One clue that this little Lake Michigan town (40 miles southwest of Grand Rapids) has an artsy soul: You'll see cool sculptures everywhere. Artists have congregated in Saugatuck (population: 1,000) for a century now, so it's no surprise that art has become part of the fabric of the community.
Some 40 galleries showcase local art and pieces from around the world. Many of the galleries are also studios, so it's easy to catch an artist at work. If you feel the creative impulse while you're in town, check out the classes at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and the visitors' events at the Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency.
Summer brings acclaimed film, jazz and chamber music festivals. Visitors come to enjoy those, plus all the things that lured artists here in the first place: boats bobbing in the marinas, white sand and gentle waves on Oval Beach (pictured), lush foliage in the trees and the ever-changing blue of Lake Michigan.
Resources: Midwest Living's Southwest Michigan Shore Trip Guide; Saugatuck-Douglas Visitors Bureau
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