The Hotel Saugatuck Blog

Contrary to popular belief, Saugatuck never really has an “off” season once the summers in the sun on Lake Michigan have come to a close. With our famous beaches clear of crowds and the fall season finally settling in, we are preparing for some of Lake Michigan’s best events all year long. From one-of-a-kind, art installations and one-weekend festivals to Saturday brewery...

While the warmer months are a busy time in Saugatuck as residents and visitors hit the beaches and the sand dunes to soak up the sun, it happens every now and then that the weather doesn’t permit sun-soaked tans and long walks on the beach. So if you find yourself staying with us on a rainy weekend or you’re just looking to do something interesting in town during an afternoon...

It’s summer in Saugatuck and there’s nothing quite like it. We love the energetic days spent on the beaches, the afternoons spent strolling down Butler Street to shop and grab a light lunch, and the evenings spent relaxing with our feet up and a refreshing cocktail in hand. Many evenings are also spent at one of our favorite summertime events on Water Street, held every Wednesday...

Michigan’s largest antique show, the Allegan Antiques Market, draws visitors from across the region and country to one of the finest shows in America. Antiques Magazine rates it in the Top 10 antique markets to visit in the United States. The show, located at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in downtown Allegan is held the last Sunday of the month, April through September.

In Saugatuck, warmer weather means water--and lots of it. Whether it’s at the beaches or taking in the view from atop the dunes, the water of Lake Michigan is a breathtaking spectacle. One of the best ways to truly experience it is to set sail with one of our fishing charters.

We can’t wait for the spring weather to bring the warm breezes and seasonal crowds to our town of Saugatuck. It also brings the burst of springs flavors in our food. At Fustini’s School of Cooking, learn to master the art of spring cooking with chef Andy Stewart and his two hour interactive Spring Garden Party course. Whether you’re hosting friends or having a family...

Held annually since 1979, Mountainfilm is a film festival showcasing some of the most engrossing nonfiction stories in the world. From immigration in America and the upcoming Supreme Court case to Libyan refugees crossing the dangerous midsection of the Mediterranean, Mountainfilm uses film and the real stories and experiences of real people to inspire others to make a better world. In March...

Located in the Heritage Hill Historic District of Grand Rapids, the Meyer May House stands exactly as it's architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, intended it. From the landscaping to the linens, the Meyer May House has been masterfully and painstakingly restored down to the most minute details, including period correct furnishings. The property offers visitors a rare opportunity to tour the most...

Now maintained as a park and recreation area, the Van Raalte Farm is deeply rooted in the heritage of Saugatuck’s neighbor, Holland. Built by Benjamin, the son of the City of Holland’s founding father, Albertus Van Raalte, in 1872, the property remained in the Van Raalte Family until the 1980s when it was purchased by the city for $350,000 from Albertus’s granddaughter.

Constructed in the 1870s originally, the current Cappon House has been restored to its circa 1900 appearance. Back then, it was the home of Holland’s first mayor and local tannery proprietor, Isaac Cappon. Admire the beautiful Victorian architecture and decorative details, as well as holiday decor, on your visit to the Cappon House this Christmas.

Shopping for friends and family this holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful. Why not make a trip out of it and spend a relaxing weekend at the Hotel Saugatuck while shopping our diverse community of artisans and craftsmen? You’ll also escape the packed stores, long lines, and stress that usually comes with gift shopping this time of year (and probably spare yourself a few grey...

Travel the scenic Blue Star Highway and back roads that connect South Haven and Saugatuck if you’re interested in discovering one of the state’s hidden (but one of its most treasured) gems. The artistic communities located in these quaint coastal towns make up the Blue Coast Artists Driving Tour, a behind-the-scenes look into the studios of some of the most talented working...

Hungry Village Tours is a great way to get that authentic, behind-the-scenes glimpse into what makes Saugatuck “tick,” so to speak. Local culture, food, wine, and customs will all have some of their secrets revealed. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling like a local. Hungry Village Tours offers two options: walking or riding.

The summer is here in Saugatuck! As one of the best beaches on the planet (according to National Geographic and MTV), Saugatuck’s Oval Beach offers visitors and residents alike clean sandy shores and all the outdoor summer fun you could ask for. Walk along the shoreline hand-in-hand or make a splash in the Caribbean blue water; chow down on concessions or clock in on tanning time. There...

If you haven’t been to Saugatuck before, then you may not know that there is always more to explore. There are dozens of ways to see and experience Saugatuck and Douglas. With warmer weather finally settled in for good (doesn’t it feel good!) try getting to know our special towns from the water with Retro Boat Rentals.

Plan your next getaway to Michigan’s Art Coast with a stay at The Hotel Saugatuck, just minutes away from dozens of craft brewhouses, wineries, distilleries, and cider houses. With thousands of breweries popping up all around the country in recent years, craft beer is here to stay (we all knew wine wasn’t going anywhere!). Discover the full flavors of Saugatuck’s craft...

Michigan’s largest and finest collection of antiques can be found at the Allegan Antique Market. With over 400 dealers in every field of antiques and collectibles, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits your interests or needs, whether it’s a vintage jewelry gift for someone back home or that new piece of furniture or home décor that will liven up your space...

There’s a lot to see in Holland and the surrounding area, just a few minutes north of Saugatuck.

Winter in Saugatuck and Douglas can absolutely be the most wonderful time of the year, and it often is. Despite being known for our beautiful, sugar sand beaches and summertime fun, Saugatuck is a great place to be in the winter. Cozy fireside chats, relaxing indoors with a good book, or enjoying a great meal, live music, and dancing at Salt of the Earth all make winter in Saugatuck the best...

There’s always been a great mystery to the Great Lakes. Maybe it’s their unexpected presence in North America, those characteristic stormy seas that have sunken ships and taken lives, or just the sheer size of each one. After all, the Great Lakes contain more than 80% of the continent’s fresh water within a cycle that can take up to 200 years to reach the ocean, so it’s...

Tour one of Michigan’s oldest original breweries in the nearby city of Kalamazoo. With more than 40 different beers on tap, Bell’s Brewery also offers a full-service restaurant, café, beer garden, and patio. Enjoy a craft brew or delectable dish in the café, take a tour of the facilities, or get some holiday shopping done in the general store. With its Two-Hearted...

Visit one of the country’s most significant botanical locations in Grand Rapids, a forty-minute drive from Saugatuck that is well beyond worth the drive. Besides its outdoor four-season plantings, the campus includes five indoor theme gardens, nature trails, sculpture galleries and collections, a café, gift shop, and the state’s largest tropical conservatory.

Traveling through Michigan’s southwest corner has never been more creative—or as tasty! Once a year, Michigan’s Arts and Eats annual fall event brings together the art, food, and farms of the region. From Saugatuck to South Haven, this backroads tour will bring you face-to-face with some of the area’s most talented local artists and hardest working farmers. Explore...

Fenn Valley is less than fifteen minutes away from the Hotel Saugatuck. That’s a short drive for such a great tasting room that has plenty of activities, attractions, and events. Visit the tasting room and bar and learn about the passion for wine and grape-growing behind Fenn Valley’s Welsch family. Last year, the popular winery received over thirty medals, eleven of which were...

The first Saturday of August is approaching and that means Holland is holding its Art in the Park event. Up to 300 artists and artisans from eight different states will be displaying and selling their work. The art show brings the most visitors to Holland, second only to Tulip Time. Support local and regional creative talents in the Holland and Saugatuck areas and find a unique piece to bring...

Experience Saugatuck and Douglas from the waters of the Kalamazoo River on the downriver hydrobiking adventure. The two-three hour “bike” rides by Saugatuck HydroBikes on the Kalamazoo River are just $25 per person and I’ve got a feeling you’ve never done this before, so try something new and make another memory while you’re here in Saugatuck.

Ranked one of the top five film festivals in the world by the Screen Actors Guild, the care-free beach vibes of the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan has been bringing indie films to the Midwest, and thousands of moviegoers, since 1999. In the past, Waterfront has been the location of hit premiers like the Academy-award winning documentaries March of the Penguins and Born into...

Take a culinary adventure through the storefronts of Saugatuck and Douglas with Hungry Village Tours, the perfect way to get to know the area better and have a fun time sampling food and wine tasting. Started by David Geen as a way to further experience the cuisine of Europe, you can now enjoy the fun of these tours right here in Saugatuck and Douglas.

Your options are:

It’s not Europe, and you won’t be sipping coffee along the sparkling canals of Amsterdam. But it is pretty close; you don’t need a passport and you’ll still find yourself charmed by the waterfront cafés and breathtaking beauty of Lake Macatawa and the mighty Lake Michigan. With a history rooted in its founding by Dutch settlers in the early 1900s, Holland has...

Visit Fenn Valley Vineyards and Wine Cellar for the special dinner event you won’t forget: the Around the World with the Winemaker dinner. The dinner starts with a sparkling wine and cheese course followed by a dinner paired with a select wine. The wine is, of course, one of Fenn Valley’s own, and selected by the chef and the winemaker. You’ll find Fenn Valley staff as well...

For over fifty years, West Michigan’s premier ski and snowboard destination has been Cannonsburg. With the 2015 addition of the Zipline Adventure Tour, Cannonsburg turned itself into a year-round attraction located an hour’s drive north from The Hotel Saugatuck, but well worth the trip if you’re up for it or just a big fan of winter sports.

On display at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts until January 14^th is Donna F. St. John’s internationally-recognized exhibit, Tributes of Authentic Heroism. This one will make you think. It evaluates and compares different types of heroes, from the famous to the obscure, from the epic, to the ordinary. Who, or what, is a hero?

Saugatuck’s main thoroughfare, Butler Street, is a shopping hotspot and one of the most popular attractions in the Saugatuck-Douglas area. The town’s intimate, small-town appeal appears full throttle along these few blocks, with vibrant-colored storefronts, catchy shop names, and family-owned businesses that usually make their own products right here in town. Expect to find...

Fenn Valley Vineyards lives and breathes by its slogan, or at least its grapes do. "The Lake Effect Everyone Loves" is part of a brand that specializes in the growth of world-class grapes, made possible by the moderating effect of the Great Lakes climate, that are enjoyed and loved all across the country. Owned by the Welsch family since the 1970s, the family's love for food and...