• FOOD + DRINK
  • PEOPLE + PLACES
  • LOOK + FEEL
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Best of Grand Rapids
    • BALLOT
  • EVENTS
    • PARTNER EVENTS
  • GUIDES
    • THINGS TO DO IN GR THIS WEEKEND
    • ART GALLERIES
    • FACES OF WEST MICHIGAN
    • WOMEN WHO MOVE WEST MICHIGAN
    • MUSEUMS + ATTRACTIONS
    • NIGHTCLUBS + COMEDY
    • OUT + ABOUT
    • REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS
    • RESTAURANTS
    • FEATURED PHYSICIANS
    • TOP DENTISTS
    • TOP DOCTORS
    • TOP LAWYERS
  • MAGAZINE
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GR HOME
    • ISSUE ARCHIVE
    • NEWSLETTER
    • PICTURE THIS
    • PICTURE THIS GALLERY
    • NEWSSTAND OUTLETS
    • EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Create an account
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Sign up
Welcome!Register for an account
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Partner Events
  • Archive
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Create an account
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Create an account
Welcome! Register for an account
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Grand Rapids Magazine Grand Rapids Magazine
Grand Rapids Magazine Grand Rapids Magazine
  • FOOD + DRINK
  • PEOPLE + PLACES
  • LOOK + FEEL
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Best of Grand Rapids
    • BALLOT
  • EVENTS
    • PARTNER EVENTS
  • GUIDES
    • THINGS TO DO IN GR THIS WEEKEND
    • ART GALLERIES
    • FACES OF WEST MICHIGAN
    • WOMEN WHO MOVE WEST MICHIGAN
    • MUSEUMS + ATTRACTIONS
    • NIGHTCLUBS + COMEDY
    • OUT + ABOUT
    • REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS
    • RESTAURANTS
    • FEATURED PHYSICIANS
    • TOP DENTISTS
    • TOP DOCTORS
    • TOP LAWYERS
  • MAGAZINE
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GR HOME
    • ISSUE ARCHIVE
    • NEWSLETTER
    • PICTURE THIS
    • PICTURE THIS GALLERY
    • NEWSSTAND OUTLETS
    • EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
  • Sponsored
Sponsored

Ludington offers ‘up north’ experience close by

By
Ludington Area CVB
-
July 5, 2021
198
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
    Ludington is a beachgoer’s dream. Courtesy Ludington Area CVB

    With 28 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Mason County is a water wonderland containing 2,000 miles of streams, 40 inland lakes, three rivers and two lighthouses. The best part? It’s easy to visit at 100 miles from Grand Rapids.

    Nestled halfway up Michigan’s west coast on Lake Michigan, Ludington is a place to get off the grid on a trail or kayak yet have a gourmet meal and craft beer. This city of 8,500 has a laid-back vibe — providing a perfect combination of northern Michigan natural beauty with small-town charm.

    Here is a sampling of Ludington’s offerings.

    Beaches

    Ludington is a beachgoer’s dream. Rated one of the Midwest’s top beaches, Stearns Beach is a half-mile of Lake Michigan shoreline walking distance to downtown with a bathhouse/concession, volleyball courts and picnic area, plus adjacent shuffleboard, minigolf and skate park. Visitors also can walk the pier to Ludington North Breakwater Light. Nature lovers enjoy Ludington State Park with 7 miles of coastline bordered by dunes or the designated beach area with the historic Lake Michigan Beach House. Buttersville Beach south of town is popular with locals and dog owners. For warmer waters, inland Hamlin Lake Beach in Ludington State Park fits the bill.

    Another way to enjoy the water is from a boat on Lake Michigan. Courtesy Ludington Area CVB

    Waterways

    Another way to enjoy the water is from a boat on Lake Michigan (Ludington is Michigan’s No. 1 salmon fishing port with 45 licensed charters) or a canoe or kayak on the Pere Marquette River, legendary for steelhead and salmon. River guides are available through the Ludington Charter Boat Association. Or rent a tube for a lazy float down the Big Sable River in the state park.

    Trails

    Ludington has trails for every mode of transportation. Cyclists can ride 10 miles of singletrack in the city plus the Big M, a 38-mile trail system north in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Hikers can explore 25 miles of trails in 5,300-acre Ludington State Park, including a trail to Big Sable Point Lighthouse only accessible on foot or bike except for select weekends. In town is Cartier Park, a paved 1-mile loop, plus the downtown waterfront loop to watch boats come into port.

    Ludington has trails for every mode of transportation. Courtesy Ludington Area CVB

    Recreation

    Ludington has three golf courses (Hemlock Golf Club, Lakeside Links and semi-private Lincoln Hills Golf Club) and more in the region. It also is a disc golf mecca with six courses in the area, including Mason County Park’s 8,160-foot Goliath course — the third largest and one of the best in the country. Ludington also is home to one of Michigan’s only exclusive disc golf pro shops, Grip ‘N’ Rip.

    Culture and history

    Ludington offers an array of cultural treasures. The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum showcases the region’s rich maritime heritage rooted in salt mining, commercial fishing, car ferries and the U.S. Coast Guard (it is housed in a restored 1934 U.S. Coast Guard Station). Historic White Pine Village is a walkable village of 29 historic buildings from Mason County’s past. Children love visiting Sandcastles Children’s Museum, a hands-on discovery center. And six self-guided Mason County Cultural Trails offer themes from Lumber Heritage to Agriculture. For more maritime history, climb the tower at one of Ludington’s lighthouses, Ludington North Breakwater Light or Big Sable Point Light, or ride the S.S. Badger, the last U.S. coal-fired steamship, crossing Lake Michigan daily to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

    Food and drink

    Ludington boasts a variety of eateries, from mom-and-pop diners like Café 106 to upscale restaurants like Table 14 and the new Crown & Cork, to craft breweries with extensive menus like Jamesport and Ludington Bay Brewing. Or grab takeout from Q Smokehouse or a hand-dipped ice cream cone from House of Flavors.

    • TAGS
    • Lake Michigan
    • Ludington
    • Mason County
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
      Previous articleGrand Rapids Public Museum to host Backyard Stargazing virtual program
      Next articleSurvey: More than half of vaccinated Michiganders will stay away from unvaccinated peers
      Ludington Area CVB
      The mission of the Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Mason County. We seek to market the Ludington area regionally and nationally as a meeting, convention, wedding and leisure traveler destination.

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Sponsored

      GRPM to host Collections & Cocktails fundraiser

      Sponsored

      Stronger with BLUE

      Sponsored

      High-tech ‘smart fitness studio’ is smart choice for West Michigan

       

      FOLLOW US

      11,726FansLike
      12,775FollowersFollow
      235FollowersFollow
      26,486FollowersFollow
       

      NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

      Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and offerings from Grand Rapids Magazine!

       

      MAY/JUNE ISSUE

      Subscribe Now!

      Events Calendar

      « May 2022 » loading...
      MTWTFSS
      25
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10
      11
      12
      13
      14
      15
      16
      17
      18
      19
      20
      21
      22
      23
      24
      25
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      31
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5

      TRENDING

      Ramen bar estimates summer opening

      Rachel Watson - March 15, 2022

      Midland couple to open Taste of Cairo in downtown Grand Rapids

      Rachel Watson - March 18, 2022

      Staying fit in just 10 minutes a day

      Jesse O'Brien - March 17, 2022

      Movie theater opening in Kentwood

      Danielle Nelson - March 14, 2022

      Le Macaron franchise coming to downtown

      Rachel Watson - March 18, 2022
      Grand Rapids Magazine
      ABOUT US
      Grand Rapids Magazine is the definitive resource on the people, food & drink, culture, arts & entertainment, lifestyle and news of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
      Contact us: hello@grmag.com
      FOLLOW US
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise
      • Partner Events
      • Archive
      • Newsletter
      • Contact
      • Privacy & Cookies Policy
      • Terms & Conditions
      © 2022 - Grand Rapids Magazine
      Near me
      40 miles