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Old 07-09-2012, 11:07 PM
 
3 posts, read 5,464 times
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We're from Metro Detroit and are planning a Lake michigan three day getaway with 2 to possibly 4 people- mom plus three kids in their 20s. First weekend in Aug or Mon-Tues of the next week.
We love saugatuck and are looking for a similar town but a different experience. We could go back to saugatuck, but why not see what else is going on. What we're lookng for is a nice beach. A quaint downtown that isnt overwhelmed by partygoers. Other attractions ie art, historical, trails, dunes, lighthouses, etc. - maybe a place that is not only about the beach.
What we loved about saugatuck was that the downtown was wonderful to stroll around. It is beautiful and has a lot going on, but is not too developed like any old city. It's hard to tell from these tourist websites what the downtowns are really like. Any places like this?
Considering Ludington, muskegon (too busy?)... Not sure. Dont think we want anything much farther up than ludington, unless a town would be really special.

On a somewhat related note- is there much going on in the thumb? It sure seems that the tourism focus is on the west coast. But is there anything extremely noteable on the shores of Lake Huron?

(I do realize I have a lot of questions, I know I have to do yet more research.)
What do you guys think? Thanks.
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Old 07-10-2012, 02:17 AM
 
Location: west mich
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Quaint: Glen Arbor and Leland. I would call these "special" and quite akin to the Saugatuck vibe.
Leland Michigan Chamber of Commerce :: Fishtown, Lake Michigan & Sleeping Bear Dunes
Semi-quaint: Frankfort/Elberta.
Grand Haven has some partiers for about 2 blocks, but very strollable along the river. Shops at Chinook Pier, restaurants.
Whitehall/Montague - not quaint. Beach at Duck Lake state park. Scenic drive along Lk Mich there and at Muskegon state park.
Ludington very nice but busy.
Manistee has beaches north and south of channel, and a riverwalk with shops.
South Haven is not rowdy, but it can be busy. Shops and restaurants on Phoenix and beaches north and south of channel.
Try googling images of these places.

I haven't been there in years, but I would check out Oscoda or East Tawas.
St. Joseph has a strollable downtown and long beaches.

Last edited by detwahDJ; 07-10-2012 at 02:29 AM..
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Old 07-10-2012, 06:52 AM
 
Location: West Michigan
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One of my favorite towns along Lake Michigan is Pentwater. It is 20 minutes south of Ludington. Very small, but a great little town.
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Old 07-10-2012, 07:28 AM
 
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Glen Arbor and Leland and all along the Sleeping Bear Dunes is some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Those two towns are busy in the summer but well worth it.
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Old 07-10-2012, 08:18 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luzette View Post
Glen Arbor and Leland and all along the Sleeping Bear Dunes is some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Those two towns are busy in the summer but well worth it.
I second that emotion

Make your lodging plans as early as you can, though. The national publicity Sleeping Bear and the entire region recieved over the last couple years has boosted the number of visitors and tightened up rooms and rental home bookings.
You really can't go wrong on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Michigan, small coastal towns bustling with activity) but a lot smaller than Saugatuck) with lots of art, food and fun offerings for all ages, miles of sand beaches both in and outside of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, vibrant agriculture including specialty growers, fruit farms and 18 wineries, restaurants from high quality cuisine (Mario Batali is a big fan of Leelanau Cty food) to excellent cheeseburgers and pie, lots of special events, lighthouses, museums, historic sites, charter fishing trips....I mean, this could go on and on.
If a day of "city" activities is of interest, Traverse City is only 20-some miles away, and is worth a visit, particularly the lively and colorful downtown.
http://www.leelanauchamber.com/

Oh yeah..these, too...
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Old 07-10-2012, 08:42 AM
 
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Check out downtown Holland for restaurants, galleries, antique shops, lots of clothing stores (Faye's, harborWear, White House/Black market, etc.), specialty shopping (The Outpost, Treehuggers, VeloCity Cycles, Gazelle Sports, etc.) plus three ice cream shops, two delis, the New Holland Brew Pub, the Curragh Irish Pub, Hope College Summer Repertory Theatre (professional company), art and foreign films at the Knickerbocker Theatre, twice-a-week farmers market downtown, bookstore/newsstand, and even a cigar shop. Lots of nearby parks and playgrounds, waterfront dining (Boatwerks and the Piper), with Holland State Park right on the beach at Lake Michigan, Big Red Lighthouse, etc. You can't miss!
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Old 07-10-2012, 01:25 PM
 
Location: west mich
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michigan83 View Post
One of my favorite towns along Lake Michigan is Pentwater. It is 20 minutes south of Ludington. Very small, but a great little town.
Yes, I forgot about that one. Has a beach at the state park and maybe the city(?). A strollable downtown with shops, galleries, and eateries. Don't know about entertainment.
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Old 07-10-2012, 01:41 PM
 
Location: West Michigan
161 posts, read 278,566 times
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No towns to add but I live in Manistee and while it's OK the downtown is pretty non existant and closes at 5pm most nights except for the bars. There are about 30 stores open and very few are really interesting. The rest of DT while it looks full are just empty store fronts with signs and other businesses items for sale in the windows so they don't look empty. The beaches are decent, they installed walkways from the parking lot to the water recently and are currrently renovating the beach area but right now it's not much for a family. Maybe a couple looking a romantic weekend with bars and wine tasting. Just throwing that out there.
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Old 07-10-2012, 06:56 PM
 
358 posts, read 1,063,246 times
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South Haven meets your criteria better than any other Lake Michigan town south of Ludington.
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Old 07-10-2012, 08:51 PM
 
391 posts, read 906,781 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnowPrincess View Post
No towns to add but I live in Manistee and while it's OK the downtown is pretty non existant and closes at 5pm most nights except for the bars. There are about 30 stores open and very few are really interesting. The rest of DT while it looks full are just empty store fronts with signs and other businesses items for sale in the windows so they don't look empty. The beaches are decent, they installed walkways from the parking lot to the water recently and are currrently renovating the beach area but right now it's not much for a family. Maybe a couple looking a romantic weekend with bars and wine tasting. Just throwing that out there.
Manistee has the "bones" of a great resort town. I hope things develop there.
The downtown should be a cool place to be.
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