Most people come for Saugatuck and never cross the river. That is a mistake. Douglas sits right across the water, and it is smaller, quieter and easier to get around. Many visitors drive right past it on the way to the beach.
Personally, I think Douglas is where you go when you want the Saugatuck area without the crowds. Here is how I would spend a slow day there. It is an easy place to spend a whole day without ever feeling rushed.
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: How I Would Spend a Perfect Day in Saugatuck
My Favorite Stops in Douglas
1) Respite Cappuccino Court
Start the morning at Respite Cappuccino Court, a cozy coffee and breakfast stop right in Douglas. It is the kind of place where you sit down, not grab and go.
Order something warm and give yourself a minute before the day starts.
If you like to start the day slowly, this is the spot for it. Bring a book or just people watch out the window.
2) Outside Coffee Co.
Outside Coffee Co. does coffee outdoors on swing seats, and it is open all year. Yes, even in the cold months.
If you have two coffee people in your group, do both. They are very different mornings.
It is a fun one for kids, too, since the swing seats feel like a treat on their own.
3) The Farmhouse Deli and Pantry
The Farmhouse Deli and Pantry is where I would stock up for the afternoon. Sandwiches, plus a pantry full of picnic supplies.
Grab lunch here and take it to the beach. It saves you from hunting for a table at noon.
If you are planning a picnic anywhere near Saugatuck or Douglas, this is my first stop. It is much easier than trying to piece a lunch together at a gas station on the way.
READ: Where to Grab Picnic Supplies and Where to Eat Them
4) Root Beer Barrel
Root Beer Barrel is a nostalgic roadside root beer stand, and it feels like summer in a cup. It is seasonal, so check that it is open before you plan around it.
Kids love it. So do grown ups.
It is the kind of stop that makes a summer day feel a little old fashioned, in the best way.
5) Douglas Beach Park
Douglas Beach Park is a small, quiet Lake Michigan beach. It is not the big scene you get at the state parks, and that is the point.
Bring your deli lunch, a towel and a book, and stay for the sunset if you can.
Small beaches like this one usually mean limited parking, so I would go early in the day or later in the afternoon.
Douglas is the easy, unhurried half of a Saugatuck trip. Give it a morning and an afternoon and you will see why so many people end up liking it best.
Saugatuck Cabin and Fennville River View are both close to Douglas, so you can be on a swing seat with coffee in no time. Come stay with us.
More favorites in my Saugatuck area guide.