Michigan is a summer playground. While each season offers day trips and week-long vacation opportunities, including Fall color tours, Winter snow sports, Spring berry picking, and the Detroit Tigers opener… the summer season is uniquely special.
As a family, we love exploring Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford, and the Detroit Zoo and my kids make an annual trek to Michigan’s Adventure. But for me, the shorelines are where Michigan shines.
Encompassed by the Great Lakes, and with access to many inland lakes, it’s hard not to find a sport or activity for all to enjoy here in Michigan.
Growing up in West Michigan, my family spent a lot of time at the beaches and the towns dotting Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Beaches were my playground and some of my favorites include Sleeping Bear Dunes, North Beach Park in Ottawa County, Grand Haven State Park, Ludington State Park, and Christmas Cove Beach just outside Northport in the Leelanau Peninsula. These were the places where we made many memories. I’ve been lucky to share these places, and my childhood experiences, with my kids. The only real difference from my visits in the 1970s is that we now use sunscreen and not suntan lotion!
If you’re looking to visit, here is some more information on my favorite spots:
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- Sleeping Bear Dunes – This massive place has the best dunes and inlets and big beaches in the state. It’s no wonder Good Morning America named it the “Most Beautiful Place in America” a few years ago.
- North Beach Park – Located in Ferrysburg, just north of Grand Haven, this Ottawa County beach is likely my favorite as it has perfect sand. Also, it’s more remote and less crowded than the Grand Haven State Park, which is on the other side of where the Grand River flows into Lake Michigan. This place is very family-friendly and brings back great memories from my childhood and of the years when we brought our young kids and their grandparents.
- Grand Haven State Park – This is a 48-acre park set along a half mile of sandy Lake Michigan beach. It’s only a short walk to downtown Grand Haven, one of my favorite vacation towns. This was a special place for me in high school and college. It’s also the beach where I proposed to my wife, Kim.
- Ludington State Park – The beach at this park is deep and several miles long. Additionally, it has a very nice lodge. It’s situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, with lots of amenities. They also host a great running race in June, the Ludington Lakestride, a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. If you’re looking for a race and a great beach to relax afterward, put this one on your list.
- Christmas Cove Beach – This flat rock beach is located on the northwest part of the Leelanau Peninsula, just outside Northport. This is the best place in the state to hunt for Petoskey stones. On a recent visit, my family found a dozen without much effort. Suggestion, wear water shoes or running shoes as the stones are not easy to navigate barefoot.
What’s your favorite beach in Michigan?
