Learn why the West Coast of Michigan has been consistenly named in the best (under the radar) vacation spots in the world recently.
This Lake Michigan rental home is conveniently located an 8-minute drive or 25-minute bike ride to downtown Holland, MI as well as 12-minute drive to the charming artists’ oasis towns of Saugatuck, MI and its neighbor Douglas, MI known fondly as the “art coast”.
Holland has one of the best farmers’ markets in the area, dining destinations including waterfront dining at Boatwerks, and fabulous locally-owned boutiques for clothes shopping and homegoods. A truly historic Dutch town, Holland also boasts one of the the largest tulip festivals in the country and the Windmill Island Gardens was named one of the “16 best places to visit in Michigan, according to locals” in Travel + Leisure.
Holland Tulip Festival
Tulip Time, which comes each year in early May and features millions of tulips in bloom across many beautiful local parks, waterfront promenades, downtown, weaving through gazebos. The festival, featured in Country Living magazine, also features “national entertainment acts, activities for all ages like the carnival, cultural parades, artisan market, beauty pageants, traditional Dutch dancers and costumes, and a tulip immersion garden curated by world renowned Dutch horticulturist, Ibo Gülsen.”
Saugatuck is an artists’ oasis in Western Michigan–named one of the 40 best lake towns in America by Country Living– where you can enjoy amazing food, antiques, clothing, curated bric-a-brac, bookshops, cafes, impeccable waterfront dining, as well as 12 miles of award winning beaches, boating and outdoor activity rentals along the Kalamazoo river, and hiking with stunning views. Learn why The Washington Post named it one of the 9 best beaches in the country for “living out your best ‘coastal grandmother’ summer.”
Grand Haven is a 40-minute drive north and South Haven is a 30-minute drive south. The idyllic farmlands of Fennville and its wineries, breweries, and pick-your-own orchards and charming little downtown are all a 15-minute drive.
You will not find a better location if you want to explore the West Michigan lakeshore.
Local Beaches and Outdoor Activities
No matter the season, the area provides the perfect landscape for outdoor enthusiasts. Holland, MI boasts over 1800 acres of parks for hiking, cycling, picnicking, and playing while Saugatuck also has miles of hiking, walking paths, and areas to rent or launch kayaks and boats.
With over 150 miles of paved bike paths, 8 miles of mountain biking and hiking at the Riley trails, and over 1/3 –mile of beautiful sandy beach at the Holland State Park, there is truly something for everyone.
Explore the 2 miles of rich wooded dune trails and high bluffs that Mt. Pisgah offers in Holland with breathtaking beach views, or the 1 mile loop hike of Mount Baldhead in Saugatuck overlooking Oval Beach.
Beaches galore! Within a short drive are some of the best beaches in the country, including:
- Laketown Beach (5 minute drive)
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park & Beach (10 minutes)
- Oval Beach (13 minutes– named by Condé Nast Traveler’s as one of the “Top 25 Beaches in the World,” )
- Ottawa Beach (20 minute drive or 10 minute kayak)
- Tunnel Park (23 minutes)
- Douglas Beach Park (15 minutes)
Hiking trails abound. The home is a two minute walk from Sanctuary Woods Preserve, a breathtaking hike with views of both Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.
Getting There
This Lake Michigan rental home is a 2 hour and 15 minute drive from Chicago, a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Detroit, a 35 minute drive from Grand Rapids. The nearest airport is Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) about 40 minutes away where you can rent a car or uber. There is a convenient Amtrak train from Chicago to Holland that arrives right by the beautiful Windmill Island Gardens in Holland and takes 3 hours (but no traffic!).