Grand Haven Is An Enchanting Michigan Town That Makes An Excellent Weekend Getaway Destination
Grand Haven, Michigan, offers charming beaches, a historic shopping district, and a picturesque boardwalk, making it a delightful destination on Lake Michigan.
Michigan has more miles of coastline (3,288 miles to be precise) than any other state except for Alaska, so it should be no surprise that the Wolverine State has its fair share of places to enjoy the view. With its sandy beaches, historic shopping district, and picturesque boardwalk, Grand Haven is one of the most charming towns on Lake Michigan. In 2017, Coastal Living Magazine even named it the happiest seaside town in America.
Originally a logging and manufacturing town, as well as an important shipping port, Grand Haven began attracting visitors in the late 19th century who wanted to find relaxation and recreation in the area’s waters. Today, you can do as much or as little as you like in this resort town: spend the day on the beach, take in an art gallery, or marvel at the Grand Haven Musical Fountain, the largest in the world when it was built in 1962 (the fountain at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas eventually took the crown).
Downtown Grand Haven is lined with coffee shops, gift shops, boutiques, and a variety of restaurants. It’s a splendid place for everything from summer splurges to breezy window browsing.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Harbor Trolley takes locals and visitors alike through downtown. It’s an exciting and affordable way to get around town. Wave one down at any intersection along its route.
At the western edge of downtown, the Grand Haven Musical Fountain plays nightly shows at dusk from Memorial Day to Labor Day, combining light, music spanning several genres, and 90,000 gallons of water in a 20-minute synchronized display. And it’s free! Check the website for precise start times.
A 2.5-mile boardwalk connects downtown with Grand Haven State Park beach. Along the way you’ll pass parks, restaurants, and a U.S. Coast Guard station. Choose a bench to watch as boats pass, or bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn.
There are plenty of other excuses to get outside in addition to the beach - fishing charters, dunes with hiking trails, and 100 miles of bike paths in the region, just to name a few.
Have you been to Grand Haven? What are your must-see stops in town?
These days, we're so obsessed with getting to the destination that the journey is overlooked. We tend to hop in our cars and just cruise on the freeway, oblivious to our surroundings. When will we ever slow down to enjoy the scenery? Lucky for us, we have plenty of options for traveling by train in Michigan. And we're not talking about your typical commuter train. Think vintage locomotives that date back to the early 20th century, where you can maybe enjoy a unique dining experience, catch a beautiful countryside view, or venture to a far-flung place accessible only by rail. Here are three such experiences to be had on these scenic train rides in Michigan.
Take a ride on the longest continually operating dinner train in North America. This special line has dining cars that date back from the 1930s to the 1950s. Trips consist of two-hour rides and depart from Charlotte. You'll enjoy a journey through the countryside of the Grand Valley Rail Road and dine on a variety of cuisine while enjoying these scenic places in Michigan. During the summer and fall, sightseeing excursions are available on Saturdays. This train also operates lines out of Blissfield and Kalamazoo. For more information, visit the official Old Road Dinner Train website.
Take a 14-mile excursion out of historic Coopersville through Marne, where you’ll traverse over creeks, the highway, and an open deck girder bridge. Each car dates back to the early 20th century, and there’s even room for two passengers in the locomotive. This line operates trains for Santa, the Easter Bunny, and pumpkin season. Charters of 30 or more are treated to lunch, and children’s groups are sometimes treated to access to a caboose. For more details, visit Friends of the Coopersville and Marne Railway on the web.
You'll travel from Tecumseh through the country, along the River Raisin basin. Spectacular views are offered when you cross over a bridge during your journey. These are some of the best train trips in Michigan; they last about two hours and offer stops for apple cider and donuts at Kapnick's Cider Mill. For more info, click visit the official Southern Michigan Railroad website.
All aboard! Makes you want to pack your bags now and book your ticket, right? Next time your family is contemplating what to do, pack up the car, head to one of these amazing train stations, and have a unique adventure by rail while enjoying one of these fantastic scenic train rides in Michigan.
Summer is still in full swing, so traveling to Michigan in August is absolutely stunning as our State Parks are lush and green, our lakes are warm and sparkling, and our state is ripe for discovery! There are so many things to do in Michigan: Farmer's markets, zoos, beach towns, festivals, and museums are waiting for your visit.
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Cons of Visiting Michigan In August
If you’re not a fan of heat and humidity, you may not enjoy an August in Michigan, but after that...there aren’t many downsides! After all, there's still a ton of Michigan coastlines to enjoy.
Michigan Weather in August
We’re seeing record highs, and that goes for Michigan, too. Be ready for temperatures in the 80s, lowering to the high 70s at the end of the month.
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At Not Your Average Bucket List travel podcast by OnlyInYourState, we aim to find the best things for readers to discover in the United States. In addition to that, now we are going to help you find the best things to do in your state each month.
We are going to explore the top 10 best things to do in Michigan during the month of August, but if we missed something good... let us know! You can call or text 805-298-1420 and tell us what we need to know (or reach out to us via email at [email protected]).
Ready to dive into a month full of exciting things in Michigan? Check out the episode on Spotify:
Or you can watch your hosts break down the month on our YouTube channel:
Important Event Note:
Thanks to our loyal readers and listeners, we were made aware that the following events have already occurred or were cancelled. They have been removed from this article, but still are mentioned in the podcast episode. Please make note when making your plans for August events and always check the event website for up-to-date details!
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Annual Michigan Pirate Festival
The East Lansing Folk Festival
Top Michigan Attractions In August
1. Historic Biking Tours of Sleeping Bear (Maple City) - throughout August
Embrace the historic beauty of Michigan when you take a Historic Biking Tour of Sleeping Bear. The path isn't too challenging at 5.5 miles in length, so it's worth the effort to see the cultural landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes along the Heritage Trail and through the scenic, rural roads of Port Oneida. This particular tour will stop at seven locations of interest, including spots with epic views of Lake Michigan as well as historic farm buildings.
2. Explore Oscoda, Au Sable River, & Huron National Forest
Looking for an absolute gem of a peaceful getaway? Then Oscoda might be just perfect for you. You can rent canoes, kayaks, tubes, and paddlewheel boats for an adventure on the AuSable River. You can also explore Lake Huron and the trails within Huron National Forest. Get ready for incredible views and sugar sand beaches! This is one of our favorite things to do in Michigan this summer.
At the vintage Capri Drive-In, you'll step back in time as you take in double features on the outdoor big screen. You can watch from your car, or set up blankets and camping chairs to enjoy the show -- all while chowing down on everything you get from their concession stand!
Top Michigan Events In August
4. Lansing JazzFest (Lansing) - July 31st to August 3rd
Love jazz (or just a good music festival)? Then you should definitely check out Lansing JazzFest. The festival offers hours of live jazz on three different stages, as well as clinics, workshops and children’s activities. It's a free event that we think is so worth the drive. August festivals in Michigan offer so many fun ways to enjoy the state!
Not only does it have a good name, but Suds on the Shore Craft Beer and Wine Festival has been running for seven years! For 2024, the event will be on August 17th at City Park near Lake Michigan in downtown Ludington. If you love craft beer, hard cider, and local Michigan wine, then you'll be a happy camper at this event that raises funds for the United Way of Mason County.
6. Rollin’ on the River (Allegan) - Fridays until August 30th
Nothing says "summer" like weekends full of live music! You can find Rollin' on the River on the Allegan Riverfront as a free, weekly Friday night concert series. Touring musicians from across the country will grace the Allegan Riverfront Stage and it's a family-friendly event you won't want to miss.
7. Skip's European Farmers Market (New Buffalo) - Saturday and Sunday during August
Running through mid-October, this incredible farmer's market offers locally produced vegetables, fruits, jellies, jams, salsas, bread, and more! Sure, there are plenty of farmer's markets in our great state during the summer, but if you're looking for a farmer's market that has a TON of offerings (and some fairly unique), then you should take a trip over to Skip's!
Even if you're not an elite car enthusiast, you will enjoy the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world's largest one-day automotive event. This classic car parade in the motor city takes place on Woodward Avenue in the Detroit area, so swing by if you want to check out vintage and muscle cars cared for by some of the most passionate people in the industry.
9. Michigan Renaissance Festival (Holly) - August 17th to September 29th
The town of Holly is transformed into "Hollygrove" during The Michigan Renaissance Festival, a Renaissance fair and interactive outdoor event that the whole family will love. Even if you've never been to a "ren faire" before, it's worth checking out. You'll feel like you're stepping back in time to the 16th century! It’s one of our favorite summer festivals in Michigan.
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Have we inspired you to make an end-of-summer to-do list for Michigan? With whatever itinerary you put together for August, we hope you have a blast! And make sure to check out some of our favorite outdoor activities in Michigan!
Need somewhere to stay while you’re visiting? We love the options on VRBO.
