Located right on the coast of Lake Michigan, Grand Haven is a small, sandy city with a beautiful boardwalk. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and swimsuit!
City and Boardwalk
The downtown area is beautiful! There are boutiques, restaurants, and a farmers' market. Also, keep an eye out for free admission to museums! You'll also see boats in the lake and can admire the lake’s horizon while sitting in the boardwalk’s park. Kids play in the water fountain, while bike riders, dog walkers, and ice-cream lovers fill the city. Throughout the summer, they have fireworks, parades, and musical fountain shows (check their website for the schedule of events).
Make sure you have a water bottle with you. It’s important to stay hydrated when you're in the hot sun. There are public restrooms and water fountains so you don’t have to worry about finding those.
Beach
Grab your volleyball, a good book, and your towel! The beach is about a 10 minute walk from the city. I would recommend arriving in the morning at 10 am to get the best parking spot, as they do start to fill up early and quickly.
Lots of people swim, play volleyball or frisbee, paddle board, and much more. Walking along the shore and to the lighthouse is one of my favorite things to do around sunset. Hearing the waves crash on the shore while walking in the warm sand is so relaxing.
Food
Have a picnic or eat at one of Grand Haven’s many restaurants! I love the cute cafes scattered around town. The town has spots for brunch, pasta, burgers, bakeries, fudge/candy shops, pretzels, lemonade, wine and beer, and ice cream, just to name a few. Everything is relatively inexpensive. I like to pack a light lunch for our picnic and then eat dinner at one of the restaurants.
Festival
Every summer, Grand Haven hosts the Coast Guard Festival, which honors those in the United States Coast Guard. They have a variety of family friendly activities, such as the parade and carnival. Visitors can tour a Coast Guard ship. For the adults, there’s a concert and an art fair. With the streets blocked off, food trucks and vendors are lined up throughout the city. Even after the sunset, people are relaxing in the boardwalk’s park or in Waterfront Stadium, waiting for the fireworks show. Enjoy your visit!
Images by Vesa.
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