Michigan Trip
DW and I are headed to Michigan August 18- September 10. What places fall in the "don't miss" category? AND does anything shut down after Labor Day? Thanks for the help and suggestions!
Forum Discussion
Some info:
Want to see lighthouses? There's 124 still in Michigan which is only second to huge Alaska presently with its hundreds of remote islands, reefs, and rocky shoals and the intense fog they have there. At one time, Michigan had 247 lighthouses and about half of them that were in remote locations had/have been replaced with automated beacons on towers and now solar powered. The iconic, needed, and more pretty ones on shorelines are being kept in decent condition and are still working lighthouses.
One of the most famous, most public walked on/fished from, and most photographed is Grand Haven's over 1200 foot long very wide south pier which has 2 lighthouses on it and a full length iron raised catwalk. The entire pier is presently being totally reinforced and recapped with all new thick reinforced concrete and will be completed by next spring. This required the entire catwalk the full length of the pier be removed and stored and is being maintained/repaired and re-painted/coated before it will be put back and anchor bolted on the pier again next spring. Also not cheap to do.
The south pier is at the end of the mile long waterfront very popular fancy wide boardwalk thru constasnt parks from so much to do and venues pristene downtown one direction which then extends further the other way from downtown for several more miles thru marinas and parks over the south channel, the wide Grand River, and the Spring Lake channel bridge and into downtown Spring Lake all along the water. Almost 100 benches with backs and many clean flush bathroom buildings all the way plus food, ice cream, and beverages too and is all handicapped friendly and great for all ages. Yes, leashed behaved dog friendly too with pooch bags posts and trash barrels too. A tremendous popular people pleaser.
The piers/lighthouses rebuild is very major and expensive long project finally being completed. The GH harbor is very busy with very big ships up to 800 feet long coming and going and only 50-100' from your nose and of course, Grand Haven is the only official Coast Guard City USA by act of the U.S. Congress and was signed into law. Therefore, lots of Coast Guard boats and ships, and 10's of thousands of pleasure boats of all sizes and types. The lighthouses were totally rebuilt 5 years ago and are gorgeous and impressive. The exisitng entire pier structure was built over 100 years ago replacing the previous mostly wood pier, so it really needed this extensive redo that has taken about 9 years to complete. Planning to have it be good for another hundred years! The north pier was re-done several years ago.
Want to see lighthouses? There's 124 still in Michigan which is only second to huge Alaska presently with its hundreds of remote islands, reefs, and rocky shoals and the intense fog they have there. At one time, Michigan had 247 lighthouses and about half of them that were in remote locations had/have been replaced with automated beacons on towers and now solar powered. The iconic, needed, and more pretty ones on shorelines are being kept in decent condition and are still working lighthouses.
One of the most famous, most public walked on/fished from, and most photographed is Grand Haven's over 1200 foot long very wide south pier which has 2 lighthouses on it and a full length iron raised catwalk. The entire pier is presently being totally reinforced and recapped with all new thick reinforced concrete and will be completed by next spring. This required the entire catwalk the full length of the pier be removed and stored and is being maintained/repaired and re-painted/coated before it will be put back and anchor bolted on the pier again next spring. Also not cheap to do.
The south pier is at the end of the mile long waterfront very popular fancy wide boardwalk thru constasnt parks from so much to do and venues pristene downtown one direction which then extends further the other way from downtown for several more miles thru marinas and parks over the south channel, the wide Grand River, and the Spring Lake channel bridge and into downtown Spring Lake all along the water. Almost 100 benches with backs and many clean flush bathroom buildings all the way plus food, ice cream, and beverages too and is all handicapped friendly and great for all ages. Yes, leashed behaved dog friendly too with pooch bags posts and trash barrels too. A tremendous popular people pleaser.
The piers/lighthouses rebuild is very major and expensive long project finally being completed. The GH harbor is very busy with very big ships up to 800 feet long coming and going and only 50-100' from your nose and of course, Grand Haven is the only official Coast Guard City USA by act of the U.S. Congress and was signed into law. Therefore, lots of Coast Guard boats and ships, and 10's of thousands of pleasure boats of all sizes and types. The lighthouses were totally rebuilt 5 years ago and are gorgeous and impressive. The exisitng entire pier structure was built over 100 years ago replacing the previous mostly wood pier, so it really needed this extensive redo that has taken about 9 years to complete. Planning to have it be good for another hundred years! The north pier was re-done several years ago.
