What to do

Grand Haven State Park A 48-acre recreation area has views of the Grand Haven pier, lighthouse and a popular beach. See reviews and ratings. [1] (616) 847-1309; michigan.gov/dnr [2]

USS Silversides Submarine Museum Tour a World War II submarine and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter permanently moored along Muskegon’s waterfront. (231) 755-1230; silversidesmuseum.org  [3]

Holland shopping Boutiques, galleries, gift shops and cafes line 8th Street downtown. Tikal displays handmade jewelry and funky fashion; Reader’s World stocks best sellers and magazines (and sells hardcover best sellers at a discount). (800) 506-1299; downtownholland.com [4]

Holland State Park Eight miles west of Holland, this Lake Michigan park has an expansive beach and great views of nearby Big Red, a much-photographed lighthouse. A boardwalk and stairs access Mount Pisgah’s towering sand dune. See reviews and ratings. [5] (616) 399-9390; michigan.gov/dnr  [6]

Ludington State Park Walk from the shady campground through the dunes to the Lake Michigan beach and Big Sable Point Lighthouse. Rent a canoe and trace the shore of inland Hamlin Lake. See reviews and ratings. [7] (231) 843-2423; michigan.gov/dnr [8]

Michigan Rag Company T-shirts, cozy sweatshirts and flannel pajamas are handprinted in Michigan. Kitschy designs at this Grand Haven spot include log cabins, cats and moose. (616) 846-1451; michiganrag.com [9]

Veldheer Tulip Gardens The largest tulip farm in the Holland area also has a delftware factory on-site. Admission charged to the gardens. (616) 399-1900; veldheer.com [10]

Windmill Island Gardens In Holland, a 250-year-old working windmill, with the only female Dutch-certified miller in North America, towers above a 36-acre island. See reviews and ratings. [11] (888) 535-5792; windmillisland.org [12]

Where to eat

Alpenrose Restaurant and Cafe Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France influence a Holland-area dinner menu. Diners select entrees such as pretzel-crusted walleye. See reviews and ratings. [13] (616) 393-2111; alpenroserestaurant.com [14]

Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant Overlook the lake while you dine on seafood and other specialties at this Holland restaurant. The family-friendly place offers breakfast on Sundays. See reviews and ratings. [15] (616) 396-0600; boatwerksrestaurant.com [16]

Butch’s Restaurant Relax at downtown Holland’s restaurant-wine shop. Dinner options include grilled Alaskan halibut with sticky rice. (616) 396-8227; butchs.net [17]

DeBoer’s Dutch Brothers Bakery Visitors stop into the bakery-restaurant combo in Holland to pick up fresh breads and buttery kraklingen cookies or to nosh on pigs-in-a-blanket and pea soup. See reviews and ratings. [18] (616) 396-2253; deboerbakery.com [19]

Morning Star Cafe This Southwestern-style breakfast and lunch spot in Grand Haven bakes its own foccacia, biscuits and pastries. (616) 844-1131; morningstarcafe.org [20]

Where to stay

Crimson Cottage Inn the Woods This hard-to-find Holland B&B is worth the search. Charming guest rooms have king beds, Wi-Fi and small fridges with ice water. Guests can borrow bikes to explore nearby trails and choose to have breakfast delivered. (616) 994-0922; crimsoncottageinn.com  [19]

Haworth Inn Cherrywood and burgundy accents deck tasteful guest rooms. Walk to downtown Holland or stroll the campus of nearby Hope College. From $150. (616) 395-7200; haworthinn.com [21]

Serendipity Resort Visitors craving privacy enjoy this Grand Haven cottage resort, which includes six vacation homes. From $165. (888) 205-7677; serendipityresorts.com [22]

For information: Grand Haven Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 303-4092; visitgrandhaven.com [23]
Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 506-1299; holland.org [24]
Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (877) 420-6618; pureludington.com [25]
Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 250-9283; visitmuskegon.org [26]