If you find yourself in West Michigan, you have to spend some time in the artsy town of Saugatuck. Although most shops in the beautiful downtown stretch are closed during the winter, the town comes alive around Memorial Day. I live very close to Saugatuck and make sure to spend multiple days here throughout the summer. It is my favorite city in Michigan. The town is beautiful and full of activities to keep you busy, so here are some suggestions from a local!

Grab some delicious food.

Like I said, I have spent a lot of time in Saugatuck. Two summers ago, I decided to try all of the restaurants in Saugatuck, and I am very close to accomplishing this. Saugatuck has several wonderful restaurants that sit right on the Kalamazoo River. A couple of my favorite restaurants include The BARge, The Mermaid, Coral Gables, and The Butler. All of these restaurants have classic American menus. If you are looking for a pizza place, I recommend Marro’s.

Get out on the water.

If you are looking to spend a day out on the water, consider renting a boat or jet skis. A popular and trendy boat shop in Saugatuck is called Retro Boat Rentals. They rent small retro boats, unique donut boats, duffy boats, and pontoons. A different company called Makin Waves is where people rent jet skis. The Cove in Saugatuck is a common meeting place for boats. After going up the Kalamazoo River toward Lake Michigan, just before the channel, you can find an area with a small beach where people anchor and swim. Also, there is a separate small lake called Goshorn Lake that is good for paddleboarding.

Find some cute coffee shops.

Uncommon Coffee Roasters is a popular coffee shop right downtown with a quaint indoor area and plenty of outdoor seating. Their coffee is amazing and they offer several delicious pastries as well. A newer coffee shop that is just a short drive from downtown Saugatuck is the Outside Coffee Co that is technically located in Douglas, Michigan. This is such a fun coffee shop! They have plenty of outdoor seating space to enjoy that includes swings and hammocks. You can walk up and order from outside or they have a small coffee bar where you can order from inside. They also have a super trendy store that you should check out indoors as well.

Have a beach day along Lake Michigan.

The most popular beach in Saugatuck is Oval Beach. There is lots of parking space and plenty of space to soak in the sun and play in the sand. You can’t beat a summer beach day on Lake Michigan!

Walk downtown.

Saugatuck has the cutest downtown area with plenty of chic boutiques to enjoy. There are plenty of clothing shops to visit like Gliks or Harborwear. And for all of my readers out there, you have to check out The Book Nook! The Book Nook is a cozy store that sells new and used books. It is easily my favorite book store!

Go on a hike.

If you are looking to stay active on your getaway, a wonderful place to hike is at Mt. Baldhead. There are lots of stairs to climb and then windy trails that you can hike. Also, Saugatuck Dunes is a beautiful place to visit. The trails at Saugatuck Dunes will take you out to Lake Michigan.

Ride the famous chain ferry.

The Saugatuck chain ferry is the only remaining chain driven ferry in the country. This chain ferry has been in use since 1838 and takes you across Kalamazoo River. Most people hop on the chain ferry in the downtown area and ride it across the river to Mount Baldhead Park and Oval Beach. It costs $3 for adults to ride the chain ferry across one way. It is $1 for 3-10 year-olds and free for those who are 2 or younger.

Relax at Wicks Park.

Wicks Park is a cute little park that is located in the center of the downtown area and sits right on Kalamazoo River. You can have a picnic and read in the park, play cornhole or yard games that are often set out, or even enjoy live music some nights. In the summer, you can sit and enjoy live music from the gazebo at Wicks Park every Wednesday night from 7:00-9:00 P.M.

Eat lots of ice cream.

Saugatuck has several ice cream shops that do not disappoint. ‘Round the Corner Ice Cream and Kilwin’s are great and are right downtown, but Dairy Dayz is my favorite if you like generous portions like me!

Check out Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

If you are interested in watching some plays or taking a class, walk over to Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Check out their website to see what classes and shows they have during your vacation. Sometimes they have cooking classes, art classes, or gardening classes. They also have a summer farmers market here which is popular. The market is scheduled for Tuesdays from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. and again on Fridays from 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Go grab your fresh produce, flowers, and homemade products to support local businesses!

Go bar hopping.

The locals know that Saugatuck is the place to be for bar hopping on the weekends in the summer. Wally’s is a great restaurant that converts into a bar with a dancefloor at night. They have bands playing live music most weekends. The Sandbar Salloon is another bar that often has live music playing. Coral Gables has several spots to hit up as well. The Corner Bar is below Coral Gables. This is the place that you can go to sing karaoke if you are into that. Coral Gables also has a nightclub on the main floor. They often have a $5 cover charge, so be aware of this. Across from the Corner Bar by the Annex, you can find the Piano Bar. There are often people playing the piano and singing. If you are feeling rowdy, hop on the piano and show everybody your dance moves. You can certainly make some good ole summer memories here.

If you are headed to Saugatuck for a summer vacation, I am confident that you will love your visit! Thanks for stopping by.

For more travel tips and inspiration, check out my destinations tab to find all my blog posts. Cheers to finding new cute towns and making connections around the world!