Top Things to do in Michigan
Top Hotels in Michigan
The 10 Best Beaches in Michigan, United States
Think you need an ocean for a beach? Think again. There are miles and miles of sandy lakefront beaches in Michigan (thanks to the four Great Lakes that border it). The west coast of Michigan has especially nice beaches—try a rental in Muskegon, Grand Haven or Saugatuck. You won’t need a car when visiting Mackinac Island. In fact, they’re not allowed—this lovely Victorian resort town is pedestrian-only.
Restaurants in Michigan
1. Stearns Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 360 reviews
Reviewed By davida0827 - Ludington, United States
We frequently visit Ludington, and a trip is not complete without a few trips to Stearns Park. Between the amenities offered, concession stand, locations, and friendly staff, it is a definite must. Once in a while you have to live a little, and they offer deep fried Oreos. Get them!!!!
2. Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 329 reviews
This is a state park along the coast of Lake Michigan located near Mears, Michigan. It includes shoreline along Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, along with many sand dunes.
Reviewed By adventure_in_family - Rochester Hills, United States
We have decided in a short time to do a short vacation and result cannot been better, Silver lake is an amazing place where you can have a range of activities to choose .You can be just in peace, walk, view amazingly landscape , doing family tours , enjoying a beach or go to do radical adventures as 4x4, bugs, jet sky, boats etc. And there are also the carts and mini golf, so a plenty of activities. Again is a paradise for all kind of people that enjoy being in the nature!
3. Lake Michigan Beach Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 91 reviews
Reviewed By Jinnyus
Our family wanted to watch the sunset on a beach, so we drove to Empire. The beach has lots of deep sand and places to sit. You can cook out or have a fire. We sat on a bench overlooking the water while our grandsons played on the playground equipment. While we were there, a mother/daughter were sitting at a picnic table next to us waiting for sunset. One by one, people started gathering right next to the table (there's a big standing rock, perhaps it's a meeting point) and basically made themselves at home by putting their stuff on the table or sitting down. I was surprised to see this. The mom/daughter obviously were also surprised. Is that the new beach etiquette? Just walk up to someone's table and take it over? Sunset was lovely. Plenty of people were in the water even at the end of daylight, including kayakers and paddleboarders. I think there's a parking fee, but I didn't see any place to pay.
4. Fifth Avenue Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By theoljohnnyboy - New Florence, United States
We stumbled across this beach when visiting the lighthouse and pier. Lots of parking, really beautiful and clear water. Public restrooms, concession stands, and free parking all right beside the beach. While the first street beach got lots of waves the day that we were there, the 5th street beach had no waves as the pier blocked them all. Something worth keeping an eye on depending on if you want waves or not!
5. Oval Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,031 reviews
Lake Michigan Beach, popular for its clear water and nice sand.
Reviewed By BoysInNY - Chicago, United States
This is a great beach to watch the sunsets. It’s a small beach as much of the sand is eroding. There are facilities here and lots of parking, which makes it an easy beach to visit.
6. Clinch Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By Gypsy1102 - Boston, United States
a great park away from the city lovely on the lake and easy to walk .. under road safe tunnel way enjoy the quiet and the views
7. Silver Beach County Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 782 reviews
Reviewed By PalmTreeSeeker4ever - Maumee, United States
We took our kids to Saint Joe’s as young kids 30 years ago. Now we are taking our grandkids to Saint Joe’s and boy, has it grown! We highly recommend this area... between Silver Beach pizza, the Compass splash pad, the wonderful beach with nice restrooms, snack stand and the carousel we couldn’t ask for any more fun. They were too old for the great playground right on the sand! The only down side is that I think the beach could be cleaner. So many cigar tips, and other debris. I think they need a beach Zamboni (like in Florida) to clean the sand... or people to quit polluting it! Hotels are very pricey near the beach. We stayed just off of 94 and it was much more reasonable. Only a 16 minute drive to the beach and they have free parking downtown if you don’t mind walking a bit or on the beach parking for $12.00/day. We liked that they had lifeguards posted also. We will go back again... ????
8. Pere Marquette Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 467 reviews
Reviewed By melissadU8051XM
This is our favorite beach. Lots of parking, clean with decent bathrooms. The beach area is huge, so even when there are tons of people, you dont feel super crowded. They also have a concession stand with ice cream, hot dogs etc. Along with rentals for water gear.
9. 12-Mile Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By bandido63
We stayed for 3.5 days and 3 nights at the Twelvemile beach campground which is one of three campgrounds that are part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We arrived on Monday 7/29 and left on Thursday 8/1. We had made previous reservations and that is the only way to get a campsite here now (after 7/11/19). There is a gravel road that runs east-west through the campground and the sites are on both sides north and south of the road. The backsides of the campground to the north of the road basically back into the dunes over the beach. Each campsite has a pad for a large tent or two smaller ones, a picnic table and a fire ring. There are trash containers near every campsite. Due to black bears in the area, they ask that you out foods and smellables in your vehicle when not eating/cooking. If you came in a motorcycle or a bicycle, there are a few metal boxes through camp where you can store your food. There are pit latrines at different spots through the camp and they are nice and clean, they provide TP and hand sanitizer. The beach is spectacular and the views of the sunset are particularly stunning. Due to the roads, even though you are a little over 30 miles from Munising, it will take one hour to drive there. There are plenty of trails nearby to visit (highly recommend hiking the trail to Chapel Falls/Chapel Rock) before heading into town for the Pictured Rocks boat/kayak tours. This is a no generator camp, so it will be nice and quiet and a perfect place to enjoy nature. There are staircases that take you down to the beach if you don't feel like venturing down the sides of the dunes. We really enjoyed our time at this campsite and were impressed with how well maintained it was. Would definitely want to go back in the future.
10. Weko Beach Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By christyjoy68 - Elkhart, United States
Such a great beach. Clean and uncrowded. I love that the restrooms are centrally located and easily accessible. One of the great benefits to this beach is that there are a few trees along the edge of the parking lot, giving lovely shade to the hot sand. A resource officer made the rounds regularly and kept things under control. All in all, a great experience.
