Saugatuck
Old Town · Saugatuck, Michigan
Saugatuck is a small resort and art-colony town on the Kalamazoo River, a short way from its mouth on Lake Michigan, paired with the adjoining village of Douglas. It has drawn artists since the early twentieth century, when a Chicago art school set up a summer campus in the dunes, and today the centre is a few blocks of galleries, boutiques, ice cream shops and restaurants. The famous extras are the hand-cranked chain ferry across the river (seasonal, so confirm), the long staircase up Mount Baldhead, and Oval Beach, a wide public Lake Michigan beach that charges for parking. Boat cruises and dune rides add to a day, and Holland is close by for a second stop. It suits couples, friends and families who want a walkable day with a beach and some browsing. It is small, so allow half a day to a full day. Summer weekends bring crowds and parking trouble; the off-season is calm, and many shops cut their hours or close.
Butler Street, Saugatuck, Michigan, 49453, United States
The village itself is open at all times and walkable on foot. Shops and galleries commonly open from about 10 AM to 5 or 6 PM, later on summer weekends, and many close one or two weekdays or shut for stretches from November to April. The chain ferry is seasonal, commonly running from late spring to early autumn in daylight hours, and is not a winter service, so confirm dates with the operator. River and lake cruises and dune rides also run in season only, with times that change by year. Restaurants keep longer hours in July and August and may close early or midweek in the off-season. Oval Beach has seasonal lifeguards and a parking fee in season.