Welcome to charming Holland, Michigan!
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, Holland will capture your heart with its its historic Dutch heritage! We visited for a family vacation and found there is no shortage of things to do in this gorgeous town!
I’ve got your list of what to do, here! Let’s get to it!
1. Hike out to the beautiful and historic Big Red Lighthouse.
For the best view of Big Red, visit the Holland State Park where you can walk along the board walk to the north pier (this is what we did). You can also view Big Red from Mt. Pisgah, where the dune stair case takes you 157 feet above sea level.
2. Venture to Windmill Island Gardens to take a windmill tour and explore the beautiful gardens.
The windmill, De Zwaan, which is the only real working Dutch windmill in the U.S., is over 250 years old! It was transported from the Netherlands in 1964.
3. Eat really good food!
Enjoy breakfast at The Biscuit, the nostalgic Windmill Restaurant, or the Instagram-worthy Anna’s House, have lunch & a drink at New Holland Brewing Co., and grab an afternoon latte from Lemonjello’s or 205 Coffee Bar. Looking for a bakery? Check out DeBoer Bakkerij. Have dinner at Boatwerks, a must-eat at in Holland that has live music and boasts waterfront dining on Lake Macatawa.
4. Go out on the water!
Rent a boat from Holland Water Sports – they offer power-boat, pontoon boat or jet-ski rentals. Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise aboard the Holland Princess.
5. Take the kiddos to Nelis’ Dutch Village for some family fun!
The Dutch Village is a little piece of the Netherlands and offers a petting zoo, rides, Dutch dancing, and cheese tasting!
6. Visit the Holland Farmers Market on the weekend!
The market boasts an absolutely impressive bounty of food! We bought fresh blueberries, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and the largest spinach leaves I’ve ever seen! Plus, don’t leave without trying the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth blueberry donuts from Bowerman Blueberries at the Market.
7. Go to Tunnel Park – a park with a tunnel that goes through a dune!
This large park has a children’s playground, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, a dune climb, and a dune stairway with a scenic view of Lake Michigan!
8. Visit during the spring to see millions (yes, millions!) of tulips in bloom at Holland’s famous Tulip Time Festival.
Full disclosure: We didn’t see this, but next time we visit, this is a must! We did see so many gorgeous hydrangeas during our summertime visit though!
9. Venture south to beautiful Saugatuck.
We discovered Saugatuck Dunes State Park and we are so glad we did! Following a wooded, serene .75 mile hike, the trees open up into the prettiest beach on Lake Michigan. After our hike, we drove into downtown Saugatuck, which is absolutely charming! That evening, we had dinner at The Southerner, and if you’re in the area, I highly recommend this place! So delicious (get the biscuits!!) and the service was stellar.
10. See the sunset over Lake Michigan to witness the warmly glowing landscape.
It’s is absolutely breathtaking! Pack a picnic and a blanket to really enjoy the view.
There are many, many more things to do in and around the Holland area! Don’t forget to check out the Mount Pisgah Dune Boardwalk or venture secluded Laketown Beach, too!
Check out Holland’s website for even more ideas!
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