Things To Do In Saugatuck, Michigan
In late August/early September we planned a roadtrip to visit a few cities in Michigan. Neither of us had ever stayed in Saugatuck but I’d heard from friends that they loved it. Since it’s not too far from Chicago, we said why not and included it as a stop on our Michigan roadtrip. We were both taken by surprise at how much fun we had and how many things there were to do in this charming midwestern town. If you’re looking for things to do in Saugatuck, Michigan – keep reading!
About Saugatuck, Michigan
Known as The Art Coast of Michigan, Saugatuck is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Kalamazoo river. There is A LOT to do here and this took us by surprise! It has beautiful beaches, a huge art scene, hiking, water recreation, restaurants and cafes (patio seating!), shopping, wineries, breweries, all against a backdrop of a welcoming atmosphere. There’s a lot to explore whether you’re on a vacation as a couple, with family, or friends.
The walkable town is so perfect for strolling, getting a bite to eat, doing some shopping, and enjoying a gorgeous day! We stayed right within the town, which made it easy for us to leave the inn each morning to go explore on foot. We also hadn’t fully realized how LGBTQ+ welcoming the town is, which made me so happy. I read about Saugatuck’s history about having been an accepting community for decades, and it’s very worth reading about before you go!
Where Is Saugatuck?
Saugatuck is located in the southwestern part of Michigan, right on the Kalamazoo river.
- It took us 2.5 hours by car from Chicago
- About 45 minutes southwest of Grand Rapids
- About 15 minutes south of Holland
- About 3 hours west of Detroit
Where We Stayed
The Luckystone Inn
During my search for places to stay, I came across The Luckystone Inn and immediately knew this was the inn to choose based on the name. For this to make sense, I have to share that A and I love rock hunting and we were on a mission to find a lucky stone (fossilized crinoid stems). The description on the inn’s website shares that they were inspired to name their inn after these stones, so choosing this inn just felt right. The owner also shared her bowl of lucky stones for us to look through!
This was the first time we stayed at an inn, so we didn’t quite know what to expect. Upon arriving, the owner was so kind and accommodating and the inn was comfortable and well cared for.
The inn was located on Mary street, which was just steps from Butler and Water street where you can find food, drinks, shopping, and more. In the mornings, the inn owner made the guests breakfast and we sat in the enclosed porch to enjoy some food and conversation before going off to explore the day. We got to eat a yummy quiche and such delicious scones (I’m a fan of anyone who can make great scones lol). I’d say that for a first inn experience, this was probably the best we could have.
What To Do In Saugatuck, MI
Check out the beautiful beaches
I love our Chicago beaches, but I have to be truthful, the beaches on the other side of the lake are BEAUTIFUL. We went to Douglas beach which was small, quiet, and very clean. We went on a weekday so it was easy to find parking! It’s tucked in-between private beaches and to get to it you walk down a big set of stairs. The water was beautiful and we got to look for lucky stones along the shoreline and we did find a bunch!
We also made it to Oval beach which is set against the backdrop of beautiful sandy dunes. I had really wanted to visit this beach because I read that it’s been rated as one of the top beaches in the world! We went right after Labor Day so it had just closed for the season, but during the summer they have a concession stand, grills, and restrooms. There was plenty of parking and because it’s a big beach, it didn’t feel crowded at all! We stayed to watch a gorgeous sunset.
Climb the steps up Mt. Baldhead
We were told there are 303 steps up to the top of Mt. Baldhead but some others disagree. We tried our best to count each step but I lost track when I took a pause halfway 😅. It was a bit of a workout (I hadn’t quite begun my fitness journey yet!) but it was worth it! At the top is an observation deck where you can pause and enjoy a lovely view of Saugatuck and the Kalamazoo River. You can continue down to hike over to Oval beach but we choose to head back down the steps.
At the top of Mt. Baldhead you can also see the permanently deactivated radar tower and read about it’s history. After our climb back down the steps, we sat on a pier and got to take in another beautiful day.
Hike the crow’s nest trailhead
The owner of the inn had asked us if we liked hiking and exploring to which we said yes! She told us about the Crow’s Nest Trailhead which is about half a mile from the Mt. Baldhead parking lot. I would consider the trail to have a moderate difficulty because of the trail’s elevation, exposed tree roots, and it gets steep at certain points. I don’t consider myself to be a great hiker and I was able to complete this trail! The views at the top were stunning and so worth the hike!
Walk the town
There are plenty of boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants, jewelry stores, trinket and gift shops, and a ton more in their downtown area. All of it was walkable and with beautiful weather it was really a perfect day.
We enjoyed browsing The Owl House for trinkets and gifts, Mr. Miller’s Art Emporium for art, gifts, collectibles, pottery, and Tuck’s of Saugatuck for Christmas things all year round!
We came across the Spice & Tea Merchants shop and we browsed their wall of tea. They let us smell the teas we were interested in before buying. I purchased the earl grey green (this was very interesting!), butterfly pea flowers (to dye drinks a natural blue/purple), and habanero sugar (to put on the rims for spicy margaritas).
Browse the art galleries
Since we were visiting The Art Coast of Michigan we had to check out the art galleries. Both A and I love looking at art, so this was a happy experience to browse each gallery. We loved the Amazwi Contemporary Art gallery with it’s colorful and dynamic African art. We were told that we had to check out the J. Petter Galleries with it’s 24 rooms filled with fine art. Browsing the galleries was a relaxing and soothing time!
Take the chain ferry
The chain ferry has been in use since the 1830s and it’s the only one left in the country. An operator uses a crank to pull the ferry across the Kalamazoo river. You can take the chain ferry to get over to Mt. Baldhead and Oval beach. Since we were there after Labor Day, it was no longer open and we had to drive around. Hopefully we’ll be back to visit during it’s operating hours because I’d love to have the experience 🙂
Rent a retro boat
Renting a retro boat was such a fun time that I didn’t take any pictures. The retro boats are from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and had such cute colors. I loved the pink glass slipper vintage boat and recommend making a reservation ahead if you want a certain color or style. The boats go about 4mph which is great for a relaxing cruise on the Kalamazoo River!
Where We Ate
Farmhouse Deli
Since we were only in Saugatuck for a few days, and we ate breakfast at the inn each morning, we didn’t go out to too many restaurants. We really enjoyed the Farmhouse Deli for grabbing quick sandwiches and drinks to take with us to the beach.
Duck Alley
If you’re here during the weekday or after Labor Day, make sure to check when restaurants close! A lot of places change to their fall hours and we were lucky to get burgers from Duck Alley right before closing. After a long day of hiking Mt. Baldhead and the trails, a burger really hit the spot.
The mitten brewing co.
If you’re in the mood for pizza and a beer flight, I recommend The Mitten! The baseball themed restaurant was causal and the pizza was delicious! We had it as a meal on our last night but there is a patio outside if you go during the day.
Get ice cream at Charlie’s
This picturesque ice cream shoppe was too cute! They had so many delicious flavors to choose from and lots of toppings. We went here after we ate pizza at The Mitten and walked around the town eating our ice cream. We walked right back to the inn after – it was so nice not to have to drive!
My Recommended Cafés & Bakeries
There is nothing better to me than finding a great café and a little treat. Each place has it’s own history and ambience and I love finding these gems.
Respite Cappuccino Court
This cute café is located in Douglas, tucked into Center street. We shared a lox bagel, salad, and berry muffin (it had edible glitter on it, how could I pass that up!), and coffee. It was delicious and very pretty to sit outside amongst the flowers on a sunny day.
woosah
We needed some caffeine before our hiking filled day and came across Woosah. I loved the name of the café and that you could order outside at a window. There was outdoor seating and it was laid back and had a great outdoorsy atmoshpere.
Uncommon Coffee Roasters
We heard a lot of great things about Uncommon Roasters so we stopped here the morning that we were heading back home. I’m not a coffee person so I rely on A to give me his thoughts on coffee when we visit cafes 😄 and he said this was his favorite latte. I love getting matcha lattes and this one was also my favorite during our stay.
Pennyroyal Cafe & Provisions
On the way back home we stopped at Pennyroyal Café to pick up some treats for family. I couldn’t decide on what muffin so I choose 3 different flavors lol. If we go back, we’d like to try this cafe for breakfast and sit outside. The outdoor seating looked lovely as it’s nestled in a garden and surrounded by so much greenery and pretty string lights.
Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery
The last stop on our way home was Crane’s Pies in Fennville. We got there before it opened at 9am and we were able to pick up a freshly baked warm cherry crumble pie and apple cider donuts. They smelled amazing but we waited to eat it when we were back home. Crane’s is also a restaurant and there were people waiting in line before it opened! You can order online for pick-up too!
We had a great time in Saugatuck and we would love to come back. The town was charming, friendly, and filled with activities for all interests. I hope you enjoyed this recap of our trip! See you in the next one ☺️
