West Central, Michigan Family Vacations
Begin your Michigan Family Vacation in the beautiful city of Grand Haven. Sitting right on Lake Michigan it offers you the opportunity to enjoy one of the Great Lakes and all the activities surrounding it.
For recreational boating and spending time at the beach Grand Haven and Spring Lake are two of the most popular destinations along Lake Michigan. There will be the opportunity to make new friends while enjoying all the lake has to offer for boating or swimming pleasure.
Grand Haven
If you want to go fishing then Grand Haven may be the place you want to be. It was recognized as the most chartered fishing port on Lake Michigan. You can fish for Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown and Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Largemouth Bass and Blue Gill. These are the primary catches in the lake and inland waters. There are several public fishing sites, boat launches and marinas in the area so enjoy your fishing experience.
Taking the kids to the beach is always a hit for a family vacation. You can help them build sand castles, splash or swim in the water and just running in the sand.
Tri-Cities Historical Museum
There is also the Tri-Cities Historical Museum when you want something other than sand and sun. The museum depict the life and times of the people, places and events which make up the areas history. There are exhibits that tell the stories of native Americans, early pioneers, lumberjacks, and French voyageurs. There are Victorian period rooms, medicine, agricultural, lumbering, maritime, and an array of other exhibits for you to enjoy. The museum is open year round, six days a week and is located in two separate buildings in the heart of downtown Grand Haven. There is no admission charge so the whole family can spend part of a day there for FREE.
Yogi Bears Fun Zone
Maybe you want to take the kids to Yogi Bears Fun Zone for a little miniature golf, go carts or bumper boats. Are they having withdrawal from not being around arcade games? Well, there are some here for them to play while you relax. It is located at 10910 US Highway 31 in Grand Haven.
Mackinaw Kites and Toys
Mackinaw Kites and Toys is another option for the kids (and parents too) to enjoy. They offer kites of all types that will be fun to fly on the beach. They also have several kite festivals during the year. Maybe you will be there during one of those times and can participate.
The kids may also enjoy going to Imagination Station which is located across the street from the Coast Guard Station, in Mulligan’s Hollow. This is an extensive outdoor wooden play land that will certainly be a hit with the kids.
If you are planning to go to Grand Rapids you may enjoy visiting the Frederic Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Here you will have 132 acres of outdoor sculpture, which is the largest in the Midwest, to enjoy. There are indoor and outdoor gardens, a large tropical conservatory, nature trails, guided tram and a 5 acre Children’s Garden. There is an admission fee. Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tuesdays 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Sundays Noon to 5:00 PM.
John Ball Zoological Garden
You may want to visit the John Ball Zoological Garden where there are over 1,000 animals on a 110 acre park. There is also a children’s zoo. There is an admission charged.
Gerald R. Ford Museum
Take the family to the Gerald R. Ford Museum where they will experience America’s most entertaining presidential museum. Attend a White House State Diner, step inside the Oval Office, you can also see the original Watergate burglar tools. Even though the kids may say “NO, NOT THAT” it will be well worth your time and they will remember it for years to come and probably take their own kids there someday so don’t let them deter you from seeing this piece of history.
This area has converted abandoned railroad tracks into bike trails. You can ride through woodlands and wetlands, across rivers and streams and the fabulous Lake Michigan. If you are a bike rider this is a place you will certainly enjoy.
If you plan a vacation in the winter then bring your cross-country skies. There are over 3,000 miles of cross-country ski trails available for you to enjoy in Western Michigan.
There are also Green, blue and black diamond runs for downhill skiing. There are more than 40 downhill ski resorts offering the best skiing in the Midwest.
If you don’t want to ski then bring your snowmobile! In Michigan the only sport that tops snowmobiling is golf. Michigan has over 6,400 miles of marked and groomed snowmobile trails with over 30,000 more miles of undeveloped trails (two track roads) in state and federal forest where snowmobiling is permitted.
There are a number of other interesting places to visit in West Central Michigan so just make your plans for a fabulous Michigan Family Vacation today.