bagsarepacked

Looking for a beachy town that we can walk from where we are staying to:
the beach and some bars/places to eat...hopefully with a few on the water. Nothing fancy....more so fun....guy on a stool with a guitar would be great. Someplace with a bit of nightlife but nothing wild.
Considering......Saugatuck and that area......tell me about the other towns there...Grand Haven etc
Also......Petrosky (beach?) Charlevoix, Travers City.....that is about as far North as we can go on a leave Sun am-Weds afternoon return from No IL.

Neopolitan

What about Union Pier?

bagsarepacked

What/where is Union Pier.....details please

Neopolitan

I've never been there, but know people who have summer homes there and they rave. It is south of Saugatuck, I'm pretty sure of that.
Here's a website I found:
http://www.harborcountry.org/unionpier/

amaclise

I just spent the weekend in Whitehall, MI north of Muskegon. Recommend checking it out.

- exactly 200 miles from Chicago
- nice bars and restaurants but inexpensive
- it is on a huge bay and there is a great lighthouse where the bay empties into Lake Michigan
- there is a 22 mile bike trail that starts in town, and kayak rentals on the bay
- recommend the Old Channel Inn for dinner and The White Swan Inn B&B in Whitehall to stay (get a room in the back)
- great beaches too and sunsets!!!

cfntmpn

I live in MI and grew up in Northern IN, so I've spent most of my life on a beach on the west side of Michigan. One of my favorite beach towns is Grand Haven. However, my favorites have changed throughout the years as my age has increased, and you didn't mention how old you are.

Grand Haven has a State Park, so the beach is very nice. You can stay close to the beach or closer to town and walk to the beach. There is a musical fountain that plays every night (sounds corny, but it's fun). Lots of shopping & bars. I'm not sure of the dates for 06, but there is a cost guard festival every year that brings along with it lots of things to do.

Someone mentioned Union Pier, which is outside of Sawyer, MI. It also has a state park - we referred to it as "tower hill" when we were kids due to the huge sand dunes that you can climb. It's beautiful! The area used to have nothing but an ice cream place and druers butcher shop when I was growing up, but now there are wineries, restaruants, tons of B&B's.

Where are you traveling from?

swalter518

South Haven is also a great beach town--between "Harbor Country" and Saugatuck. More laid back than Saugatuck with plenty of public beaches, good restaurants, cute shops. A couple bars/restaurants on the river leading into the lake.

bagsarepacked

Grand Haven sounds cool from something I just read in a magazine.
Traveling from N. Illinois really close to Lk geneva WI.
Had thought about Trav. City but that might be too long of a drive for our short time.
Could work traveling thru Chgo early Sun and come back via the ferry into Milw on Tues/Weds.

CFNT......just a few months above 40.
I really enjoyed Saugatuck a few years ago...just never made it back. Liked how I could walk to dinner, have drinks and not get in the car.
Somehow not having to drive places makes it feel more like vacation to me.
Would like to try another spot since I was there with my x husband

cfntmpn

I am a huge proponent of taking the Ferry across lake michigan if you are anywhere near northern illinois/milwaukee. I take it all of the time and can't tell you how much nicer it is than the chicago traffic to the western part of michigan. Especially if time is of the essence.

if you are going with your husband please consider the harbor house in grand haven. it is one of my favorite get aways to go with my husband...they have their own website...

http://www.harborhousegh.com/

mcmckissic1

Hi there...we love the Glen Arbor/Leland/Suttons Bay area...just simply wonderful!!!

travel_addict

I'd vote for Saugatuck if you don't really want to drive. Places like Grand Haven & Holland to the north you'd probably want a car.

Depending on when you go, there's a really good band called Living Soul that plays at the Butler in Saugatuck a lot. Here's a link to their site if you want to check their calendar:
www.livingsoul.com

My first choice would really be the Traverse City area though, but you mentioned you really don't want to drive that far. Let us know if you change your mind...

bagsarepacked

Thanks for the recent info.
We leave for Saugatuck on Sunday and will return on Tues.
Thanks for the link/info on Living Soul....looks like we will be able to catch them on Sunday at the Butler.

Next time Traverse City.....we will have more time.

travel_addict

Good to hear. Let me know if you go see Living Soul and what you think of them. They are pretty famous here in Western Michigan and their music is really very good. They're also very entertaining to watch - they really get the crowd going. Have fun!

JJ5

Please do a trip report, especially about service and quality in restaurants and at your place of lodging. Saugatuck has huge numbers of families in August, so please let us know if the adults' venues in the evenings were as crowded as daytime restaurants are. Thanks!

If you notice while going by and are in the area doing this, let us know which South Haven or near Saugatauk B&B's with beachfront steps looked interesting. They tend to change.

MinnieNo1

What about Saint Joseph, Michigan? The town is nice and Silver Beach is right there. As for nightlife, I'm sure there is some, just be careful not to trek into Benton Harbor. Amazing how the landscape changes across the bridge.

JJ5

I like Union Pier and South Haven, but bagsarepacked has already decided on Saugatuck.

bagsarepacked

I will be sure to post a trip report.
I also plan on checking out some of the other towns around there.

Hope the weather holds! I need a day at the beach!

travel_addict

Be sure to visit Oval Beach - it's very beautiful place to relax. It's kind of a gay hangout - don't know if that matters to you or not. Hopefully not, because the whole town has a large gay population.

bagsarepacked

travel addict ~ Oval Beach is in the plan if sunshine is around.
I go to Key West all of the time so the gay thing doesn't bother me.