Along Michigan’s West Coast, the beaches are clean, the waves are never too big, the people are Midwestern friendly, and there are plenty of reasonably priced alternatives for those who aren’t necessarily water junkies. From Grand Haven’s annual Coast Guard Festival to Michigan’s Adventure (Muskegon’s amusement park) and the windmills, tulips and shops of Holland, a visit to Michigan’s West Coast offers an unusual slate of vacation and relaxation possibilities, that really and truly cannot be had anywhere else.
Grand Haven’s Beaches & Waterfront
With miles of clean white sand, and relatively small crowds, Grand Haven Beach is perfect for relaxing in the sun, building sand castles, or teaching the kids how to swim. In the summer the water is refreshingly cool and delightfully flat calm.
Grand Haven’s waterfront is the ideal “walkable” beach town. Based around a central waterfront plaza and the Grand River, there are numerous restaurants, bookstores, and shops within easy walking distance. The marina, jetty-lighthouse, and nearby Grand Haven State Park (with campsites on the beach) are all just minutes away by foot.
A summer framer’s market centrally located at Chinook Pier (on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 8:00AM) makes provisioning easy. The market runs from June thru October and brings the bounty of neighboring farms and craftsman to downtown Grand Haven. From early June thru late August Thursday’s at the Point is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a free concert from local musicians. Bring a picnic and something to sit on and enjoy the weather, the music, and the people of Grand Haven.
One of Grand Haven’s most unique attractions is the Musical Fountain, a synchronized display of water, light, and music. The half-hour show plays every day at sunset from Memorial Day thru Labor Day and Fridays and Saturdays in May and September. There are multiple shows using music from a variety of styles and genres, so many people make this a nightly stop while they are in town. Special performances are scheduled for July 4th, and during the Coast Guard Festival. This show is best viewed from the waterfront stadium, but can be seen a quarter mile up and down the riverfront boardwalk.
Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival
Each summer since 1924 the people of Grand Haven have gathered to honor and celebrate the tireless commitment made by the men and women who watch and protect our coasts. What was once a small local picnic has now become the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, one of our nation’s premiere military festivals.
In late July/early August this festival draws nearly 400,000 visitors to the Grand River and Grand Haven’s boardwalk. Events include numerous concerts, a carnival, crafts fair, golf tournament, softball tournament, car show, and many others. Official Coast guard events include the Retirees’ Dinner, Spouse’s Breakfast, Enlisted Dinner, and of course the National Coast Guard Memorial Service honoring all of the men and women who have given their lives to protect and serve the United States of America.
Muskegon & Holland
Though somewhat less well known than its neighbors, Muskegon is a delightful lakeside town in its own right. Muskegon Summer Celebration is a mid-summer musical festival that draws national acts and a faithful crowd to the shores of Lake Michigan. Across town, Michigan’s Adventure Park delivers amusement park thrills for visitors who like their vacations on the wild side. From kiddie cars to twisting, turning, metal monsters guaranteed to thrill visitors the park has something for the whole family.
South of Muskegon and Grand Haven, the town of Holland is an oddly endearing homage to the Dutch. From Windmill Island, the Volunteer Tulip Gardens, and the Dutch Village theme park, Holland is filled with tulips, windmills, and quaint shops. During the springtime Tulip Time festival, the Dutch Winterfest and at the Kerstmarkt (an open air Christmas Market), visitors may imagine themselves to have been temporarily whisked away to the land of wooden shoes, cheese and colorful flowers.
Lake Michigan’s lake Express
For visitors coming from the upper Midwest (the west side of Lake Michigan) who want to explore Michigan’s West coast by car, Lake Express operates a comfortable high-speed ferry that runs between Milwaukee and Muskegon from mid-May through December. From there it is just a short hop to nearby Grand Rapids, Grand Haven or further south to Holland.
Regardless of how they get to Michigan’s West Coast, visitors are certain to find a good safe place to relax within easy reach of astounding natural resources, festivals, fireworks, an amusement park, outdoor activities, and world-class beaches. That makes Michigan’s West Coast the best use of not just money, but our most precious asset, time with friends and family.
