The Best Beaches in the Grand Haven Area for Your Favorite Activities

August 19, 2024 Grand Haven Blog

The Grand Haven Area is home to many sandy beaches to make memories on. Whether you’re looking for a game of volleyball, a nice hike, some deep relaxation, or family trip with the pup, Grand Haven has the beach for you! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite beaches to go to for sports, relaxation, hiking, dogs, and group gatherings.

Sports:

Grand Haven State Park Beach

Whether playing volleyball with friends or dribbling a basketball around, Grand Haven State Beach has plenty of room and the beachgoers to strike up a game. This is one of the Grand Haven area’s most popular beaches; there is no shortage of friendly visitors who will start a game. The volleyball courts are set up by Memorial Day and stay through summer. For little kids, there is a playground to climb and swings to catch a breeze. Head to the Beach Shop for toys, towels, Grand Haven souvenirs, and camping supplies, or to rent a beach chair. The Shop is open daily from 10AM to 8PM. The Grand Haven State Park Beach is the destination for many sporting events, including Soccer in the Sand and the Grand Haven Beach Vault.

City Beach

The City Beach, located next to the State Park, is also a great place to play. You can always count on someone to bring a spike or soccer ball to kick around. If you don’t want to bring too much, the Surf Shak is conveniently located next to the parking lot and has rentable surf, paddle, and boogie boards. You can also find some beach accessories or a quick bite to eat there. City Beach is home to exciting events like the annual Sand Sculpture Contest, and is a great spot for a friendly game!

Relaxation:

Windsnest Park

This warm, secluded beach is the perfect spot for some relaxation. This sandy escape is just a short walk away from the parking lot, making it an easily accessible hidden gem. The playground and restrooms make it ideal for a family day with the kids. Bring a book and a beach chair to soak in the rays, or enjoy a nice sunset walk. In the off-season, (Labor Day to Memorial Day) leashed dogs are allowed at the beach! Park hours are 9am to 10pm.

Hike:

Olive Shores

This woodsy beach has the perfect trail for you with three routes to choose from.

Take the Beach Access Route straight to the shore.
Hike the Dune Ridge Loop to explore some natural dune formations.
Olive Shores’ Dune Meadow Loop is open to all as a barrier-free trail.

The Lake Michigan shoreline at the end of your hike is the perfect view. Olive Shores opens on April 1 and closes after the first snowfall. Due to the narrow paths, dogs are not allowed at Olive Shores. Fun Fact: Olive Shores was the site of a scene from a Tom Hanks film, “Road to Perdition”!

Rosy Mound Natural Area

The Rosy Mound 0.7-mile-long trail is great for stair lovers! With over 1,000 feet of stairs taking you up and down a classic dune system, you’ll see some beautiful views while getting your steps in. Four trails split and reconnect to take you through forested dunes before arriving at a final Blowout Dune Lookout, where the Lake Michigan coastline stretches as far as the eye can see. Park hours are 7am to 10pm from March through October.

Pups:

Kirk Park

From May to the end of September, your dog can enjoy all the amenities of Kirk Park’s south beach area off-leash! While on-trail they must stay leashed, but the 1.2-mile loop trail offers lots of area to sniff around. Whether in the mood for a beach day or a nature walk, this park and beach offer incredible views. In the off-season, dogs are allowed off-leash on the north and south beaches. Bring a friend for a doggy playdate or the kids to give your dog the time of their life!

Grand Haven City Beach

The Grand Haven City Beach is available to your four-legged friend on-leash before 11am and after 5pm Memorial Day through Labor Day. In the off season, dogs are allowed on-leash at all times. This beautiful beach has a perfect view of the pier and lighthouses. Your dog will have a great time running with you on-leash at this beach! Our favorite way to enjoy the City Beach is by an early morning walk with the sunrise.

Groups:

North Beach Park

North Beach Park has the perfect picnic shelter for your next cookout or get-together. With a large group grill, electrical outlets, and picnic table seating, the covered shelter is a great spot to meet with friends. If you’re looking to meet on a specific date, you can reserve the shelter through the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department. Nearby, the North Ottawa Dunes have a stairway to the top that offers a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. The dunes, sand volleyball court, and the beach ensure there’ll always be something to do. Dogs are not allowed from May 1 to September 30.

Kouw Park

With a picnic area and shelter, grills, a playground, restrooms, hiking areas, and a beach, Kouw Park is a hidden gem in Port Sheldon that is great for hosting people. Let the kids run free on the play equipment while you start grilling, or plan a nature hike and sit for a picnic afterward. The reservable picnic shelter is the perfect place to hang out while you take a quick break from the beach. Dogs are not permitted from May 1 through September 30. Park hours are March 1 through October 15 – 7am to 10pm; October 16 through February 28 – 7am to 8pm.

Ride Tour with MI Bike Tours

July 14, 2023August 21, 2023 Grand Haven Blog

Ride with MI Bike Tours, a new and exciting local business in Grand Haven, and enjoy a morning coffee or afternoon brew tour around downtown. Meet Alanna Kenny, the owner of MI Bike Tours and a Grand Haven-born resident. After pursuing a career in biochemistry, she shifted her path and combined her passion for bike riding and Grand Haven into a business. Each tour has three stops at local restaurants, cafes, or bars, taking you on a total of 8 miles around town over 3 hours. We decided to join Alanna for one of her morning tours and got to experience the tour to its fullest.

Starting at Loose Spokes, we were fitted with one of MI Bike Tours’ bikes and enjoyed the view of riding through the pretty neighborhoods as we headed toward downtown Grand Haven. Arriving at Aldea Coffee, we indulged in an Iced Caramel Latte, Lavender Lemonade, and Black Iced Tea while enjoying the sunny weather. Then, while we were downtown, we learned some Grand Haven history and the role this town played as the starting point for the notorious robber Baby Face Nelson.

We then took off on a scenic ride down to Grand Haven State Park, with a brief walk down to the beach to dip our toes in the water. Heading back towards downtown, we made a stop near the Imagination Station and YMCA at Voyage Bowls to savor their Acai bowls and smoothies. Along the way to our next destination, we passed by Grand Haven’s iconic Musical Fountain and picked up some interesting facts there too! Lastly, we reached our final stop, Odd Side Ales, where we had the option to enjoy a drink at the bar or, in our case, their coffee bar.

This tour was a great opportunity for us to experience a fun new attraction in the Grand Haven area and gain new insights about the area that we can share with visitors and residents at the Grand Haven Area Convention and Visitors Bureau!

Most Romantic Things to Do Along the Michigan Beachtowns

February 5, 2020June 18, 2020 Michigan Beachtowns Blog

If you are looking to plan a romantic getaway look no farther than the quaint and friendly towns along the Lake Michigan Beachtowns! We offer traditional wine & dine experiences along with some adventure, quiet time for just the two of you, and the most stunning sunsets you will ever see in your lifetime.

Go for a Hike

The parks and trails along the Lake Michigan Beachtowns provide a romantic backdrop for a hike for two all year long. Muskegon State Park and PJ Hoffmaster State Park have miles of wooded trails and sand dunes over looking Lake Michigan and are dog friendly. Hoffmaster’s trail system connects to the North Ottawa Dunes trails, the new Ottawa Sands Park, and the Kitchel-Lindquist Hartger Dune Preserve north of Grand Haven if you are looking for a longer hike. To experience something otherworldly, head to the Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access area to see mountains of sand dunes and watch hundreds of ORVs fly through the trails. Climb to the top of Mount Pisgah in Holland for a stunning view of both Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan. For those who are not afraid of heights, the steep, wooden stairs of Mount Baldhead bring hikers to the top of a 794 foot overlook of Saugatuck. Black River Preserve in South Haven has easy-to-difficult hiking trails with a one mile frontage of the Black River and other area streams. Weko Beach & John DeeDee Howard Trail is the Saint Joseph area are great spots for a hike.

Spend a Day at the Beach

Pack a blanket, your favorite snacks & beverages, towels, chairs, some books & magazines, your headphones, sunglasses, and sunscreen and prepare yourself for a relaxing day for two. If you are looking for a day at the beach close to all of the action Silver Lake Beach, South Beach, Oval Beach, Holland State Park, Grand Haven State Park, Pere Marquette Beach, and Little Sable Lighthouse Beach are perfect for people watching and catching some rays. Looking for something a little more quiet? Muskegon State Park, Newcome Beach, Rosy Mound Natural Area, Tunnel Park, Grand Mere State Park, & Douglas Beach are for you! If you want to add in a little adventure, consider renting ORVs at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and finding a spot along Lake Michigan for the two of you. Learn more about all of the Michigan Beachtowns beaches here!

Visit a Vineyard or a Tasting Room

Cheers to spending time together at one of the many vineyards or wine & cider tasting rooms located along the Michigan Beachtowns. The Fox Barn Winery is the Silver Lake Sand Dunes-Hart area is a unique setting within a restored barn where you can taste their wines along with a ‘Barn Bites’ food board. 12 Corners Vineyards & Winery is located in Benton Harbor but they also have tasting rooms located in Grand Haven and South Haven. Oceana Winery & Vineyard is located in New Era between Silver Lake Sand Dunes & Muskegon but you can also try their wines at their tasting room downtown Muskegon. Fenn Valley Winery has been around since 1973. Their vineyard hosts tours throughout the year and they have a tasting room in Saugatuck. Virtue Cider is located on a working farm complete with tours, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Learn more about the Michigan Beachtowns Beverage Trail here!

Peddle & Paddle

Each of the Lake Michigan Beachtowns offer a variety of ways venture around the area by bike, by kayak, or by SUP. Bring your own or rent from many local rental companies by the hour, by the day, or by the week. The Michigan Beachtowns have hundreds of miles of biking paths and trails for the serious biker and those looking for a casual, scenic ride. While the big lake can be friendly to paddlers, the inland lakes and rivers offer up a relaxing day on the water without worrying about large waves. For the more adventurous paddlers, surf board rentals and lessons are available through Third Coast Surf Shop in Southwest Michigan or you can try Kiteboarding with the help of MacKite.

Listen to Live Music at a Brewery

Grab a tasting flight and cozy up together at one the Lake Michigan breweries. Our Brewing Company in downtown Holland is a nano-brewery and was founded by two couples and their motto is “Smaller on Purpose.” Saugatuck Brewing Company is the only brewery in Michigan to feature a Brew on Premise Program where you can work with their master brewers to create your own special beer. Oddside Ales in Grand Haven recently expanded its downtown taproom complete with garage doors that open up for alfresco drinking and dining. Unruly Brewing Company in downtown Muskegon is the first brewery to brew been in Muskegon since 1957 and offers an outdoor beer garden in the warmer months. Big Hart Brewing Company in Hart hosts live music, karaoke nights, and Trivia nights. Three Blondes Brewing was founded by 3 sisters who were born and raised in South Haven. During the winter months you can snuggle together in one of their igloos nicknamed the Blondomes. In the Saint Joseph area, pick up a free Makers Trail passport and start collecting stamps from more than 40 participating craft breweries, wineries, and distillers.

Discover Iconic Lighthouses

The most romantic times of the day to view and visit one of the Lake Michigan Beachtowns lighthouses is first thing in the morning or leading up to sunset. Walk the pier, beach, or nearby boardwalk hand-in-hand. Saint Joseph’s lighthouses are accessible from Tiscornia Park. South Haven’s lighthouse is a short walk from downtown via the boardwalk. Holland’s Big Red is best viewed from Holland State Park. Grand Haven’s lighthouses can be found where the boardwalk ends at Grand Haven State Park. Muskegon’s lighthouses keep guard over the Muskegon Lake channel. Little Sable Lighthouse is located at Silver Lake Sand Dunes State Park and is open for tours during the warmer months. Before your trip, join the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s Passport Program and collect stamps and stickers at each of the Beachtown lighthouses!

Share a Romantic Meal

Houndstooth Restaurant in Benton Harbor is a New American restaurant that was founded by two siblings and features a fine dining experience without the pretense. The menu ebbs with the season and with the culinary duo’s mood. Menu items include Blue Crab Dumplings, Roasted Chicken, and Creamsicle Poke Cake. Taste in downtown South Haven is a small plates restaurant and martini bar with items to share including sushi, sweet & spicy shrimp, a Michigan cheese plate, and signature martinis. Salt of the Earth in Fennville offers scratch cooking from fresh local ingredients. Their menu changes seasonally including their selection of entrees, shared plates, and wood fired pizza. Seventy-Six is located downtown Holland and serves up modern, American comfort food. They offer lunch & dinner along with changing list of modern cocktails like the Tequila ‘Mockingbird’ and a Winter Margarita with elderberry and pear puree. Noto’s at the Bil-Mar in Grand Haven has one of the most spectacular views of Lake Michigan you can find along the shoreline. Noto’s offers spins on Italian classics, wood fired pizzas, apps, and small plates. The Lake House on Muskegon Lake has a marina view and a menu fitting for a fine dining or casual dining experience. What’s not to love about Big Hart Brewing? They serve up their craft brews along with a large menu of small plates, burgers, sandwiches, and entrees.

Watch the Sunset Over Lake Michigan

There is no better way to end a romantic day than with a breathtaking sunset over Lake Michigan. All of the Michigan Beachtown beaches offer stunning sunsets all year long. The ‘golden hour’ leading up to sunset provides the best lighting for romantic selfies.

Stay at a Charming Inn, Bed & Breakfast, Hotel, or Vacation Rental

There is quaint and romantic place for the two of you to stay no matter what season along the Lake Michigan Beachtowns. Check out the latest lodging and getaway specials here!

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For more Michigan Beachtowns articles, visit our blog here!