Experience Your Best Beach Vacation In West Michigan!
Now that it’s officially summer, it’s time to talk about one of the best things to do in Saugatuck, Michigan … lose track of time at any of our pristine Saugatuck beaches! All are just minutes away when you stay at Wickwood Inn. And, guests are welcome to borrow our beach chairs and beach towels for the beach.
Saugatuck boasts one of the most beautiful harbors up and down the entire Coast of Lake Michigan. With its uninterrupted shoreline, our vast expanse of sandy Saugatuck beaches provide miles of possibilities for joy and days of opportunities for endless adventure. We have smoe of the best beaches around.
Perhaps you simply want to take off your flip flops and stroll barefoot in the sand? The sounds of the singing sands will make the minutes simply disappear as you look for lucky stones and gather beach glass.
Ready to take in a sunset and watch for the Green Flash? While the sunsets always amaze, maybe you will be the lucky one who catches a glimpse of the Flash after the sun has completely disappeared beneath the horizon.
When you need to simply slow down, there’s no better place than the best beaches in Saugatuck to sit, read, soak up a little sunshine, and completely unplug.
“Those dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona, and Yosemite to California. They contribute a signature of time and eternity. Once lost, the loss would be irrevocable.”
~Carl Sandburg
Looking for the perfect picnic to accompany your day? Order the Picnic For Two from our new, local hotspot, Grow – A Saugatuck Diner. You can also create your own basket from their customizable picnic menu that includes charcuterie, cheeses, sandwiches, and more … always made from the freshest, tastiest ingredients around. Another wonderful way to fill your picnic basket is to stop in at Farmhouse Pantry. Their Kale Caesar Salad is a favorite amongst the locals, and their selection of sandwiches, salads, cheeses, olives, cookies, scones, and more satisfies even the hungriest crowd.
And while you’re in town, there are countless ways to get outdoors and enjoy our sweet water.
Rent a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddleboard and head out on the river. Maybe even wind your way all the way to the big lake. Reserve a pontoon boat, charter a fishing trip, or book a sunset sail. Take a tour by land and water on the Harbor Duck. Or, enjoy the sound of gently splashing water as the Star Of Saugatuck’s paddle wheels propel you around Lake Kalamazoo. Enjoy your ride out the channel into Lake Michigan.
Any of the staff at Wickwood Inn will happily help you with rental or reservation details.
Take a break from the heat of summer with a refreshing swim in Lake Michigan. Enjoy the thrill of catching a wave and body surfing your way back to shore.
Hit the trails at the Saugatuck Dunes State Park and walk, run, or skip your way through the stunning woods and dunes. Your reward will be breathtaking views and a vast, uncrowded Lake Michigan beachfront.
Hop aboard the Saugatuck Chain Ferry (the only hand-cranked chain ferry left in the country!) and cross the Kalamazoo. On the other side, you can explore the Historical Society’s Pump House Museum (one of the best-known and most-visited small town museums in Michigan!) and climb your way up the 282 steps of Mt. Baldhead. After catching your breath and taking in the views from the top, make your way back down the steps, or wind down the dunes to the adjacent, award-winning Oval Beach.
Of course, you can also access Oval Beach (one of the top two freshwater beaches in the United States according to National Geographic Traveler) by car. With handicap access, restrooms, showers, concessions, grills, picnic tables, a playground, and more, there are plenty of reasons this is our known as one of our best beaches.
Bordering Oval Beach is the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. Its stunning network of trails meander through the dunes and provide expansive access to pristine, sandy beachfront as well as a walk along the pier.
Just south from Oval Beach is the smaller, quieter, Douglas Beach. Set in a residential area, parking is limited, but the sand and the water are just as spectacular.
Further south is Pier Cove Beach. Known for the “water trenches” formed by a stream flowing into Lake Michigan, this spot is special because of its unusually smooth stones and beach glass.
To see all of the beaches on a map…go to our interactive map here.
Saugatuck is a small town that’s a little slice of paradise.
Reserve your summer beach getaway today!
“A lake … is earth’s eye, looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
~Henry David Thoreau