Best 20 Things To Do In Grand Haven MI

Grand Haven, located on the shore of Lake Michigan is an all-beach town. Her life revolves around the water in summer.

You can enjoy warm summer days relaxing on the sand or dining in the Marina restaurants.

If you are a beach lover then this island is a must-visit place for you.

It attracts thousands of tourists seeking a laid-back break under the sun.

If you have to take a trip to heaven on earth then Grand Haven is for you. It has sun-kissed beaches, scenic landscapes, and crystal clear water.

Grand Haven has everything that you need for a relaxing trip. Its beaches, lakes, and natural scenery can grant you inner peace.

Grand Haven gives you a memorable environment for a family vacation.

Sailing, walking across the beach, mountain biking, kiteboarding, trekking, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, wine tasting, sightseeing, canoeing everything is available in and around the city.

I made a list of the 20 best things to experience in Grand Haven, Mi.  

things to do in grand haven mi

1. Grand Haven Lighthouse

This beacon of lights was first brightened up in 1839. Since then it has been helping sailors by navigating in waters in the dark.

What to do:

If you want aesthetic pictures for your social media then this place is the perfect spot for you.

It is among the most photographed light beacons. You can click perfect pictures of sunrise and sunset here.

Gazing at the spectacular view from the North shore will get you the best angle that you can share with your friends and followers to let them know about this beautiful place.

Timings:  24 hours.  

2. Grand Haven Musical Fountain

It is a synchronized light and water show with all varieties of music.

Music of each genre is played for 20 mins. On Labour day, different shows are played in the evening.

It was built in 1962 and it was the world’s largest fountain until the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas opened the fountains of Bellagio.

The Grand Haven Musical Fountain show takes place at the top of Dewey Hill and can be viewed from Waterfront Stadium.

What to do:

You can also experience it from the Grand Haven Boardwalk. People’s favorite thing to do here at night is to sit, relax and enjoy.

Timings: seven days a week from 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

3. Lighthouse Connector Park

Lighthouse Connector Park is commonly known as The Boardwalk. It was made in 1984 at the time of the Grand Haven Sesquicentennial.

This connector park is a must-watch place to enjoy.

What to do:

There are many restaurants in its path.

Also if you are a shopaholic then be ready to spend extravagantly as this connector park runs along so many shops which are perfect places for festival shopping.

Timing: Monday to Sunday, 8 am-9 pm

4. Grand Haven City Beach

As Michigan is an all-beach town, it is the perfect place to visit during the summer holidays.

Grand Haven City Beach will give you a warm trip that you will not forget. Who said that you need hundreds of dollars to have an exciting outing?

What to do:

You can experience this without spending a single amount on the shores of beautiful beaches. Yes, you read it correctly.

Swimming and getting a perfect tan body should be one of those free things that you should add to your bucket list.

Capturing beautiful pictures of yourself in a perfect beach outfit with your a little imperfect sand castle and drinks is all set for your new Instagram post.

This place is perfect for parking, however, it fills up very soon so make sure to reach early and get a spot.  

Timing:  for the whole day and you can also bring your dog after 5:00 pm and before 10:00 am.

5. Harbor Trolley

These old-fashioned trolleys will let you explore the downtown area at cheap rates.

What to do:

You can visit local areas without sweat in summer.

All you need is to board the train on your designated pick up and you can explore Downtown Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg.

This trolley ride is a fun activity, especially with the whole family.

Timings: The Harbor trolley runs from 12 pm-8 pm, seven days a week.

6. Grand Haven State Park

This 48 acres park is located near the shores of Michigan.

What to do:

Here, you can access some cool attractions. It has everything! Like literally everything.

From swimming, and camping to playing sports and many more.

If you are with those friends who have preferences other than theirs then this Grand Haven State Park is the perfect spot for you as it has so many things to explore.

Timings: You can visit this between 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.

7. Grand River Greenway

If you want to relax from your noisy and busy schedule then Grand River Greenway is the perfect place for you.

Grand River Greenway is spread over 2700 acres and is a dream destination for environment lovers.

What to do:

If you are an environmental lover then you should know that the country wants to expand this area up to 9000 acres and it has raised more than 41 million US dollars funds over the past twenty years.

You can explore this park on foot or by bike. Through the river, kayaking is also an available option.

Make memories and spend quality time with your loved ones in a soothing environment.

Timings: opens from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week.

8. Lake Michigan

This huge lake has borders with four states, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Its surface area is 22300 sq miles, making it the third largest great lake in North America.

What to do:

You can have a spectacular view of this lake at Grand Haven.

You will not fall short of scenery, it covers beaches, parks, skyscrapers facing the lake, and many more.

It doesn’t matter if it is summer or winter this lake provides you with beautiful sights to behold.

To maximize your beach experience take a dip inside the water. It is a perfect place for boating and capturing memories.

Timings: 24 hours.

Tip: try to visit this during the afternoon to have a splendid view.

9. Grand Haven Main Street

This is the heart of this coastal city. It is popularly known as Downtown. When you visit this try to interact with local people to learn about their lifestyle and culture.

What to do:

This place is perfect for a food outing. It has extravagant restaurants as well as simple dining areas. It is a perfect place for shopping.

So be ready to lose your pockets because you won’t be able to hold yourself from tasting different cuisines and buying shirts, books, and other collectibles while wandering the streets Downtown.

Timings: You can visit this anytime.

10. Rosy Mound Natural Area

These 164 acres of natural area are located on the shores of Lake Michigan.

It is one of the unique things to explore in Grand Haven. This natural gem is mostly surrounded by pines, trees, and sand.

What to do:

Here you can spend good times with your lover, disconnecting yourselves from the outside world.

You can even propose to your partner for marriage. At its top, you will be attracted to Grand Haven even more.

It has 1000 feet of stairs, perfect for beholding the scenic view.

Timings: open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm from April to October and 7:00 am to 8:00 pm from November to March.

11. Tri-cities Historical museum

As its name says, this Tri-cities Historical museum represents the relationship between three cities- Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, and Spring lake.

What to do:

 If you are interested in heritage tourism then this place is for you.

When you visit the walls of this museum you can feel the past of Michigan.

It has rocks, canons, cabins, and even Victorian-era dining set up.

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday  10:00 am to 8:00 pm. (Closed on Monday)

12. Imagination Station

This playground area is spread over 10000 sq ft. It is the perfect choice for families traveling with children.

What to do:

Here your child can experience fun, play outdoor games, slide on tree houses and have fun.  

One special thing about this imagination station is that it can be accessed by handicapped children as well.

Various types of swings are designed for them. They have Ramos in place of stairs and the ground is rumpy and soft instead of dusty rocks.

Timings: It remains open throughout the year from dawn to dusk and it is an admission-free and barrier-free space for kids.

13. Escanaba Park

This park is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and Grand Haven currently leases it.

This park got its name from one of the coast guard’s commissioned vessels used in the times of the second world war.

What to do:

You can start your day by visiting this place and gaining some knowledge about the complex study of Escanaba.

Little ones are usually curious about learning so it is a perfect spot to visit with kids.

After having glimpses of history you can refresh at Lake, take your kids to have lunch, and then enjoy ice cream, and desserts from nearby stores.

Timings: 24hours

14. Pere Marquette 1223

It was instrumental during the second world war, built-in 1941. It became a point of interest in the city in 1981.

It is one of the two preserved trains in the entire superpower.

What to do:

Here you can take pictures and notes of war history.

It is not an everyday opportunity to visit war trains so closely so make memories and click pictures here.

Timings: 24 hours.

15. Kitchel Lindquist Dunes Preserve

Lush green plants, amazing wildlife, and bare sands are the things that you will find in Kitchel Lindquist Dunes Preserve.

It is close to the trail of the Grand Haven River and is spread over an area of 114 acres.

It features all stages of the development of landforms, ranging from bare beaches to the dune forest.

Human interventions are very few so you can consider this a splendid trip.

What to do:

It is the perfect spot for bird-watching lovers. As it is proximal to the river it preserves birds from all over.

It has hawks, songbirds, seagulls, and bald eagles. If you are an ecology student then you may rent the outer classroom.

Timings: opens from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

Tip: It takes around 1 hour to explore this so manage your activities accordingly.

16. Gallery Uptown

It has artworks of artists, granting them a great platform for sharing their works in the form of art, heart, and soul to the world.

What to do:

You can find indoor stuff to do when it is raining or cold. There are various kinds of arts for you to enjoy.

While visiting this art gallery, you can expose yourself to a stunning cultural trip.

It is the oldest artist-operated art gallery in the US and every month, a themed show is organized featuring new works by gallery members and guests.

Timings: open from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

17. Fricano’s Pizza Tavern

Built in 1949, it was the first Pizza place in the whole of Michigan. It was named after Cosimo Gus Fricano.

It has earned numerous fame including PMQ Pizza magazine’s hall of fame award.

What to do:

Here you can satisfy your belly by having an authentic pizza experience at lunch.

Any trip is incomplete without having food, here you can choose anything between mushroom, pepperonis, Italian sausage, anchovy or you may have all.

Timings: Monday to Saturday  4:30 pm – 9:00 pm.

18. Grand Haven Room Escape

It is the exact place for exploring creativity with your friends and family.

This escape room is filled with challenges for you and to escape you need to decode them.

As the time is ticking it is better to move quickly. It is for everyone, no knowledge and special skills are required.

You can even book it for your private events.

What to do:

This escape room is filled with riddles, puzzles, solved clues, and many more to unlock locks and earn freedom.

You have one hour to escape and different themes are available.

Timings: Monday to Saturday,  11: 00 am to 10:00 pm.

19. Lemon Creek Winery

What to do:

Here you can watch winemaking in season.

It has nice decor and if you are into wines and bars then add tick off this into your bucket list of places to visit in Grand Haven.

Timings: It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 5:00 pm and on Saturday from 6:00 pm.

Tip:  It takes around 1.5 hours to reach here from Berrien Springs.

20. Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl

As the name suggests, it is named after John Mulligan. In the 1880s, he settled at the base of Five Mile Hill and made a small farm.

It has around 80 acres of land area and it is Grand Haven’s largest and most versatile park.

It houses the Ski Bowl, YMCA, tennis courts, and softball/soccer fields, and in most recent times it became home to the Grand Haven Skatepark and new pickleball courts.

It is one of the hidden and underrated gems in Grand Haven.

What to do:

Here, you can experience family-friendly snowboarding and downhill skiing.

It costs around 8-20 US dollars for passes including booklets, seasonal passes, and rentals. Snowboarding and open skiing.

Timings:  4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday and Friday and from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Does Grand Haven have a boardwalk?

Yes, Grand Haven has a 3-mile-long boardwalk. The boardwalk is round trip and it runs along shops, marinas, restaurants, and charter fishing boats.

It extends 1.5 miles from Chinook Pier to the foghorn house at the end of the South Pier. 

This place is good for brisk walking and there are benches for those who prefer boat watching. This boardwalk travels out to Lake Michigan.  

What is there to do in Grand Haven at night?

Grand Haven, Michigan is known for its nonchalant spirit. It is always fun to watch nightly light shows along with music and dancing.

The Grand Haven Musical Fountain’s colorful festival of light is held in May and September.

Watching sunsets is also a good option, especially for couples. Chinook Pier and the foghorn house at South Pier are prime viewing locations for sunset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What time are the Grand Haven fireworks?
Fireworks start after 9:45 pm. It is free and it occurs every year on July 4th over Lake Michigan.

Q2. Is Grand Haven Michigan Nice?
Yes, Grand Haven is a nice traveling place. This place is well known for its Coast Guard festival during the summer. Grand Haven is a tourist attraction town for its beautiful beaches and small downtown shops.

Q3. When can you park on the street in Grand Haven Michigan?
There are restrictions on street parking time. Those restrictions are for removing the snow in winter and for cleaning in summer. You are not allowed to park from 2:00 am-6:00 am. Apart from this,There is a restriction for parking in the downtown area for three hours only.You can park at any time except during these restricted hours.