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The Hotel Saugatuck Blog

Holiday Shopping

You've made your list and checked it twice. Now you're ready to do some holiday shopping! Forget Amazon or the mall. Instead, explore the unique retail shops and boutiques along one of the main thoroughfares in downtown Saugatuck – Butler Street – where you'll find distinctive gifts for everyone in every price range... and maybe even a little something for yourself.

Art Gallery

Right where the Kalamazoo River forms a harbor just before emptying into Lake Michigan is where you'll find the twin cities, Saugatuck and Douglas. While Saugatuck is larger and sometimes garners more name recognition, Douglas is equally as charming and inviting. When you stay at the historic Hotel Saugatuck, you're right across the river from Douglas, which has been dubbed "The Village of Friendliness." With a distinction like that, how can you not want to get to know the people and places of this quaint beach town during your next visit to West Michigan?

Restaurant

Whether you're a foodie in search of a vibrant food scene or just plain hungry for a delicious bite to eat, Saugatuck has some of the best restaurants along the Lake Michigan coast. One of the highlights to an awesome getaway is exploring your vacation destination's unique eats. In fact, one of the most frequent questions we get here at The Hotel Saugatuck from our guests is, “Where should we go to eat?” Trust us, there are a lot of scrumptious options.

Wine Tasting

Autumn in Michigan is nothing short of spectacular. The canopy of leaves changes into beautiful shades of reds, yellows and oranges. The crisp air makes for perfect sweater weather. Evening walks along our Lake Michigan beaches end with show-stopping sunsets. It's magical!

Felt Mansion

Nestled in the dunes along Lake Michigan between Saugatuck and Holland is the majestic Felt Mansion. Once the luxurious summer home of self-made millionaire and inventor Dorr E. Felt, this expansive estate is a hidden gem of West Michigan history. The mansion is said to be haunted by the ghost of Dorr's wife, Agnes, who died just six weeks after moving into the home in 1928.

Retro Boat

As the summer season winds down and the gorgeous sunsets over Lake Michigan happen a little earlier each day, it's not too late to enjoy time out on Saugatuck's waterways. A great place to rent a fun watercraft is Retro Boat Rentals on Water Street, about a mile from The Hotel Saugatuck. As the name suggests, these boats will take you back to a simpler time and slower pace – perfect for a relaxing late summer getaway in West Michigan.

Crane Orchards

Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie. Ready or not, fall harvest season is here! There's no better way to get a mouth-watering taste of nature's bounty than to pick tree-ripened fruit yourself. When you stay with us at The Hotel Saugatuck, head to Crane Orchards in nearby Fennville for a hands-on orchard experience. There's nothing quite as tasty as picking your favorite fresh fruit straight from the tree and immediately enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Art in the Park

Thousands of people will converge on downtown Holland on August 6 for Art in the Park – a day of fine art and crafts, live music, and food. In its 51-year history, this event has grown to draw one of the largest influxes of visitors to the city on a single day, second only to Tulip Time. Come see for yourself why this signature West Michigan event is well-known to art lovers throughout the area and beyond.

Big Lake Classic Fishing Tournament

Fact: Michigan touches four of the five Great Lakes and has more than 11,000 inland lakes, plus countless rivers and streams. It's no wonder the fishing is good here in Michigan! Whether you're a champion angler or a weekend enthusiast, you'll find unmatched freshwater fishing opportunities here in Saugatuck, where the Kalamazoo River empties into Lake Michigan.

Saugatuck Sand Dunes

Nestled between the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan you'll find one of West Michigan's natural treasures: rolling sand dunes for miles! The Saugatuck Dunes are part of the largest grouping of freshwater dunes in the world. They were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago and sculpted over time by wind, waves and native vegetation. During your next stay with us at The Hotel Saugatuck, we encourage you to explore the gorgeous dune beaches on foot, or take a ride in a dune buggy for an adventure you won't soon forget.

Farmer's Market

There's nothing like a farmers market in the summertime to connect a community with its local farmers and artisans. They're a great place to quite literally get a "taste" of the region with an incredible selection of farm-fresh products. During your summer getaway to western Michigan, we invite you to immerse yourself in our agricultural bounty with a visit to The Market at Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

Oval Beach

A sweeping shoreline, sugar-sand beach, sparkling water, towering sand dunes. If this describes your ideal beach, then make plans to visit Saugatuck this summer and spend a day at our world-renowned Oval Beach. This is Saugatuck's main beach on Lake Michigan and is a summertime favorite for residents and vacationers alike. Condé Nast Traveler has ranked Oval Beach one of the Top 25 beaches in the world. That's a pretty tall order, but Oval Beach lives up to the acclaim.

Antique Shops

With its rich history in agriculture, manufacturing, culture, and craftsmanship, it's no wonder Michigan is a gold mine when it comes to antiquing. Treasure hunters can peruse a multitude of antique shops throughout Allegan County along Michigan's western coast to uncover unique vintage finds. New-to-you pieces can invigorate your home space while carrying the memory of your antiquing adventure during your next West Michigan getaway.