraved for us.
Laketown Beach
An elaborate walkway over the dunes, at times covered in sand, takes you to a quiet beach nestled amid private property. Parking along a dead-end road can be found here. Though the steep climb and number of stairs might make this a poor choice for a full day at the beach with all the required gear, the views from the top make this a great spot for photos or quiet contemplation.
There are 350 stairs going up and over the fragile dunes. The stairs not only make the trek easier, they protect the dunes.
There are no restroom facilities at this location but the limited parking is free. What I liked best about this out of the way park was the peace and solitude.
