Happy New Year. Every season here has something worth planning a weekend around.
So here is my bucket list for the year ahead, one idea for every month, grouped by season. Use it as a menu. You do not need to do them all.
Why this blog? Hi, I'm Katie. My family and I run Mitten Rentals, and I have been hosting vacation rentals for more than ten years (Superhost since 2015). This is where I share the places I send our own guests along the West Michigan lakeshore.
READ: Spring on the Lakeshore: What Opens When
One Idea for Every Month
1) Winter
January: skate in downtown Holland. February: see the ice sculptures at South Haven's Ice Breaker. March: walk the beach and look for shelf ice from the sand.
Winter is the most underrated season on this list. Dress warm and you get the towns mostly to yourself.
One note on shelf ice: enjoy it from the beach, not on top of it. If you are a skater, Holland's downtown is the place to start. If not, February at Ice Breaker is a fun reason to get out in the cold. Either way, pack warm boots and real gloves.
2) Spring
April: bike the Kal-Haven Trail. May: see the tulips in Holland. June: pick strawberries.
If I had to pick one spring weekend, it would be Tulip Time. Just plan ahead, because Holland fills up fast.
A spring bike ride on the Kal-Haven is a great way to stretch your legs after winter. For strawberries, plan to go in the morning when it is cooler and the fields are fresh.
3) Summer
July: watch fireworks over the lake. August: eat blueberry pie in South Haven. September: take a dune ride in Saugatuck.
These are the classic lakeshore weekends. They are also the ones that book first, so do not wait too long.
My summer pick is the blueberry pie in South Haven. It is such a simple thing, and it tastes like a lakeshore summer. A dune ride in September is a fun way to end the season with the kids.
READ: Why You Should Plan Your Summer Trip Now
4) Fall
October: pick apples and walk a corn maze in Fennville. November: enjoy a quiet beach. December: shop the Christmas market in Holland.
Fall is my favorite season here. The orchards are busy, the beaches go quiet, and the holidays bring the downtowns back to life. Our area guides can help you pick where to start.
If I were planning a fall weekend, I would start in Fennville for apples and a corn maze, then spend a slow day on a quiet beach. Save December for the Christmas market in Holland.
You do not need to check off all twelve. Pick the two or three that sound the most like you and build a weekend around each one. Save this list somewhere you will see it. Then circle one month and make it happen.
Pick a month and plan a weekend. Holland Home Retreat, South Haven Cottage, Saugatuck Cabin and Fennville River View are each close to a few of these ideas.