Quaint small towns in Michigan (Grand Rapids, Holland: travel, housing, college)

[billybob1050]

I will be traveling thru Michigan in a few weeks and am interested in visiting nice, high-quality, quaint small towns. Charming small towns with historic downtowns, maybe some antique shops and boutiques, nice architecture, Victorian homes, that kind of atmosphere. On previous trips, I enjoyed Mackinac Island, Marshall, Frankenmuth, Petoskey and Traverse City. If any viewers out there know of more of these types of towns, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much for your recommendations.

[northernguy1960]

You might enjoy a visit to Manistee. We're about an hour south of Traverse City, on Lake Michigan. Two Lake Michigan beaches, Victorian mansions once belonging to lumber barons back when this was an important port citym and the beautiful Ramsdell Theater. The downtown is on the Manistee River, which flows out to the lake. The riverwalk runs along it, behind the downtown businesses. There's the casino, if you're into that. And lots more.

Here's a few links:

Historical walking tour of the Victorian "Painted Ladies" and other historical buildings:

Manistee County Historic Bulding Tours

Tourism in general:

Manistee.com

[mackinac81]

The old part of Cadillac has a lot of charm. I don't know about antique shops, but the hill just above downtown is full of historic homes, and it has a picturesque view of Lake Mitchell. North of town is the usual strip of McDonalds, Meijer etc...but it's separate from the old town. Cadillac is stilll one of my favorite towns in Michigan.

[kimba01]

I just loved Petosky and Pentwater. Both I thought were quaint. Two different sides of MI but I loved them both.

[darstar]

try almost any town in the UP , talk about quaint, we got em !

[mackinac81]

Even though it's not a "small town" Holland's downtown looks like it was designed by Norman Rockwell himself. The central park, the official looking buildings, the shops on 8th St. Complete with a gothic-esque college and chapel. It's amazing.

Zeeland has a nice little downtown too, but I'm not sure what's there.

[Coldjensens]

Coldwater has some beautiful Victorian homes. Not much else. However the Abbots Magic store in Colon is a neat place to visit if you like magic.

Dexter is a really neat quaint small town. Chelsea and Tecumseh are pretty nice too.

[suydam]

I will second Holland as a must-see.
The homes around Hope College are absolutely gorgeous.
The downtown is one of my favorites in Michigan and you have water nearby too.

Saugatuck is high on my list for many of the same reasons.

Grand Haven too has its share of really pretty victorian homes, a great little downtown and incomparable views of Lake Michigan.

You could string all three of those towns into a weekend (stay in Holland as your home base) and never run out of fun stuff to look at.

If the lakeshore's not your thing I think Rockford and East Grand Rapids might also be of interest to you. Rockford has a great downtown for strolling, right on a nice river. I'm not sure you'll find the same caliber of homes right in town that you'd find in the Lakeshore towns listed above (admittedly Im not that familiar with the housing stock right in the city of Rockford). East Grand Rapids has a nice little downtown (no antique shops, but nice places to eat and a few little boutiques) situated along Reeds Lake and the streets southwest of downtown have more stately architecture than the Victorian style, but if you're into historic homes, a stroll down Cambridge should make you happy (just don't check the price tags).

Based on your description, I'd high-tail it to the Lakeshore though. Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven should be a perfect fit for you.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by suydam

I will second Holland as a must-see.
The homes around Hope College are absolutely gorgeous.
The downtown is one of my favorites in Michigan and you have water nearby too.

Saugatuck is high on my list for many of the same reasons.

Grand Haven too has its share of really pretty victorian homes, a great little downtown and incomparable views of Lake Michigan.

You could string all three of those towns into a weekend (stay in Holland as your home base) and never run out of fun stuff to look at.

If the lakeshore's not your thing I think Rockford and East Grand Rapids might also be of interest to you. Rockford has a great downtown for strolling, right on a nice river. I'm not sure you'll find the same caliber of homes right in town that you'd find in the Lakeshore towns listed above (admittedly Im not that familiar with the housing stock right in the city of Rockford). East Grand Rapids has a nice little downtown (no antique shops, but nice places to eat and a few little boutiques) situated along Reeds Lake and the streets southwest of downtown have more stately architecture than the Victorian style, but if you're into historic homes, a stroll down Cambridge should make you happy (just don't check the price tags).

Based on your description, I'd high-tail it to the Lakeshore though. Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven should be a perfect fit for you.

For a little less money , go South, a bit. , South Haven area. There are some bargains to be had in the area, if you don't mind being close to a Nuke Plant.

[mackinac81]

Traverse City may be a little big and a ways north, but they have some sweet old homes adjacent to their downtown. I went there a few months ago, parked my car and just walked through the neighborhood. It felt like I was transported back about a hundred years.