Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Grand Haven is an all-beach town. It is a must-visit island for beach lovers.
Here, you can enjoy warm summer days relaxing on the sand or dining in the Marina restaurants. 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, Michigan gives you a memorable environment for a family vacation as it is a perfect place for sailing, walking across the beach, mountain biking, kiteboarding, trekking, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, wine tasting, sightseeing, canoeing, and what not. Browse below the list of 25 best places to visit in Grand Haven Michigan.
Best Places To Visit In Grand Haven Michigan
- Grand Haven Lighthouse
- Grand Haven Musical Fountain
- Lighthouse Connector Park
- Grand Haven City Beach
- Harbor Trolley
- Grand Haven State Park
- Grand River Greenway
- Lake Michigan
- Grand Haven Main Street
- Rosy Mound Natural Area
- Tri-cities Historical museum
- Imagination Station
- Escanaba Park
- Pere Marquette 1223
- Kitchel Lindquist Dunes Preserve
- Midwest Miniatures Museum
- Gallery Uptown
- Crystal Blue Cruises
- Grand Armory Brewing Company
- Blueberry Haven
- Grand Haven Room Escape
- Grand Haven Lighthouse and Pier
- Chinook Pier Miniature golf
- Train Depot Museum
- Carolyn Gallery
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.
Things to do- Go and have aesthetic pictures for your new Instagram post as this place is perfect for it. Click beautiful pictures of sunrise and sunset. In addition to this, you can gaze at the spectacular view from the North shore.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
2. Grand Haven Musical Fountain
Built in 1962, Grand Haven Musical Fountain 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 the world’s largest fountain until the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas opened the fountains of Bellagio. In addition to this, The Grand Haven Musical Fountain show takes place at the top of Dewey Hill and can be viewed from Waterfront Stadium.
Things to do- Sit, relax and enjoy here. You can see it from the Grand Haven Boardwalk also.
Address- Lyne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1N Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 8 pm to 10:30 pm, seven days a week
3. Lighthouse Connector Park
Built in 1984, Lighthouse Connector Park is commonly known as The Boardwalk. Made at the time of the Grand Haven Sesquicentennial. This connector park is a must-watch place to enjoy.
Things to do- For shopaholics, it is a perfect place to spend extravagantly as this connector park runs along so many shops which are perfect places for festival shopping.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings– 8 am to 9 pm, seven days a week
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?
Things 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 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. You can also bring your dog after 5:00 pm and before 10:00 am.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
5. Harbor Trolley
These old-fashioned trolleys will let you explore the downtown area at cheap rates.
Things to do- Visit local areas via train. The train will pick up you from the designated spot and you can explore Downtown Grand Haven, Spring lake, and Ferrysburg. This trolley ride is a fun activity, especially with the whole family.
Address- 440 N Ferry St, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 12 pm to 8 pm, seven days a week
6. Grand Haven State Park
Located near the shores of Michigan, Grand Haven State Park is 48 acres of park with lots of amenities including swimming, camping, and playing sports.
Things 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.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 8 am to 11 pm, seven days a week
7. Grand River Greenway
Spread over 2700 acres, Grand Haven Greenway is a dream destination for environment lovers. Here you can relax from your noisy and busy schedule.
Things 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 in 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.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 7 am to 8 pm, seven days a week
8. Lake Michigan
Spread over 22300 sq miles, Lake Michigan has borders with four states, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. It is the third-largest great lake in North America.
Things 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. Visit this place during the afternoon to have a perfect view.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
9. Grand Haven Main Street
Popularly known as the Downtown, Grand Haven Main Street is the heart of this beautiful coastal city.
Things to do- This place is perfect for a food outing. It has extravagant restaurants as well as simple dining areas. In addition to this, 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.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
10. Rosy Mound Natural Area
Spread over 164 acres, Rosy Mound Natural Area is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of the unique things to explore in Grand Haven, mostly surrounded by pines, trees, and sand.
Things 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.
Address- 13925 Lakeshore Ave, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 7 am to 10 pm, from April to October, and 7 am to 8 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.
Things to do- This place is perfect for heritage tourism. When you visit the walls of this museum you can feel the past of Michigan. It has rocks, canons, cabins, and even a Victorian-era dining setup.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 10 am to 8 pm, Tuesday to Sunday
12. Imagination Station
Spread over 10000 sq feet, Imagination Station is a perfect destination for families traveling with children.
Things 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 various types of swings are designed for them including ramps in place of stairs and their ground is rumpy and soft instead of dusty rocks.
Address- 70 03-29 #160-002, Grand Haven, MI 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
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.
Things 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.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
14. Pere Marquette 1223
Built in 1941, Pere Marquette 1223, is a point of interest in the city since 1981. It is home to two preserved trains in the entire superpower.
Things to do- It is not an everyday opportunity to visit war trains so closely so make memories and click pictures here. So visit this place to get information about war trains.
Address- Grand Haven, Michigan 49417, United States
Timings- 24 hours
15. Gallery Uptown
It is home to the artworks of artists, granting them a great platform for sharing their works in the form of art, heart, and soul with the world.
Things to do- You can find indoor stuff to do when it is raining or cold. There are various kinds of art 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.
Address- 201 Washington Ave # 100, Grand Haven, MI 49417, United States
Timings- 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday
16. 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 or special skills are required. You can even book it for your private events.
Things 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– 11: 00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Saturday
Address – 1051 Jackson St, Grand Haven, MI 49417, United States
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Best Places To Stay In Grand Haven Michigan
Here is a list of the best hotels and resorts to stay in Grand Haven.
- Best Western Beacon Inn
- Baymont by Wyndham, Grand Haven
- Rodeway Inn
- The Harbour House Inn
- Boyden House Bed and Breakfast
- Looking Glass Beachfront Inn
- The Washington Street Inn
- Five Mile Hill Retreat
- Haven of Relaxation
- Point Comfort
Things To Know Before Visiting Grand Haven Michigan
1. Take your time
Grand Haven has many things to explore, so take your time and do not rush.
2. Visit the Lighthouse
I think Grand Haven is famous for its lighthouse, so your trip will be incomplete if you don’t go there.
3. Enjoy Nature Based fun
Go swimming, camping, and fishing more rather than visiting malls and streets.
4. No alcohol is allowed
You can’t take alcohol in public places so remember this otherwise you may face trouble on the trip.
5. Prepared for weather conditions before coming
Pack your clothes and accessories according to the weather or you will end up buying new clothes and accessories unnecessarily.
Things To Pack When Visiting Grand Haven Michigan
July is the best time to visit Grand Haven. So I’m writing all those things that you will need to pack during July.
1. Sunscreen lotion
It is the most important thing on a summer trip. Sunscreen lotion will protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun which may cause serious skin problems.
2. Beach essentials
The Beach essentials list includes swimwear, lightweight towels, a waterproof phone bag, a dry bag, a snorkel set, and others.
3. Light clothes
As the weather is warm and humid, make sure to pack light and comfortable clothes so that you can enjoy your trip freely.
4. Bug repellent
It will save you from insects including disease-causing mosquitoes.
5. Small portable cooler
This will keep your drinks and water cool and you can save money by buying these things.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Grand Haven Michigan known for?
Grand Haven is a beach town in America known for being a perfect holiday destination. It is one of the most romantic places in Michigan. It is a perfect place for having a beach day, enjoying a festival, and thrilling over the beach.
2. How long is the Grand Haven Boardwalk?
Grand Haven Boardwalk is around 1.5 miles long.
3. How old is the Grand Haven lighthouse?
It was built in 1881, so Grand Haven Lighthouse is 141 years old.
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Hey, I am The Head of wlra and also a Travel Blogger. Blogging has been my passion since childhood.
Wlra has helped me discover so many new places and explore the world like I never did.