My friend and I went to Saugutuck a few years back and loved it. She’s been back once with her hubbie and I stopped thru for a few hours another visit. So we thought we’d try someplace else.
We had lunch in South Haven and thought that one street with all the shops downtown were cute, but never saw anything else. I guess we are looking for another place where we can to restaurants/shoos and be close to water. We don’t have to stay right on the beach, we didn’t in Saugutuck.
We had an airbnb rental reserved last summer between South Haven and Holland (West Olive area?) and when I researched it it seemed there were lots of little spots like you describe - a couple of streets near the water with shops and restaurants - we ended up canceling that reservation (but it was a nice place!) and going to Canada instead but I’d reschedule in a heartbeat. Close enough to go to a few places including Saugutuck.
For a little more content in terms of restaurants/shopping, and a hop-skip-jump from you in the Chicago area I would recommend the New Buffalo area. Right on the lake, BEAUTIFUL homes to gauk at on the “Lake Shore” drive, nice downtown area with a good bit of restaurants/shops. It’s very popular though so I’d book early. Lots of outdoor dining by the water and very New England feeling.
Thank you! That sort of tells me what I want to know. We also just drove thru on our way home for lunch and a bit of shopping. It wasn’t as quaint, (although I did like the stores better), yet that was the only street.
St John is nice, on the water with shops. If you go to New Buffalo then your around Red Arrow highway. There are tons of small places to go to like Sawyer, Michigan city, Lakeside, etc etc all along Lake Michigan. Antiques galore and small shops.
Yep, we stayed in Sawyer but it was Summer 2020 (deep in Covid time) so we really limited any store/people time. We def want to go back to the area. All along that route are fun spots to stop. But you also shouldn’t expect HUGE lakefront shopping - more lots of little spots/towns to stop.
Love love the area around Sleeping Bear Dunes too! Also Petoskey, Traverse City, and of course Mackinac Island. OP - Not sure if you are up for driving further north but it’s gorgeous up there!
We live in Chicago and have friends in Michigan city area. Dunes are interesting also. We used to rent houses each summer along Red Arrow for years . We go up for a day or weekend just to do something different. Always try to find new places. Actually just stopped at Romas for pizza on our drive home from Detroit to Chicago. There is a large outlet in Michigan city… Miller Beach is a diamond in the rough.
But if you’re looking for lots of restaurants/shops (correct me if I’m wrong since I’ve last been there), while Traverse City fits the bill, Sleeping Bear Dunes does not…? (half hourish distance between the two)
Regardless, (and something I’ve always trying to promote and tell on CC!) Lake Michigan ALL along the coast and the TC area and beyond are all vacation spots and book FAST. Especially for non-hotel rentals.
I think the Sleeping Bear Dunes are pretty close to Glen Arbor, which has a fair number of restaurants and shops. (Actually similar to Saugatuck but smaller, if I’m remembering Saugatuck correctly.) But yes, for shops and restaurants up north, TC is the place
As the parent of a senior at Hope College, I’ve spent a lot of time visiting Holland and can vouch for the fact that it has a very charming downtown with shops and restaurants. We spent a long weekend in Saugatuck in August 2018 for a family reunion and that was nice also.
I have actually been to Holland and loved their Downtown. We have friends with a lakefront cottage, but it was still a decent 15 minute drive from the downtown. I’m not sure where to stay in a setting like that.
Do we stay in walking distance of town, so we can walk home after lunch/dinner/shopping? Then just take the car for beach time? Or do we find someplace close to the beach? I’m not much for sitting at the beach for long stretches of time.
I’d love to go to Travers City, but it’s more than 6 hours and I don’t think we want to go that far. 3-4 hours is her limit with car driving. I know she mentioned that last time, so I don’t want to bring it up.
August. The lake is not necessarily a must do, but we went for a couple hours last time and it was nice. Lots of meals, talking, shopping…it was nice to sit on the shore for something different. We can’t do a lot of strenuous anything. My friend has lung cancer and tires easily.
vacation spots and book FAST. Especially for non-hotel rentals.