P.J. Hoffmaster State Park was such a good time! Went with the little ones and it did not…read moredisappoint. The visitor center is a nice surprise, they've got a little nature center inside with live animals, saw a turtle and some fish in there, and the kids were obsessed. Nothing crazy or overdone but just enough to keep them entertained and learning a bit about the dunes before you head out. Then you hit the stairs up to the top and whew, worth every step. The view of the water and the dunes from up there is gorgeous. Staff around the park were friendly and helpful too, made the whole visit easy.

we took a day camping trip & I can't wait until next time! My family always goes to Hoffmaster. We…read moredon't go to any other campground. We love the beach and we love the park and how friendly people are and I also love how people drive slow as they know kids are playing and might be riding their bikes in the road. They provide nice showers and bathrooms. My favorite part that I don't know how I didn't know they had was the hiking trails down by the creek if you keep going you will end up at a beach.

This is a hidden gem for nature lovers. A fairly new park that conserves nature and lets one…read moreenjoy the beauty of the untouched outdoors. There are a variety of hiking trails, some are a bit rugged and some trails aren't marked very well. But that is the beauty of this park. It is a great way to get away from the noise and commercialization of downtown Grand Haven. It is so quiet too. Except for some distant industrial noise, you will only hear the sound of nature. This is not a place you would want to bring a group of screaming kids....there is no playground, no swing set. You don't throw a frisbee or football around and there is no baseball diamond or picnic table. Go directly across the street to Coast Guard Park if you want to grill a hamburger or let the dog run loose or let kids run around. There is no camping or fishing here either. If you want that activity, go over the Grand Haven State Park. Swimming is not allowed either, but go down the road to the beach if that is your thing. But if you want to get away from the noise, the rowdy campers, the money-grab you will find near the Musical Fountain....this is your peaceful and pristine oasis. I just hope that it doesn't become commercialized like so many other parks in this county have.

We've been on the hunt for some dog-friendly activities in West Michigan, and our time at Kirk Park…read morewas everything we hoped for! The dog beach is about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot, and the trail is very well marked. The weather was great, so there were lots of dogs there enjoying the water. There are changing facilities and restrooms available near the parking lot, but not on the beach, so keep that in mind. We're looking forward to enjoying the water with our golden retriever again soon!

Dog-friendly section of beach? Check Sand dune trails? Check…read moreWell-maintained bathroom facilities? Check Beautiful views of Lake Michigan both high and low? Check This is *the* beach spot for you and your canine.

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.

Pere Marquette offers exceptional access to beautiful Lake Michigan, one the world's natural…read moretreasures. There is ample paid parking. Weekend day rates are $15. There is a snack stand, offering ice cream, nachos, and other treats, as well as beach equipment rentals. The sand is soft and visitors will enjoy spreading out on the expansive beach. The water is clear and features a sandy bottom. Just north of the snack stand is The Deck, the preeminent dining establishment in this area of Muskegon. The establishment features al fresco dining and stunning views of Lake Michigan. There are swings and other fun view points. If you're in Mitten, Pere Marquette is worth the drive. You simply cannot beat Lake Michigan's splendor.

August came along and Nate and I still hadn't been to the lakeshore, so we hopped in the car and…read moredrove to Pere Marquette Park beach on a cloudy Sunday recently. The beach was completely empty when we arrived around 11 am and stayed pretty quiet the whole time. Parking at the beach is $20, which I thought was incredibly expensive, but it's good for the whole day. I'm used to parking for free at state parks since I have a recreation pass. It was a bit windy, but not chilly - although the water was freezing. I personally enjoy an overcast day at the beach, so we packed a picnic and some chairs and just sat and read for a bit. The beach is large, with lots of room to spread out. There's a nice smaller playground, a snack bar with ice cream and hot food, a little store for beach essentials like sunscreen, and super clean bathrooms. The restroom I used was a huge, single stall room with a bench- really nice for changing and probably great if you have little kids. I was impressed by how clean the bathroom was. We walked to the pier and checked out the lighthouse, which was a nice little walk. The Deck is right on the beach and is a great spot for live music, drinks, and food. I'd be curious to see this beach in the peak season - I'm sure it probably gets pretty busy.

A beautiful spot for the whole family to enjoy. The toys are new, clean and safe. The bathrooms are…read moreclean and available and every sunset is beautiful to catch. Make sure to purchase a parking pass.

I spent a lot of quality time at Windsnest this summer, mainly for the overall convenience. Beach…read moreaccess is the easiest in the area, and note that you'll have to use stairs. There is a fee of $8/day, and there are options for a county park pass for $25/year, totally worth it if you're local or planning to stay for several days. This was my Monday-Thursday beach because the weekends were bananas with crowds/parking woes, even in the evenings. If the lot is full, there are signs that designate where folx can park along the road. However, once that is filled up, I don't recommend parking beyond the bounds. I witnessed the local county sheriff issuing parking tickets more than once. Outside of the glorious beach and Lake Michigan swimming, Windsnest has well-kept bathrooms, rinsing station, and a playground. This is definitely a popular spot for families.

Best place to catch the Michigan sand dunes for the first time. This seems to be an uncommon vista…read moreto get some sand and sun--not too many other people were here. Good for a quick peak at Lake Michigan's sunset or to spend the day on the beach. Be prepared to hike some sandy stairs! I ended up slipping off my shoes and just walked up them barefoot.

Very small beach. The day we went many people made the trek and didn't get in the water because…read morethey thought it was to cold. Family after family came down and just sat there getting eaten by flies....did I mention the flies? Good lord if you weren't in the water be prepared to leave with welts. Good thing for me I like cold water and it felt great! If you are not in good physical shape probably don't come here. These pictures don't show the actual situation. It is very steep! The stairs are covered with sand and there are A LOT of them. What goes down, in this situation must go back up!

Absolute MUST stop if you have pups and are in the area. This was arguably the highlight of our…read moretrip. Brought our two teens, our 5mo puppy and our 7yo senior dog. Our senior one is not very energetic and was never much of a retriever. WELL, he LOVED retrieving the ball & competing with the pup. BEST PART: they both learned how to swim here!!! Oh how I wish we had something like this near our home!

Wow what a hidden Gem. Hidden away between Muskegon and Whitehall. You pull into a nice ordinary…read morepark. Then there is a nice boardwalk path that leads to a beach area along side a Duck Lake. A very nice view in itself. Then the boardwalk travels on, then goes under a bridge and next to a sand dune, then Bam! The lake and path funnel into Lake Michigan and the path onto an amazing beach. I had no idea this beautiful public beach was here. The views are outstanding and the sand is pristine. We took the dog, yes on a leash, for a walk of the beach and had a great time. Overall an easy 5 star review. Would I return? Absolutely! A must stop.

I feel like it's a rare thing to meet staff as friendly and welcoming as the staff at Lakeshore…read moreKayak Rental. We called ahead to ask questions and they were ready for us when we arrived. Gave us all the information we needed for our kayak rental and made us feel like they were so happy we were there. Would 100% recommend!

Absolutely amazing! I went to try stand up paddle boarding for the first time while my dad kayaked,…read moreand we felt so welcomed! The board and the kayak were both nice and the overall atmosphere was just so great. They had a cool gift shop and places to put our things, it was nice . If you are looking for a place to kayak/paddle board/ canoe, this is THE place to go. I would 110% recommend.

Nature is grand! If you like hiking, this is a great location to visit. There are lots of stairs,…read moresome elevation, and sand! It was peaceful, especially by the water. I'd return if I was in the area. You need a parking permit- so come prepared. It wasn't very busy, which is a plus.

Rosy Mound Natural Area's dunes, forested trails, and shoreline views were stunning!…read more Pulling in there is small parking lot, restrooms, and pay station kiosk for the $8 daily permit. The 2.2 mile trail starts at the parking lot leading you through the woods right to Lake Michigan's shoreline. The trail consist of dirt, dune, and board walk paths with a total of 360 stairs; so get those quads ready! Thankfully there are lots of shaded places to stop and rest with benches along the paths and between flights of stairs. Note to mention: This is a no pet area so keep your furry friends at home! Would definitely recommend Rosy Mound if you're up for a short hike and want to enjoy a breathtaking shoreline view or beach at the end.