Sally Ryan

Travel: Michigan beach towns

Michigan's west coast on Lake Michigan is home to half a dozen charming beach towns. Visitors from around the country and overseas help to double the population of towns like Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Lugington and South Haven during July and August.

Fog overtakes beachgoers in South Haven, Michigan after a summer storm.
   
Children play on the shore of Lake Michigan where the Pride of Baltimore II, a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore-built topsail schooner privateer, is docked by the S.S. Badger.
   
Americana, Coca Cola, Coke, fountain, counter, soda, checker, tile, stools, bar, drinks, t-shirts, clock, menu, hawaiian shirt, straw hat, tourists
     
  
The 1200-foot concrete pier in South Haven, Michigan leads visitors to the South Pier Lighthouse.
   
Deborah Torrice, left, and Penny Smedley, both from Chelsea, Michigan visit the South Pier Lighthouse in South Haven, Michigan. The women have been visiting South Haven's beach since childhood.
   
boat, water, green, inner tube, hat, straw hat, summer, tourist, archway
     
  
kids, signs, ferry, boat, water, saugatuck, tourists, chain, lawn, ride
   
A view of Kalamazoo Harbor in Saugatuck, Michigan from Mt. Baldhead.
   
bar, bikers, americana, beer, toast, cheers, drink, patio, outside, summer, happy hour, lunch, restaurant
     
  
kids, sidewalk, ice cream, cone, lick, family, dessert
   
Kasadi Hallberg, 8, of Kodak, Tennessee chases a seagull along the beach in Ludington,
  
Grand Haven, Michigan is known as Coast Guard City, USA, and the week-long Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival features a carnival, parade, waterfront entertainment and a fireworks display.
     
  
Lieutenant Commander Lindsay Weaver, from Washington, D.C., attends the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan.
   
The last night of the week-long Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is capped off with a fireworks display of over 6,000 fireworks, and approximately 5,000 attendees.
   
The Saugatuck Village Hall has been in continuous use for over 130 years, and is listed on Michigan's State Register of Historic Places.
     
  
bride, friends, table, pool, restaurant, friends, wedding, groom
   
neon, dog, tourists, hotel, motel, summer, night
   
musicians, guitar, fiddle, cowboy hat, cowboy, cowgirl, sing, western, redhead, tattoo
     
  
tent, americana, Huck Finn, bandana, back pocket, chairs, audience, straw hat, chambray shirt
   
cowboy, fiddle, evening, cowboy hat, pistol, music, musician