Be warned - scenic beaches next to historic landmarks coupled with a campground within a state park…read moreon a summer afternoon, can be a handful. And the Grand Haven State Park is all that. The state park/beach is right next to the campground, which also accepts RVs so parking here can be tricky in summer --- which is when we visited. Plus there is a fee. The lighthouse/pier is very cool, but it is a bit of a hike from the campground. The two lighthouses - the tall one is the Inner, and the short one is the Outer - are right on the channel with water on either side, so it's a very nice walk, next to a steel framework in the middle, to the end of the pier, with good photo ops along the way. If you're lucky you may find free parking on the street for a short time period (1-3 hrs).

This is definitely not my favorite state park or Lake Michigan Beach to visit. Not only is it…read morealways extremely crowded and busy, the beach parking lot shares the same space with the campground, making it even busier. It is a really nice pier walk if you come all the way from the channel. But as far as the beach goes, the sand is really awful. There are a lot of rocks and shells and other junk mixed in with the sand that does not make it enjoyable or comfortable, or easy to walk in. There are plenty of other beaches to go to in the area that are nicer and less crowded.

Beautiful 207 ft brick light house that is easily accessible, even in a wheelchair along the paved…read moreshort path. Stunning views, sand will get you if wind is whipping around like today, gusts of 28 mph. Worth the little out of the way to see this well maintained beauty in Michigan.

This lighthouse is located in Silver Lakes state park so there is a fee for entry. We parked down…read morethe road for free parking and walked a few mins to the state park. Stopped in the gift shop for my passport stamp before heading to the lighthouse. For $8 you can climb to the top of this lighthouse. The paved walk way makes this lighthouse easily accessible. The brick is beautiful, highly recommend stopping to see this unique light.

Nice stop over on the side of the road just off Lake Michigan. Gives a tribute to Pere Marquette…read more A big cross overlooks both Lake Michigan and Pere Marquette Lake. Good for a 15-minute stop.

This was my first time in Ludington. I have heard so much about it, and I was excited to finally…read moremake it here. My friend said this is his favorite westside town. I was impressed my the marina and the great beach. The beach was super busy and we found our way to the lighthouse. It's a bit of a walk so be prepared to bring comfortable shoes. We enjoyed watching the ships come into port. If you happen to be out this way, I highly suggest making a trip out to the lighthouse. Not only is it a beautiful backdrop, it's also a great place to take pictures.

A very tough…read morelighthouse The very first lighthouse in the area was established in 1871 but didn't last very long and was washed away in a huge storm a few years later. Since Ludington was becoming an extremely important harbor a new and stronger light was obviously needed. Debates about whether to put the new lighthouse on the south or north pier raged for years, and the exact kind of lighthouse was also a very contentious subject. So of course nothing got done. Finally around 1924 the present lighthouse was constructed at the end of the half mile north concrete pier. Since the area is know for very intense and powerful storms, the engineers wanted to make sure the lighthouse was strong enough to withstand anything that the howling gales of Lake Michigan could throw at it. So they went all out when they designed and built this light. The lighthouse is constructed with a steel frame in addition to steel plating added to the outside. And to increase the structural integrity of the lighthouse a strange looking prow, similar to that on a large ship, was added at the bottom to deflect the larger waves. Pretty cool looking and when viewed from a distance, almost makes the lighthouse seem like it's sailing across the horizon. The fourth order Fresnel Lens was removed and is passed around to various local maritime museums. The lighthouse can be reached by walking out to the end of the half mile pier but going out they in storms and blizzards is probably not a good idea. During the summer the lighthouse is open and for five bucks the public can climb the 53 stairs to the top. Certainly not the tallest, biggest, oldest or most important lighthouse in Michigan but with the steel plates added over the steel frame and the addition of the cool prow, this is definitely one of the very toughest and strongest lighthouses anywhere.

It's a grand ol' flag, it's a high flying... Actually I'd…read moregive it 5 stars if it was at least 2 times larger. Cheers M'erica!

The Acuity Flag is the tallest flag pole in the world holding a U.S. flag. 100 feet taller than…read morethe Statue of Liberty! The pole is 400 feet tall and holds a flag that is 60 x 120 feet. (7,200 sq feet = to the width of a football field). There are 2 different flags that fly, one is 220 lbs (normal conditions) and the other is 350 lbs. flying during harsher weather. Base of pole is 11 feet in diameter and weighs 420,000 pounds! The location is right alongside I-43 and you can see it coming from all directions. The original flag actually fell over a few years ago during some bad weather because the foundation was not strong or large enough. This new one is even bigger and obliviously stronger! The flag is located on the grounds of Acuity Insurance, which has been very charitable to many non-profit organizations, along with Veteran services.

This children's museum is amazing. It's the definition of small but mighty: It doesn't look like…read moremuch from the outside, or even when you first step inside. But as you explore through it, you'll see that it has way more magic hiding in every corner than you first thought. Sandcastles Children's Museum is three stories of fun. We took our 7 and 11 year old boys, and the 11 year old had just as much fun as his younger brother. That said, I would say that this museum is best suited for kids who are preschoolers through around 10 years old. One of the best parts of this museum is that it subtly references popular Ludington icons and landmarks. You'll see a play SS Badger ship, popular local restaurants on the second floor, and lots of other things that pay homage to the beach town in which the museum resides. One of our favorite spots in the museum is located on the third floor. It's there that you'll find a mini stage with several real, full-sized instruments that kids are invited to play. There are steel drums, ukuleles, guitars, pianos and lots of other instruments to try out. There's also a TV where you can watch yourself jamming on the instruments. All throughout the museum, you'll find things to play with, like a sand pit with digger toys, a play farm, play grocery store and restaurant, a veterinary office, a post office, craft station, rock climbing wall, science station, theatre stage with costumes, and lots more. There is just so much fun stuff for kids, and my children were occupied for hours.

A delightful spot to spend the day with wild kids. So many thoughtful exhibits with loads of hands…read moreon activities. My 4 year old loved the maternity ward and the 1.5 year old loved the grocery store. Loved our time at the museum. We also loved the mask requirement for all. A great way to feel safe in a world where people are getting so sick. Thank you!

Where to begin? Grand Haven State Park is a Sandy beach location full of young adults and some…read morefamilies that play volleyball, fly kites, walk the pier, and wear itty bitty bikinis while frying in the sun. I had the privilege to change in the bathroom, where a gaggle of girls walked in talking loudly about making out with different boys and hooking up. When I came out of the stall, these young looking women were in their thong bikinis adjusting their makeup and deciding what they were planning to do next. I remember being their age, but I don't remember bragging about my sexual conquests. Are these the spoils of feminism? Objectifying and gaining body counts like some frat boy club? I suppose if it is, the beach is a good place for it and Grand Haven does have a storied history of late night cruising to pick up walkers along the strip. I remember in my youth listening to our CD player jam to Eminem and Chronic 2001 while we cruised the strip being "cool" and admiring people's car kits with hydraulics and black lit lighting. I remember thinking cut off shorts and a bikini top were revealing then. I suppose, culture keeps pushing the limits and I should just be happy that people are still wearing something over their private parts. Right? My family did love the huge kites. My children loved playing in the waves. Parking can be a bear, but once you find a spot most things are within walking distance including an interesting boardwalk with shops, restaurants and ice cream. Don't miss a walk on the pier to admire the Big Red Lighthouse and see if a lucky fisherman caught anything.

Beautiful beach! We…read morecame on a windy May weekend to explore. Parking was easy and we were able to walk down the beach to the pier with the lighthouse. We passed several bathrooms along the way. Plus a campground right on the beach.

Grand Rapids is very lucky to have the Meijer Gardens & Sculptor Park. We were visiting from out of…read morestate and made sure we made time to visit. It did not disappoint. There are many exhibitions from desert to tropical to Japanese gardens as well as an interactive children's garden. There was also a CHIHULY exhibition which added to our experience at the gardens. A cafe, gift shop and clean restrooms can be found in the main building. We spent about four hours exploring the beautiful gardens and look forward to returning and enjoying the park.

To start, I cannot believe I've never reviewed Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park having…read morebeen a member for many, many years and a regular visitor. It is sometimes hard to believe our "little town" has such a wonderful place to go to. Meijer Gardens is where we regularly take our walks. Whether on the Boardwalk, Shade trail, Japanese Gardens or the Sculpture Park, there is always an abundance of beauty to enjoy. Currently Meijer Gardens has a Chihuly Exhibition on display throughout the park. Chihuly is a glass sculpture who has created amazing pieces. Usually I've seen his work in museums. (Baker Museum in Naples has a fantastic display for example) It is amazing to see his work outdoors in the variety of settings available at Meijer Gardens. There is also a paid indoor exhibition that we have not seen. In addition to the various gardens and sculptures, Meijer Gardens also sponsors a Summer Concert Series in their outdoor venue. We have enjoyed dozens of concerts over the years. Thankful we have this treasure so nearby.

This is a short bridge around the downtown Grand Rapids area linking to very busy high traffic area…read moreareas to each each other. It's wide and perfect for walking. It's an amazing addition to the downtown area. Unfortunately, I had to rate two stars, possibly down to one because there were a group of rowdy individuals parked/ sitting at the edge of the bridge smoking highly potent items. They were scaring and yelling at people who are crossing the bridge and it made the situation feel unsafe. We went at dusk so that we could enjoy the lights but honestly, it was just a very nerve-racking situation and we were concerned about our safety. We witnessed the individuals taking big steps like they were going to chase two women and laughed as the women started to walk fast faster. I was with my husband baby and two big kids and we were loudly talked about with vulgar terms about our race and family status. All we did was walk across half the bridge? I don't recommend it for families, which is really sad unfortunately.

There are a few iconic symbols of Grand Rapids, and the Blue Bridge, as it's commonly known, is one…read moreof them. Spanning the Grand River from east to west, this pedestrian bridge used to be part of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad. Now a completely foot traffic area only, it's fun to check out at any time of year. Often you'll see people fishing off the bridge or having photo shoots for weddings, engagements, and other special occasions. Sometimes fitness classes take place on the Blue Bridge and often you'll see a horse-drawn carriage making its way across. The bridge is equipped with LED lights that can change color or be set to different colors to celebrate or commemorate different holidays and events. It's fun to see it all lit up at night and is a great spot to watch fireworks on the 4th of July. I love having this iconic bridge in our city! It's an attractive landmark that is functional and beautiful.