Dreaming of the perfect Lake Michigan beach vacation with your special someone? Our Southwest Michigan 10-room inn is centrally located to the best area beaches and we love giving our guests personalized recommendations on the perfect way to spend their day before returning to our scenic and secluded property.
1) Oval Beach – Saugatuck
Ranked #1 of the Midwest’s Top 5 beaches by the Chicago Tribune, and garnering many other national accolades, our guests agree Oval Beach is a beautiful Lake Michigan Beach to spend the day lounging away. Explore award-winning downtown Saugatuck, MI and head back to the Inn stopping for dinner at our favorites like Everyday People Cafe in nearby Douglas, or Salt of the Earth in nearby Fennville.
*Royal Recommendation: There is a $6 parking fee in peak season, however bicyclists enter free. If you do decide to bike in, the road to Oval beach is an uphill climb ending in a beautiful scenic Lake Michigan View.
*Royal Recommendation: Plan your dinner in downtown Saugatuck or nearby Fennville area and allow enough time for a quick visit back to Oval Beach for the sunset. There is no parking fee after 8:00 p.m. Click here for Sunset Times.
2) South Beach- South Haven
South Beach is a beautiful Lake Michigan beach perfect for a couple’s beach vacation day. Spend your time walking and shopping downtown South Haven, grab a bite to eat at Clementines before following the sidewalk directly to South Beach and South Haven’s scenic pier. Enjoy a dinner of appetizing small plates at downtown South Haven’s Taste and make sure you stop for an ice cream cone at Sherman’s Dairy Bar on your way out of town.
*Royal Recommendation: Park for free at any of the centrally located city parking lots downtown South Haven before walking a street or two over to the downtown or beach.
3) Holland State Park – Holland
Holland is a great town to explore for couples hoping to mix boutique shops of every variety with a beautiful Lake Michigan beach vacation. The Ottawa Beach State Park is a ten minute drive from downtown, (take River Ave. north until Douglas, turn left and continue until Douglas becomes Ottawa Beach Rd ) and is free entry to those who have a Michigan State Park pass or by paying the daily pass rate of $9. Take the scenic walk along the channel and down to the pier or bring your beach towel for some quality sunbathing. Stop for dinner or lunch at our downtown Holland favorite, Butch’s Dry Dock for fine dining overlooking 8th Street, or enjoy dinner on the decks of Boatwerks– a restaurant overlooking Lake Macatawa.
*Royal Recommendation: Well known Big Red Lighthouse is visible from the State Park access but rests across the channel. Pedestrian access and tour dates are very limited, so we suggest our guests enjoy the view from across the channel or on Lake Michigan’s beautiful sandy beach.