Michigan's West Coast - Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Grand Rapids

Arts

Scenic beauty

Countryside

Culinary arts

1. White River Light Station Museum is an 1895 building made of Michigan limestone and brick - and it's filled with photographs, paintings, artifacts and stories chronicling Lake Michigan's rich history of shipping, logging, fishing and lighthouses. Be sure to climb the spiral stairs for a glimpse of Lake Michigan's incredible sand dunes and azure waters!

2. Muskegon County Museum showcases the history of everything from dinosaurs, mastodons and Native Americans to lumbering and farming in our region. A hands-on Science Center stimulates learning, and changing exhibits highlight special topics of local history and interest.

3. Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum takes you back in time with a tour of a WWII submarine and a Prohibition-era Coast Guard Cutter. This historical naval site also features overnight stays, a maritime museum and a gift shop.

4. Hackley & Hume Historic Site preserves the homes of Muskegon's most famous lumber barons. The elaborate paint schemes, roof lines, chimneys and materials used makes these sterling examples of Queen Anne-style architecture.

5. Grand Haven Lighthouses, established in 1839 and connected by catwalk, are part of a boardwalk that spans 2-1/2 miles of restaurants, marinas and parks.

6. Coopersville is a storied town halfway between Muskegon and Grand Rapids. Take a short ride on their history train, enjoy railroad lore at the Historical Society Museum and learn about our rural history at the Farm Museum.

7. Heritage Hill Historic District adjacent to downtown Grand Rapids is a 40-block neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. Stroll its sidewalks to see century-old mansions in more than 60 architectural styles, then tour the Voight House Victorian Museum and a more modern marvel: Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May House.

8. Historic Restaurants in Grand Rapids include the Cherie Inn, a Grand Rapids treasure for 60 years. Just across the street is Mangiamo!, a family-style Italian restaurant in an 1875 Italianate mansion.

9. Gerald R. Ford Museum and the Public Museum of Grand Rapids bring history alive. At the Ford, you can relive the '70s and tour an exact replica of the Oval Office. At the Public Museum, you can stroll through the streets of 1800s Grand Rapids and ride on a 1928 carousel perched over the Grand River.

10. Antique Shopping in Saugatuck/Douglas is a must for collectors - you'll find fine English antiques, Egyptian colored glass, art deco items, '70s memorabilia and much more.

11. Star of Saugatuck Boat Rides offer scenic cruises on the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan ... using an authentic sternwheel paddleboat!

12. DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory is the only Delft factory in the U.S. Watch artists at work as they mold, hand-paint and glaze this famous blue and white porcelain traditionally made in the Netherlands.

13. "Big Red" Lighthouse is one of Michigan's most photographed treasures - thanks in part to the spectacular sunsets that frame its historic structure every evening.

14. Windmill Islandis a tribute to the region's Dutch heritage, offering a guided tour of a 240-year-old working windmill along with 36 acres of manicured gardens, dikes, canals and picnic areas. Come in spring to tiptoe through 150,000 tulips in bloom!