Top Things to Do in Holland, Michigan
Dutch heritage provides this lakeside town with its name and many of its top attractions, including the annual Tulip Time Festival, Windmill Island Gardens and Veldheer Tulip Gardens.
What to do
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
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. (616) 399-9390; michigan.gov/dnr
Tulip Time Festival Parades, wooden shoe dancing and millions of tulips-plus concerts, fireworks, a quilt show and more-draw visitors to this annual event in May. tuliptime.com
Veldheer Tulip Gardens Stroll among 5 million tulips-as well as daffodils, hyacinths, Dutch lilies and more-at Holland's largest tulip farm. (616) 399-1900; veldheer.com
Windmill Island Gardens In Holland, an 18th-century working windmill, with the only female Dutch-certified miller in North America, towers above a 36-acre island. A re-created 14th-century Dutch inn houses a museum. (888) 535-5792; windmillisland.org
Where to eat
Alpenrose Restaurant and Cafe Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France influence the dinner menu. Diners select entrees such as pretzel-crusted walleye. (616) 393-2111; alpenroserestaurant.com
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant Overlook the lake while you dine on seafood and other specialties. The family-friendly place serves breakfast on Sundays. (616) 396-0600; boatwerksrestaurant.com
Butch's Restaurant Relax at downtown's restaurant-slash-wine shop. Dinner options include grilled Alaskan halibut with sticky rice. (616) 396-8227; butchs.net
Coppercraft Tour groups get a glimpse of the distilling process. Afterward, try a cocktail: The ingredient list changes seasonally but always includes locally grown fruits and herbs. (616) 796-8274; coppercraftdistillery.com
Crane's in the City In Holland's busy downtown, this small cafe serves panini, salads and fresh apple cider. But you're really here for pie from the family-owned orchard. (616) 796-2489; cranesinthecity.com
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. (616) 396-2253; deboerbakery.com
Lemonjello's Coffee Regional roasters provide the beans for Mood Lattes with flavors such as Buzzed (with local honey) and Indecisive (chocolate and white chocolate) in Holland. (616) 928-0699; lemonjellos.com
New Holland Brewing Company After perfecting the art of brewing, it now distills spirits. A copper fermenter sits in the center of the Holland restaurant also known for its creative pizzas. (616) 355-6422; newhollandbrew.com
Where to stay
CityFlatsHotel Splashes of green and orange speak to the styling of this Holland hotel. Bamboo sheets and cork flooring show the ecoconsciousness that garnered the lodging LEED certification. (616) 796-2100; cityflatshotel.com
Haworth Inn Rooms come with complimentary access to Hope College's Dow Center athletic facilities, as well as the indoor Holland Community Aquatic Center. (616) 395-7200; haworthinn.com
For more information: Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 506-1299; holland.org