Places to visit along western Michigan's lakeshore

New Buffalo

New Buffalo is located at the mouth of the Galien River on the Southeastern shore of Lake Michigan – five miles north of the Indiana border. It is commonly associated with neighboring communities of Grand Beach, Michiana, Union Pier, Lakeside, Sawyer and Harbert. The New Buffalo area is bustling during the summer with a mix of locals, weekend residents, fisherman and travelers taking advantage of its beaches, parks, fishing, boat launch and marinas – all of which are withing walking distance of downtown specialty stores and unique restaurants.

New Buffalo is also home to the Midwest's newest casino. The Four Winds Casino Resort is located just off Michigan exit 1 on I-94. Owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the gaming resort offers 130,000 square feet of gaming with 3,000 slot machines and 100 table games including poker. It also features six restaurants, entertainment bars and retail venues, and a 165-room hotel, making it a premier destination resort for Midwest tourism.

In 1935, the nation's first Travel Information Center was built in New Buffalo, Michigan so it has long been recognized as a travel gateway and continues to be one of the most popular beach towns in Michigan. MORE

St Joseph

Once the home of French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, St. Joseph sets atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River. Brick streets welcome visitors downtown to relax as they browse through unique shops and enjoy dining spots in this resort town. Shops display art, antiques, collectibles and lighthouse memorabilia. The town also claims title as one of the best US beaches, according to Parents magazine.

Benton Harbor

St. Joseph and Benton Harbor are known as the Twin Cities. While St. Joseph is known for its lighthouse and lakeside culture, Benton has strong roots to an agricultural past. In the 1930's, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market was the largest cash-to-grower non-citrus fruit market in the world. This heritage is reflected in the Blossomtime Festival, the oldest multi-community festival in Michigan.

South Haven

One of Michigan's most popular Beachtowns, South Haven defines resorting on Lake Michigan's eastern shore. Once known as the "Catskills of the Midwest," South Haven is a place you'll find beaches, parks, entertainment, fabulous food, unique shopping, and nationally recoginzed events – like the Blueberry Festival. Clean, secure and maintained parks and marinas greet South Haven's visitors — who by the way flow in and out of town all year long. MORE

Saugatuck – Douglas

Saugatuck and Douglas are known as "The Art Coast of Michigan". Each summer since 1910 The ArtInstitute of Chicago has conducted a summer school called Ox Bow on an idyllic lagoon just north of Saugatuck. Over the years many artists, smitten by the natural beauty of the area's rolling grassy dunes and white sand beaches (among the top 25 in the world according to Conde Nast International Travel Magazine), have taken up residence and established studios and galleries. These, along with quaint and unique shops, fine dining, exquisite lodging, many attractions like golfing, dune rides, boat cruises, hiking, swimming and professional summer theater, jazz and chamber music – all have lured visitors from far and wide so that tourism has become the area's main industry. At the same time, Saugatuck and Douglas have maintained the charm of small-town rural America.

• See Web Cam from Butlers Restaurant, Saugatuck, MI

Holland

Holland, Michigan is an American treasure with a Dutch landscape. Artifacts are displayed in the historic Holland Museum and the Cappon House. The only authentic working Dutch 278-year-old windmill in the United States, this 12-story giant is located on Windmill Island. Holland boasts the only Delftware factory in the U.S., a wooden shoe factory, and the popular Dutch Village attraction which reenacts 1890's life in the Netherlands.

Beginning in early May nearly six million tulips bloom throughout the Holland area signaling the start of our world-renowned Tulip Time Festival with the 1,500 Klompen Dancers and along with Sinterklaas, the Dutch St. Nicholas, who presides over the cozy gatherings of Dutch Winterfest in his traditional red robes and tall mitre hat.

Downtown Holland is home to more than 120 specialty shops, galleries, and restaurants with a unique snowmelt system under the sidewalks makes Downtown Holland a year-round haven for shoppers. Lake Michigan is for swimmers, boaters, skiers, parasailers, sunbathers, shell seekers, beach walkers, sunset gazers, and sandcastle builders.

• See Web Cam view of the Holland Channel from Spyglass Condos in Holland, MI

Muskegon

Muskegon rose to prominence like many towns along the Lake Michigan shoreline during the lumbering era and is renowned for its historic district and restored Victorian Mansions. Other historic points of interest are as lighthouses, a much-decorated World War II submarine, and a restored 1895 train depot.

Muskegon's cultural side includes the Frauenthal Theatre, which hosts Broadway scale plays and entertainment; a renowned Museum of Art and a superb Museum of History. Muskegon is also known for its 27 miles of sandy beaches, summer festivals, public golf courses, Michigan's Adventure amusement and water park, and thoroughbred racing.

Muskegon has four State and six County parks and is the homeport of Lake Express, high-speed ferry connecting travelers from Muskegon to Milwaukee in 2½ hours with daily trips across Lake Michigan.

• See Web Cam view of the Muskegon Channel from the NOAA Camera - Muskegon, MI

Grand Haven

Homeport of the U.S. Coast Guard on the Great Lakes, Grand Haven is a busy port-of-call for ferries and passenger liners. Lake Michigan and the Grand River meet and provide the backdrop for the World's largest musical fountain, boardwalks, beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and an historic downtown area.

Hart/Silver Lake

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes/Hart area is a blend of blend of stores restaurants and outdoor fun on the shores of Lake Michigan and Hart Lake. The famous Silver Lake Dunes are worth the visit.

Ludington

Ludington area includes two historic lighthouses, miles of pristine Lake Michigan beaches and rolling sand dunes, the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, the popular Ludington State Park, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Manistee National Forest area, the largest charter fishing fleet on the great lakes, and the Lake Michigan carferry service which carries 620 passengers and 180 vehicles between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

• See Web Cam view of the Ludington Channel from Ludington Daily News in Ludington, MI

Manistee

Most travelers know Manistee for its Victorian River Walk with quaint shops and unique downtown area. Golfers know of its Golf courses. Gamblers, the Little River Casino and fisherman know it is the best area in the world for natural reproducing steelhead (rainbow trout) and some fantastic salmon fishing. In fact, 50 percent of the Michigan Master Angler Salmon caught here every year.

Frankfort

Frankfort is another Victorian city on the shores of Lake Michigan, the pristine dunes, beaches and spectacular sunsets awe visitors and locals alike. It is home to Point Betsie Lighthouse, one of Michigan's most photographed structures. But make no mistake, Frankfort is a fishing town, Whether on a charter boat or fishing on your own, the bay, rivers and ake Michigan provide a bounty of perch, coho and King salmon.

Traverse City

Located at the bases of East and West Grand Traverse Bay, the area is a popular travel destination. Golf Magazine ranked it number 12 on its list of the top 50 golf destinations. And Travel America Magazine named the Traverse City area one of the best vacation destinations in the world. The beauty of its clear water, rolling golf courses, and sand dunes has established the Traverse City Area a relaxing, hospitable, and diverse community blessed with a magnificent natural setting and an exciting array of attractions and activities. The area showcases tremendous natural resources and beauty, and it offers a wide spectrum of recreational opportunities that take full advantage of the water, woods, and snow.

• See Web Cam view of the Grand Traverse Bay from the Bayshore Resort in Traverse City, MI

Charlevoix

Charlevoix is surrounded by four bodies of water: Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, Round Lake, and the Pine River Channel. Quaint downtown shops and an ever-present exitement et this city a world apart from its neighbors.

Petoskey

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan's beautiful Little Traverse Bay in northwest lower Michigan, Petosky is a resort area known for its fresh air, spectacular beauty and, of course, Michigan's state stone, the Petoskey Stone. History buffs will love the varied historic architecture of Petoskey and its neighbor, the Bay View Association - an area so unique that the entire community has been declared a National Historic Landmark.

Wonderful dining and quaint shops are an added bonus year 'round, and in the winter, this is paradise for skiers and snowboarders.

Mackinaw City

Mackinaw City is located in Cheboygan County at the very top of Michigan's lower peninsula, at the southern side of the Mackinac Bridge. Gateway to the Upper Peninsula, it is one of the top-of-the-list places to see in Michigan. Experience Fort Michilimackinac, the Old Mackinac Lighthouse, and Mill Creek. Also serves three passenger boat lines to Mackinac Island. Great shopping, our new waterpark, unique attractions, live nightly entertainment, vacation packages and over 50 hotels and resorts.

Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time. When you step off the Island Ferry Dock, you will be in a living Victorian village. Explore the historic Fort Mackinac, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the downtown, try the different varieties of homemade fudge or relax at the Grand Hotel, famous for the movie "Somewhere in Time." Once you've visited our beautiful Island, you will find that it is your island, too.

• See Web Cam view of Mackinac Island Harbor from the The Island House Hotel

• See Web Cam view of BIG MAC (Mackinac Bridge) St. Ignace, MI