Visiting Muskegon area this summer (Grand Rapids, Holland: travel, house, college)

[wanderlusting]

Hi all, my gf and I are thinking about taking the car ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon this summer. We love the outdoors and are very much into nature. Does anybody know where the best places to hike or where the prettiest scenery is. Also, does anybody know the best place to watch a sunset? We don't mind if it's somewhat busy. We don't mind people around but don't want to go to an overexposed area where "everybody" goes. We also don't mind traveling up or down the lake a ways. Any comments or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

[suydam]

Grand Haven is just south of Muskegon. It's the most popular "tourist" town near the ferry...but you can get away from some of the tourists for a sunset if you head to the Rosy Mound Natural Area.

Within Muskegon, there's some nice hiking at PJ Hoffmaster State Park but it will be busy I suspect as it's a very popular state park.

About 80 minutes north of the ferry terminal is Ludington State Park. It's bigger than Hoffmaster, has much more room to hike. Along it's northern border is the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. It's a federally designated wilderness... so please practice the principles of leave-no-trace. It has great hiking and novice backpacking opportunities (if you're staying more than a day, I highly recommend this place).. but you have to bring your own food, water and make your own campsite in the woods.

Have a great trip! The west coast of Michigan is a real gem.

[GRRAZO]

Just adding to what Suydam said, if your looking for some other fun things to do, Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park is close by, its small but still a fun and affordable place to spend the day. There is a huge music fest just north ROTHBURY FESTIVAL - rothburyfestival.com
If you want to venture even more, the whole lakeshore is pretty cool especially further north including the Sleaping Bear Dunes and then up to Lelenau Peninsula and into Traverse City. If you go inland, Grand Rapids has a decent night life and other forms of entertainment. To the south Holland is nice but a little more for the families. Saugituck is very artistic and South Haven is summer cottage / College beach town and is also very fun.

[wanderlusting]

Thanks to both of you for the info. We plan on staying at least three full days not including ferry travel and this will keep us occupied. We would love to see those dunes. We don't really have those on this side of the lake. Can't watch a sunset either, but that's no guarantee if it's cloudy.

[Wrinkle]

Just to add what others have said, Sleeping Bear Dunes is worth the trip if you have time. If you dont you can see a gigantic dune at Silver Lake, it straddles Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, its not too far from JJ Resort which is hosting the Rothbury Music Festival. They have dune buggys that run the dunes at Silver Lake. There is a state park there as well. It may be pretty busy at Silver Lake during the weekends but not too bad during the week. All the places mentioned before by previous posters are good destinations as well.

[suydam]

I agree, Sleeping Bear Dunes is incredible. There are bluffs along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive that are over 450' high.

On the other side of the equation, Nordhouse Dunes are less tall, but literally devoid of people .. which is a really cool thing to behold (especially if you don't mind making a campsite and spending the night).

[burgler09]

Hoffmaster state park might not be half bad, they have dunes and a campground that is right by the beach and its a very nice campground. Oh the memories of Hoffmaster growing up, one of these days im going to defintiely go back!

[wanderlusting]

Hmm now I'm getting other ideas in my head. Sleeping Bear Dunes is a bit of a hike (2hr 40 min according to mapquest) but may be worth the trip. And if we're going to go that far, we might as well hike up to Mackinaw City. Maybe Silver Lake will be more do-able this time. We'll see...thanks.

[GoBlue2]

Consider taking the original carferry from Manitowac, WI right into Ludington, MI. It is a much more comfortable ride and not as sensitive to bad weather as the Muskegon ferry. Also, Ludington is a great beach town! We have a beautiful State Park. Check the Chamber of Commerce's website for the schedule of our great art fairs and summer celebrations, too!