South Haven, located on Lake Michigan, is the place to start off the summer. One of my favorite days there Jim and I began by fishing off the pier. Later in the morning we decided to hang out in the beach area. We went into the water and played Frisbee!
Another weekend during one of the festivals, the lighthouse tower was opened by a Boy Scout troop for climbing. You literally climbed, using a ladder, to the top.
Who says you have to go to the beach only in the summer. Jim and I made a visit in January just as a storm was rolling in. The waves were crashing against the snowy beach. The storm's focal point ended up being farther to the south in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. We managed to visit one of our summertime favorite eating places, Clementine's.
Grand Haven, located on Lake Michigan, is the place to go for the annual Coast Guard Festival. One time when Shari was visiting, the three of us went to Grand Haven for the Festival. Unfortunately, it was so crowded that we never did get to the lighthouse.
Grand Haven's other fun event is shopping. I'm not partial to any place in particular. I just like to browse and walk around. Grand Haven is slightly farther away than South Haven, so it's not visited quite as much.
Holland, also known as "Big Red," is located on Lake Michigan. This is another lighthouse we introduced to Shari during one of her visits here. We sat on the beach area, but it wasn't quite the season to remove jackets, so we just chatted.
The big controversy in the Holland area is whether or not to allow visitors access to the lighthouse. Sometimes the pathway is opened up, but other times visitors can only get a glimpse from across the lake or slightly closer from a boat.
