[CincyExpert]

Where are the best beaches/beach towns on Lake Michigan and when would it be warm enough to visit these places?

[GoBlue2]

Ludington has an amazing beach downtown, and miles of shoreline by the beautiful State Park. July and August are usually the best weather months.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by GoBlue2

Ludington has an amazing beach downtown, and miles of shoreline by the beautiful State Park. July and August are usually the best weather months.

Hey, don't give up all our secrets!

You are 100% correct though. I love the beaches around Ludington (might be a bit prejudiced though, growing up there). First Curve area on a bright 80 degree summer day is a bit of heaven on Earth.

[Michigansnowflake]

Stop in Charlevoix in late June, early July..........or for one of the festivals along the shores

[suydam]

The weather is warm enough for the beach in June-August.
The water really isn't warm enough for swimming until mid-July though.

I think Ludington State Park has won "Best Beach" in a few recent contests. Personally, I agree that it's the best beach.

When it comes to beach towns I personally prefer Grand Haven. You can walk to the beach from downtown. The downtown is bigger than Ludington's as well. South Haven is great too if you're further south.

If you keep going up north, Charlevoix and Petoskey are great towns. Traverse City has a bigger downtown, and a large public beach right downtown on the bay. That's a nice city as well. Just west of there Glen Arbor has beach nearby at Good Harbor and Glen Haven. The town (Glen Arbor) is cute, and has a great resort (Homestead) nearby depending on if that's your kind of travel.

Truthfully, and I mean this sincerely, the best way to see the lakeshore towns is to take a week in August, and hit them all. Most can be "seen" in an hour or two, and whenever you come to one that warrants further exploration, get a room and stay over.

Have a great trip!

[mazenblue]

Oval Beach in Saugatuck is also very nice. Nice little town to do fun shopping in and try the Butler for lunch for dinner.

[jetengineman's wife]

East Tawas has beautiful beaches.. especially out on Tawas Point where the state park is... we were able to dip our toes in as early as Memorial Day last year (I thought my kids were nuts, but the water in the shallows was not too bad!) but things are definitely warm enough to swim in during July and August.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by jetengineman's wife

East Tawas has beautiful beaches.. especially out on Tawas Point where the state park is... we were able to dip our toes in as early as Memorial Day last year (I thought my kids were nuts, but the water in the shallows was not too bad!) but things are definitely warm enough to swim in during July and August.

The question was about Lake Michigan beaches, however.
Tawas is on Lake Huron.

[allbusiness]

Holland State Park (Ottawa Beach) any time after July 1 when the water MAY be warm.

[Softballfan]

The main two here are South Haven and St. Joesph.

South Haven has two beaches North and South. And 2 great piers to walk out on. Parking can be a challenge though.
As far as the weather.....if you want to swim in the lake, you're going to have to wait until mid to late June for the water temp to get above 60 degrees.