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.

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.

Nice Park - easy to get to, good amount of parking, nice pavilion, the sand was nice, fountains to…read morewash your feet, good amount of space on the sand. First time here - The bugs today were outrageous. These little flies were unbearable and therefore didn't stay long.

This beach is operated by Ottawa County. During the summer months, you are required to pay to…read morepark. They probably have room for 100 cars. You can get an annual tag from the county. A Michigan state park tag will not work. Weekends the lot can fill up. In that case you can park for free less than a mile down the road at Coast Guard Park, or even Fire Barn Park for that matter. If you're going to do that, drop off your family and friends along with your beach supplies at the entrance. That way only one of you have to walk back and forth. They have a nice wide asphalt path. Good excersise plus you saved about $8. Park no longer allows dogs, no alcohol either. They have a nice pavillion that sometimes get reserved in the summer. There are grills and picnic tables too, but not many. There are outdoor showers and feet washing stations and a convenient bathroom. But last time I was here, the beach has been extended way out. So if you are on the water with you blanket and umbrella, it is quite a hike to the johns. This is a good family beach too with the playground. Downside to some may be there are no touristy shops that you can walk to like Grand Haven SP. But to me, that is blessing. Not a whole lot of teenagers come here and never been any fights break out like they have at GH. I hope this beach stays how it is and the county doesn't try to commercialize it.

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.

When visiting Grand Haven, Michigan, Chinook Pier is a popular place to go. There were not many…read moreparking spaces when we got there and had to hunt to find a parking spot. Once out of our car, we enjoyed walking on the pier and seeing the historic train and loading tower. There are many things to do at the pier including lake rentals, play on the playground, and mini golf. Chinook Pier is a popular place, and there's a reason why. I highly recommend Chinook Pier!

Right on the water with games. Again another location with cement corn hole, cement ping pong and…read morewood foosball tables. So bring your own balls or bags if you want to play. All the big boats are down this way and the pere Marquette train can be found down here. 25mph streets, tight parking and lots of people watching.

What a great park…read more Clean, easy access and nicely space out. Amenities include rest rooms, three shelters, playground, BBQ grills, volley ball courts, soccer field, horseshoe pits, a small board walk and fishing area. I went here to drop in on one of the free summer concert series events and they were raffling out prizes including local restaurant meals and a few bikes for kids!

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.

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.

Nice park! The playground is pretty big and the walkways give a great view of the lake and boats…read more There is also a nice pavilion for concerts and space for picnics. The only downside is that the look is pretty outdated-everything is painted a weird blue/green and could use an update. The playground equipment also looks pretty old. I've noticed some trash along the walkways, so I'm not sure who cleans the park, but overall, it is a nice downtown addition and gives some nice walking paths with a view.

Good size playground for kids 10 and under. Separate area for toddlers. Seating for us lazy adults…read moreall around. Tranquil setting with walking paths. Entrance is just south of the big ship and huge Amazon building.

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.