Let's get into the details! Here you'll find all my recommendations as a local for places to stay, eat/drink, shop, wine, activities, etc. along with suggested itinerary! Oh and some other insider tips you'll need!

Saugatuck, MI, USA

Douglas, MI, USA

A Weekend in Saugatuck - From a Local!

- Saugatuck is a small town and you won't see many chains. There is a grocery store here, DeMonds, should you need to stock up on snacks and/or booze. We appreciate you shopping local!

You can certainly putz around on Lake Kalamazoo and, depending on the weather, you may have to! If you head out towards Lake Michigan, you'll also see before your get to the pier that there is a little cove where boats often anchor as well as some sand banks you can park on, complete with a lady selling hot dogs on busy summer days! 

If the weather is good and you have the OK to head out to Lake Michigan, you can't go wrong heading in either direction once your get out of the channel. My personal preference is to go left (south), where you'll pass Oval Beach as well as some of the lake-front mansions (home to some ex-NFL players I've heard). My favorite spot to anchor and take a swim is the area around the Lake Shore Resort, which you'll be able to recognize from the water by its large staircase and seating area by the water with lounge chairs and blue umbrellas. Jump in and enjoy! If you opt to head right (north), you'll pass by the Dune State Park and also have some good options for anchoring. The lake is also usually great for watersports, so if you having the equipment for tubing, etc., head in either direction until you're away from the crowds and go for it!

A note if you are not an experience boater - its still totally doable to rent a boat and take it out on the big lake! Just be sure to check for weather and waves. Anything above 1 foot can start to get a bit rough for smaller boats and you should be prepared for some rocking. The channel also does get very packed on summer weekends, so if you are nervous about being that close to other boats, I'd recommend heading out earlier to avoid the traffic. 

Also good to know: as you head out to Lake Michigan you will pass the Chain Ferry, which takes pedestrians from one side of the lake to the other. It will ring its bell before going, but keep an eye out so there aren't any close calls. The Star of Saugatuck is generally the largest boat on the water and also the hardest to maneuver so please do get out of its way. They will yell at you if you don't.

Both Saugatuck and Douglas have some great shopping options. In Saugatuck, Butler and Water Streets have boutiques lined up all along. In Douglas, head down Center Street. You can find everything from clothing to art to antiques, but here are some of my favorites:

The Kirby Hotel & J Paul's Dining Room

Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar

Phil's Bar & Grille

Wicks Park Bar & Grille

Mermaid Bar & Grill

The Southerner

Pennyroyal Cafe & Provisions

Marro's Italian Restaurant

Uncommon Coffee Roasters

Dairy Dayz

Borrowed Time

Everyday People Cafe

Wild Dog Grille

Back Alley Pizza Joint

Douglas Root Beer Barrel

Outside Coffee Co

Blue Star Cafe & Ice Cream Treats

Coppercraft Distillery Tasting Room

Wally's Bar & Grill

The BARge

Retro Boat Rentals & The Old Boathouse

The Butler

Guardian Brewing Company

Coastal Society Craft Cocktail Bar, Boutique & Eatery

The Cove

Fenn Valley Vineyards

Modales Wines

Michigan Wine Company

Wyncroft Wine Estate

Cogdal Vineyards

Virtue Cider

Waypost Brewing Co.

Oval Beach

Douglas Beach Park

Star of Saugatuck Boat Cruises

Sailing Saugatuck

Makin Waves Boat & Jet Ski rentals

TFD Adventure Co.

Saugatuck Dune Rides

Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Red Dock Cafe

The Brass Anchor Co.

Urban Found

It Is What It Is

Glik's

Articles

Endora

Petter Wine Gallery

Saugatuck Gallery

James Brandess Studios & Gallery, Inc.

Evergreen Lane Creamery

Saugatuck Drug Store

Wickwood Inn

Arrowhead Resort

Serendipity Bed and Breakfast and Cottage

Starlite Resort

Maplewood Hotel

Twin Oaks Inn

Paddlewheel Properties

Blue Star Motel

AmericInn by Wyndham Douglas/Saugatuck

The Dunes Resort

Lake Shore Resort

Douglas House Inn

Pines Motor Lodge & Retro Gift

A Weekend in Saugatuck - From a Local!

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