On my lighthouse tour (there are 105 on the loop around Lake Michigan - yes, really), this was my…read morefirst visit and it did not disappoint! We visited on a cold fall day and didn't see another soul when visiting. Easy parking with two entries out to the pier. We chose to climb the small staircase above the public restrooms and walk the beach to the pier. The sand will be in my shoes forever :) The walk out to the first lighthouse was easy and no concerns, from the first to the second we saw slippery spots and a much narrowed walk way - if you are comfortable, totally worth walking all the way to the end to look back to the beach. We walked back down the entire pier and past a beautiful sculpture to return to the parking lot. The entire walk and view took us about 40 minutes, but definitely a leisurely pace! Bring a camera, maybe a selfie stick and if it is cold you will want a jacket that can break the wind when you are walking out on the water.

Beautiful! Walking at su set you get such amazing views. The walk to the lighthouse isn't far and…read moreby this time it's not too busy. Such a great place for pictures and just to relax.

Five stars for the playground areas. My kids loved the yellow tire swing, the steep slide, and the…read moreobstacle course. There was also a large elastic spider web, for lack of a better description; though this did not get as much usage as the rest of the play area. There are benches allover for great views of the sunset. The only downsides are paying to park and you can't really get into the water since there isn't direct access.

Great little beach not far from Silver beach and really close to the super hidden away breakers. I…read morehad my make up reception here about 2 years ago. I love coming out here when there's not many people and just think while looking out at the water. Yes, you do have to pay for parking, but you do at most, if not all, beaches in the area. I do prefer this beaxh over Silver Beach mostly because there is less people, not far from Silver Beach, easy to get to and easy to find a parking spot. They have park equipment, picnic tables, and a roof covered area.

I feel like this is the perfect beach for a small town…read more It was not overly busy on a Sunday around 11am, but it was overcast and only about 70 degrees. The water was still freezing so we only put our feet in. I loved the fountain and the carousel. There are lots of benches and observation points. Plus, parking was quick and easy. There was also surprisingly clean public restrooms as well.

This is my childhood beach location. There's so much that has changed here over the years, but all…read morenecessary upgrades. There's a handicap accessible playground and more seating to eat at the little beach food shop. Walking the pier allows you to see a great view of the shoreline, but be careful on windy and wavy days as the water comes up over the pier . In the peak summer months, I would recommend parking up on top of the bluff and walking down the steps right by Silver Beach Pizza, so you can save yourself from the cluster of cars trying to get down to beach parking. Also, St. Joe city is changing parking and routing near Silver Beach so be aware of traffic shifts. All in all, a great beach for families, but 4/5 stars because some other beaches are less touristy, which locals like myself much prefer.

Located along the shores of Lake Michigan,this State Park has over 1500 acres of pristine beaches…read moreand sand dunes making it one of Michigans most popular State Parks. There is an admission free to enter. Plenty of parking available. We went in the Fall midweek so it was not crowded at all.

I'm a bit crowd phobic, and I spent 8 yrs of my life as a lifeguard. I think it's deplorable that a…read morestate park doesn't have lifeguards when there are literally THOUSANDS of ppl on this beach at one time. It makes me nervous and I couldn't really relax. There were a few dnr ppl roving around on ATVs. I found it unsafe that the dnr was not enforcing making sure that ppl don't dig giant holes on the beach, a bunch of kids dug one four feet deep. Kids, adults and wildlife can get hurt falling into holes. The dune is impressive but I have no desire to climb it. I like that there's a dog beach here, but holy moly is it crowded. It says on the website it's $11 to get in, but it was $ at the gate. Took forever to get in. It's just meh for me.

If you're looking for a peaceful getaway, Grand Mere State Park is a hidden gem that delivers on…read moreall fronts. The park offers several trails that take you through dense forests and towering sand dunes which lead to some stunning overlooks and beaches of Lake Michigan. It's a bit of a trek to get to the water, but once you do, the lakefront is beautiful and less commercialized than other spots. Definitely recommend Grand Mere State Parkin for anyone in the area looking for a peaceful outdoor escape.

Path to Lake Michigan was flooded, water over your ankles. No easy path to Lake Michigan. A…read morehiker would love the up/down sand dunes.

I thought this was a great park! There's a beach, zoo, and more…read more The beach was beautiful! The boardwalk was nice to walk along the beach. Plus there were lots of picnic and seating areas. The parking is nice and there's plenty of it. But I ended up having to pay twice since each lot had a different zone code even though we were in the same park.

My husband and I went to Washington Park to see Lake Michigan and take our pictures in front of…read morelighthouses. Unfortunately, the parking was really expensive. So we got out of the car, took some pictures, and left quickly before we could be ticketed. High prices sucked the fun out of Washington Park.

THIS spot! Stumbled upon it driving by and what a pleasant surprise. There are stairs for those…read morethat is an issue for; but do know that they did a lovely job of incorporating several deck levels, nooks, and benches that you can enjoy, or use as resting moments up and down. This is a residential neighborhood with many beach rentals, so parking is limited, if busy, bikes might be a better bet. The beach itself is lovely for relaxing, walking, running, dogs, etc. Do respect the dune restorations, and the private property of others. Enjoy!

Nice beach with few steps leading directly to the sand. Parking is a bit sus. I'd highly recommend…read morearriving early to get a parking spot close to the beach. If not, there's a chance you'll have to park down the road a ways. Very clean and well kept beach with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. I highly recommend!

Currently more stairs than beach, but there's a picnic table off to the side and some roadside…read moreporta potties. Could be a good place to fly a kite, put an inflatable in the water, or just get some stairs for exercise, but the beach is quickly disappearing if you wanted a place to relax.

This place was absolutely beautiful, don't get me wrong, but I don't know that I could highly…read morerecommend it at this point. The beach has been heavily eroded and was very hard to access. There were also several tires in the water. Definitely a nice, secluded spot, but proceed with caution until repairs are made. Wouldn't recommend for dogs or small children.

Beautiful Beach! Went to see the Northern Lights and even though it was getting late, we captured…read moresome great photos!

Took a day drive with my family! 71miles away. By the time you get gas, some quality beef jerky,…read moreand begin driving, then you.are there already. YOU GOTTA DO IT.