Looking for a gift for someone who loves it here? Skip the generic stuff.
These local favorites travel well and taste like the lakeshore. Here is my shopping list. Most of them are easy to pick up during a weekend here, and a few are perfect for holiday dinners.
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: 6 Lakeshore Wineries Worth Working Into Your Weekend
My Lakeshore Gift List
1) Uncommon Coffee Roasters
A bag of beans from Saugatuck's own roaster. Coffee is the easiest gift on this list because everyone drinks it.
Pair it with a mug and you are done.
Here's a tip for coffee gifts: buy whole beans if the person grinds at home, and ground if you are not sure. A bag of local coffee is one of those gifts that gets used up and remembered.
2) Stovetop Coffee Roasters
Small batch coffee from Holland. If you are giving to a real coffee person, grab a bag from both roasters and let them compare.
Stovetop is a good pick for the friend who already has a favorite coffee and needs a new one to try. It is small, local and easy to tuck into a stocking.
3) Crane's Pie Pantry
A pie, or a bottle from the tasting room. Out in Fennville, this is a classic stop.
A pie is a great hostess gift if you are headed to a holiday dinner.
Crane's is the kind of place that feels like a West Michigan tradition. If you are bringing a pie to someone, keep it flat in the car and plan to give it soon. Pie is best fresh.
4) Fenn Valley Vineyards
Local wine from Fennville. A bottle of Michigan wine is a nice surprise for anyone who thinks wine only comes from far away.
Fenn Valley is close to Crane's, so it is easy to do both on the same trip to Fennville. Pick up a couple of bottles, one to give and one for yourself.
READ: My 5 Favorite Main Streets on the Lakeshore
5) Kilwins
Fudge and chocolate from downtown Grand Haven. This is the one I would pick for kids, or for the office.
Kilwins is right downtown on Washington Avenue, which makes it an easy stop after a walk on the boardwalk. A box of fudge is a classic lakeshore gift for a reason.
6) DeBoer Bakkerij South
Dutch treats for the holidays from Holland. It feels right to give something Dutch from a town with this much Dutch history.
Go early in the day for the best selection.
DeBoer is a good last stop before you drive home. Holiday Dutch treats are a fun gift for anyone with ties to Holland, or anyone who just loves a good bakery.
You can easily hit most of these on a weekend of holiday shopping up and down the shore. Pick one town and shop it well, or make a little loop from Holland to Fennville to Grand Haven.
Or give the gift of a weekend away. Our homes make a great getaway any time of year, from Holland Home Retreat to Fennville River View to South Haven Cottage.