Pure Michigan, Pure Bliss – Best Michigan Beaches

Must see Michigan beaches and things to do while on vacation. You won’t want to miss some of the best beaches in Michigan, perfect for family trips!

Pure Michigan, Pure Bliss

As you may have gathered from last week’s posts, Visiting St. Joseph, Michigan and Pier Cove Beach, we had an incredible time decompressing in West Michigan. When we left St. Louis, Missouri, the only thing we had planned was lunch with friends while en route. Fortunately, the stars aligned and it was nearly effortless. You could stumble onto any of the Michigan beaches and find something to do.

After meeting with friends for lunch outside of Chicago, we ventured up to St. Joseph, Michigan, where we let the kids stretch their legs, play and ride the carousel. We stayed at a Fairfield Inn while we planned our next move.

Someone’s misfortune was our fortune and we scored an adorable cottage with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and a short walk to the beach through VRBO. It was one of those places that had me singing “Everything I need and nothing that I don’t.” Because of the cooler temperatures in Michigan and the breeze coming off of the lake, air conditioning is completely unnecessary.

What to do at the Lake Michigan Beaches?

Watch sunsets. They are not to be missed. They seemingly lasted for hours, only glowing more beautifully each minute. We spent some evenings watching the sun go down on the beach and many while enjoying dinner or a glass of wine on our deck.

The Best Beaches in Michigan

Our favorite place to play was Pier Cove Beach, in Saugatuck, but West Michigan offers an abundance of gorgeous, family-friendly beaches to choose from. We frequented the beach in Holland because we were just a house away, but there wasn’t a beach that disappointed.

Walk out to the pier or swing at Holland State Park and see Big Red {the lighthouse}. Not to be missed if you have small children is the charming Dutch Village.

You can see Holland State Park Beach in the distance…

Where to find the Best Views of Lake Michigan

At Silver Lake, you can climb Little Sable Point Lighthouse if you meet the height requirement. Adalyn and I enjoyed breathtaking views of the lake and beyond, from 100 feet up.

Michigan Beaches – Perfect for Family Trips

While in the Silver Lake area, I highly recommend MacWoods Dune Rides. The 40-minute ride was fun for all, but still safe for the littles and offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

While we didn’t make it to Sleeping Bear Dunes, the girls were able to slide down a large dune and climb their way back up, which we decided was challenging enough for now! The ride was full of laughs and joyful screams as we whisked through the hills of sand. There is plenty of climbing available at Silver Lake State Park as well.

In the little preparation I did for our visit to Michigan prior to leaving, I created a list of potential spots to visit and highlighted their features so that we could enjoy a stress free getaway with a little adventure. We woke up this morning in Holland, Michigan and decided to drive to nearby Pier Cove Beach, just outside of Saugatuck in Ganges Township. While small, it’s the perfect place to spend a couple hours with kids.

We ventured down to Pier Cove Beach around 10 in the morning, in hopes of successfully landing a parking spot. There are just 10 parking spots nearby, with additional parking available a mile down the road. The beach is immediately below with a beautiful stream that flows into the lake. At less than a foot deep, the stream offers a great place for kids to splash and play in the sand.

The lake is just a few feet for 100+ yards, which was incredible with little ones. They loved exploring, finding pieces of sea glass and smooth stones.

A few tips when visiting Pier Cove Beach:

• watch signs for private property
• note that parking may not be available
• there is only a porta-potty, so plan accordingly
• if you’re traveling with kids, bring sand toys

The beach is pristine and quiet, perfect for relaxing. There is 1 picnic table, kindly shaded by trees, but otherwise it’s a sunny spot. Leashed dogs are permitted.

70th Avenue, Ganges Township, Michigan

Needless to say, we’re having an incredible time and are so thankful to have discovered the Michigan coastline!

Things to do at Michigan Beaches

We also had the opportunity to visit Grand Haven just before the Coast Guard festival. You can take a ride on the trolley to learn a little about the area’s history for about $5/family. I recommend sitting in the back for a little air.

You can also walk out to the Grand Haven Lighthouses which are connected with a pier and take the 2 mile paved path up to the Coast Guard. I’m not sure if the ships permanently reside there or if we just got lucky, so check in advance.

If you’re looking for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend dining outdoors at Jack’s Waterfront Bistro on the banks of the Grand River.

How to Navigate the Michigan Beach Towns

I found this map to be extremely helpful when planning our excursions. You can read more about Michigan beach towns here. As you can see, pure Michigan was pure fun!

The Best Summer Travel Spots

We loved every minute of this trip to all the various spots in Michigan. What I love even more is being able to share all of our trips with all of you.

If you found these tips helpful, check out some of my other travel posts for your next vacation inspiration. Some of my favorites are Things to do in Martha’s Vineyard, Things to do in Branson, and What I Wish I Knew About Disney.