Fall Fun in Saugatuck-Douglas, the Art Coast of Michigan

You can’t beat a weekend in Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan, the Midwest’s solely homosexual resort space. The artwork coast of Michigan is stuffed with enjoyable issues to do in an space of rolling sand dunes and fruit farms alongside Lake Michigan.

The native peaches and apples are ripe (and some blueberries could also be discovered), the climate remains to be good, and Lake Michigan remains to be heat. The seashores of the realm can’t be beat. My favourite is the Wau-Ke-Na Protect close to Fennville, the place you hike via a forest to the seashore. The Glenn Seashore and Pier Cove, in addition to County Park, are glorious, as is the world-famous Oval Seashore. Search for the gang on the north finish or simply hang around on the pool on the Dunes Resort in Douglas and luxuriate in a cocktail from the bar. The folks watching is sweet, they usually have cabanas to hire for lovers of the shade.

Saugatuck-Douglas has been an LGBTQ-friendly vacation spot for the reason that late 1800s. It reworked from a lumber and fruit transport port into an arts colony and vacationer vacation spot after that, the place steam ships delivered vacationers from Chicago. The Ox-Bow College of Artwork remains to be in existence at this time.

Not like the cookie cutter, usually bland, lookalike Midwestern cities, you’ll find few chain shops or chain motels within the charming, distinctive, and walkable space.

Issues to Do

• Hire a motorbike from In The Parts Leases and benefit from the lakeshore on the brand new Seashore to Bayou Path. Throughout from the put up workplace in downtown Saugatuck, additionally they hire seashore gear, kayaks, and paddleboards.
• Convey your swimsuit for a hike and swim at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. A half-mile hike via outdated development maple and hemlock forests takes you to a phenomenal seashore space, which is nice for swimming.
• Benefit from the 100 years of LGBTQ historical past exhibit (A Century of Progress: 100 Years of LGBTQ Historical past) on the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical past Heart in Douglas throughout the road from the Pleasure Celebration Backyard honoring Larry Gammons and Carl Jennings, the founders of the Dunes Resort. The Heart additionally options one other nice exhibit, “Historical past Ebook: LBTQ Portraits” upstairs. Particulars are at org. Don’t miss the shipwreck museum and gardens behind the Heart.
• Hire a kayak at Third Coast Paddling in Douglas and benefit from the Kalamazoo River and Wade’s Bayou.
• Take a stroll or go for lunch within the very walkable downtown Douglas.
• Hike to the highest of Baldy
• Watch the sundown at Oval Seashore. Hike the paths of the close by Saugatuck Harbor Pure Space after that.
• Go wine tasting at Fenn Valley Vineyards or the Modales Wines, which can also be near a brand new cider distillery, Advantage Cider (virtuecider.com).
• The Saugatuck Heart for the Arts has performs, in addition to stunning gardens and a farmers’ market.

The place to Keep

The Dunes Resort in Douglas is my favourite. It has nice midweek specials, common rooms, and cabins. You may benefit from the indoor and out of doors bars, dance the night time away, or cease by for karaoke. Don’t miss the Sunday T Dances and barbeques. Upcoming occasions embrace Lambda Automobile Membership Weekend (September 15–18), Mr. Michigan Leather-based Weekend (September 23–25), and Hoedown on the Dunes (September 30–October 2).

Contact information@DunesResort.com for extra data or go to dunesresort.com. Cellphone 269-857-1401. You will see that the resort at 333 Blue Star Freeway in Douglas.

The Campit Outside Resort south of Fennville at 118th Avenue is my different favourite and ideal for worth vacationers. Tent websites begin at simply $10; a bunkhouse and cabins are additionally among the many choices. A pleasant pool and meals truck plus a dance flooring are a variety of enjoyable. Upcoming occasions embrace Hearth and Arts Weekend (September 15–18) and LeatherBear Weekend (September 30–October 2). Be taught extra at campitresort.com.

The AmericInn by Wyndham simply down the street from the Dunes is one other nice choice.

The place to Eat

The What Not Inn in Fennville has an excellent Friday barbeque. The perch basket can also be excellent. The Pennyroyal Café and Provisions is without doubt one of the hottest new eating places within the space. Meals is ready the old style manner with native substances that spotlight the bounty of West Michigan farms. The Farmhouse Deli has nice salmon, sandwiches, and contemporary juices. Attempt the Zinger with contemporary carrot. Seize a slice of tasty do-it-yourself pizza or a sandwich on the Lakeshore Social gathering Retailer simply north of the Dunes.

Isabel’s Market and Eatery throughout from the Dunes has nice espresso and Italian treats. The Guardian Brewing Firm has 22 beer faucets and 14 wine faucets on the Outdated Crimson Barn. Very LBGTQ-friendly. Have espresso at Unusual Espresso Roasters Grounds in downtown Saugatuck. The LGBTQ-friendly spot roasts its personal espresso and likewise has pressed juices.

For dessert, strive one among Cookies on Name’s 5 do-it-yourself chocolate chip cookies contained in the Butler Pantry in Saugatuck.

You gained’t run out of issues to do within the artwork coast of Michigan. Plan a visit at this time.

Invoice Malcolm is North America’s solely syndicated LGBTQ worth journey columnist. He’s a former resident of Royal Oak, Michigan, and has been coming to Saugatuck-Douglas-Fennville for 20 years. His column now seems in publications in Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and different cities in addition to on the journey weblog part of IGLTA.org.