Saugatuck & Holland

An arts town on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, known for Oval Beach and dune rides, with neighboring Holland to the north offering Windmill Island and the Tulip Time festival in May.

Saugatuck and Holland sit about 20 km (12 miles) apart on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan, roughly 50 minutes' drive from Grand Rapids and 2.5 hours from Chicago, and are a favorite Midwestern summer lakeside getaway. Saugatuck and neighboring Douglas, across the river, form artsy twin towns lined with galleries, boutiques and marinas; Oval Beach and Mount Baldhead are the signature views, and north of town are the dune rides and Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Holland was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1847 and keeps a strong Dutch flavor: the De Zwaan windmill at Windmill Island Gardens, Nelis' Dutch Village, tulip fields and the Big Red lighthouse beside Holland State Park. Grand Haven to the north and South Haven to the south each have lighthouses and beaches and make good day trips. Seasons: Tulip Time in early-to-mid May is the liveliest event, with millions of tulips in bloom, so book lodging months ahead; June–August brings warmer lake water and is the best time for swimming, the dunes and sunsets; September–October offers fall color and orchard picking with fewer crowds and beautiful scenery; winter is windy and cold off the lake, and most seasonal attractions close. Getting there: the nearest airport is Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, about 45 minutes away; Amtrak's Pere Marquette runs from Chicago to Holland. Local public transit is limited, so driving is recommended. Plan on 2–3 days. Tips: state parks require a vehicle pass; Lake Michigan has rip currents, so watch the beach flags.

Top sights

• Oval Beach – A fine-sand beach on Lake Michigan, framed by wooded dunes, with clear water that is often ranked among the best freshwater beaches in the…
• Saugatuck Dune Rides – Ride an open-top dune buggy through the great dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan. The driver narrates as you go, making it the town's sign…
• Windmill Island Gardens – A Dutch-themed park in Holland, with the 250-year-old 'De Zwaan' windmill, shipped from the Netherlands, and fields of tulips.
• Holland State Park & Big Red Lighthouse – A lakeside park at the mouth of Lake Macatawa, where the Big Red lighthouse across the channel is one of the most photogenic lighthouses in…
• Mount Baldhead – A wooded dune hill across the river. Climb 302 steps to the summit for views of the town, the Kalamazoo River, and Lake Michigan.
• Saugatuck Dunes State Park – A state park that preserves natural lakeshore dunes and forest. A hike of about 1.5 km takes you to a quiet beach on the lake.
• Downtown Saugatuck – A lakeside town known for its artist community, with galleries on Butler Street, boutiques, and marinas.
• Saugatuck Chain Ferry – America's only hand-cranked chain ferry still in operation, linking the town with Mount Baldhead across the river.
• Felt Mansion – A summer lakeside mansion built by Dorr E. Felt, inventor of the mechanical calculator in the 1920s. Restored and open for guided tours on…
• Nelis' Dutch Village – A theme park modeled on a 19th-century Dutch village, with wooden shoe dancing, canals, windmills, and traditional crafts.
• Downtown Holland (8th Street) – A main street of Victorian brick buildings, famous for heated sidewalks, restaurants, and the Tulip Time parade.
• Veldheer Tulip Gardens – The largest tulip fields and Dutch wooden shoe workshop on the northern edge of Holland. Spring brings sweeping fields of flowers, and the…
• Holland Museum – A museum telling the history of the Dutch immigrants who founded the town, with Delft pottery and Dutch artworks.
• Tunnel Park – A county park with a walking tunnel beneath the dunes that leads straight to the Lake Michigan beach. You can climb dunes, slide down them…
• South Haven South Pier Lighthouse – A lakeside town about 40 km south of Saugatuck, with a red pier lighthouse and north and south beaches. A popular day trip.
• Michigan Maritime Museum – A museum on the Black River in South Haven, covering Great Lakes shipping. In summer, you can sail on a replica schooner or ride a vintage…
• Grand Haven State Park & Lighthouse – A lakeshore park about 40 km north of Holland, famous for its twin red lighthouses on the breakwater and its music fountain.

Where to eat

• The Southerner – A Southern restaurant on the Kalamazoo River, where the fried chicken, shrimp and grits and riverside patio are the hig…
• Bowdies Chophouse – A small but refined steakhouse downtown in Saugatuck, serving USDA Prime dry-aged steaks and widely regarded as the top…
• New Holland Brewing Pub on 8th – The flagship pub of local craft brewer New Holland, known for Dragon's Milk barrel-aged black ale, with pizza and burge…
• Waverly Stone – A family-run Mediterranean-inspired gastropub in downtown Holland with an excellent wine list and a dog-friendly patio.

Itineraries

• Lake Michigan Circle Tour – A counter-clockwise loop from Chicago featuring Indiana Dunes, Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks, and Door County.