Grand Haven, Michigan

Grand Haven is a beautiful little town on the shore of Lake Michigan. The downtown area is lively and vibrant! We went into town on Sunday afternoon because we had been driving for a few hours and just didn’t want to cook that evening. We parked and walked in to an area that they call the “Social District.” They put up barriers and block off a couple of streets. The restaurants all have tables set up in the streets outside their building. You can purchase a drink and walk around the area with it as long as you don’t pass the signs saying no drinks past here. There was even a stage set up and a band playing live music.

Just outside of downtown was Grand Haven State Park. An absolutely beautiful beach area. We went over there when we left the Social District just before sunset. There’s a beautiful pier and lighthouse. When the wind isn’t blowing too hard causing high waves, you can walk out on the pier to the lighthouse. Beautiful views of the lake and the sunset from there. Click/Tap the image for a larger view.

Let me tell you, I was shocked at how pretty the beach was! If you had blindfolded me and dropped me on that beach, I would have sworn it was somewhere around Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The water was still a little chilly, but it didn’t stop us from swimming. The water was surprisingly clear, which was also unexpected. I will admit, I took my laptop and backup hotspot and worked a few days while sitting on the beach under an umbrella.

We were talking to a local couple the Sunday afternoon in the Social District and they told us about the Grand Haven Musical Fountain. Every evening at dusk there is a show synchronized to lights and music. You head down to Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, which is kind of an amphitheater right on the waterfront next to the riverfront boardwalk. The fountain show is about 30 minutes long and was something really cool to watch. The couple we talked to called it “kind of small town corny” but I disagree. It was super cool and something you should definitely check out if you’re ever in the area.

This part of Michigan must be blueberry central. Haha! There are blueberry fields growing everywhere. And, during the time we were there, they had just began getting ripe. There are lots of places you can go where you can pick your own. They will also sell them to you already picked, but what’s the fun in that!? We went to a place and picked our own. I had never seen blueberries growing like that so I thought it was pretty cool. In a couple of hours, we had picked a little over 9 POUNDS of blueberries! Go to the grocery store anywhere else and buy 9 pounds of blueberries and you’ll have to take out a loan. This cost us $15 and a few cents.

Michigan is absolutely beautiful in the summer time. The greenest greens you’ve ever seen. Highly recommend visiting if you’ve never been.