I'll be going to Grand Haven, Michigan the first or second week of May and need to know what to see and do? I'm going with my daughter who will be attend a class. Thanks Dave

-- Dave in Ohio (dr43147@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002

Answers

too early for the Coast Gaurd Festival,,, otherwise not a whole lot to do there till mid summer,, check out their website,,do a search for grand haven

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 28, 2002.

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Grand HAven is probably best known for its beaches, but unless you've got a dry suit or you're a member of the polar bear club, I wouldn't expect spending much time on sand castles. You'll probably need a place to eat, and the "Kirby Grill" is a downtown pub with reasonable prices and an excellent menu. "Sister Town" Springlake is a bit more quaint and artsy, and if you feel like driving a little (<30min), just South of Grand Haven is Holland, and they should be having a weeklong festival called "Tulip Time".

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-- Chris in Mich (chackbardt@industrialvac.com), March 28, 2002.

www.grandhaven.com will help. They have pretty good quotes of the moment, too. "For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program" was on when I checked it out. Who knows what the weather will be like, now that mother nature has decided to give us winter, after all! Don't know what you like to do, but Grand Haven State Park has a good beach to walk and probably some hiking trails. Bring woolies! Ahhh, to have a week to stroll the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline! I'm jealous! Have fun! Amy

-- Amy (kimico@aol.com), March 28, 2002.

Isn't there a new Cabela's in Michigan? Not sure if it's around Grand Haven though. Supposed to be really nice.

-- Mike in PA (smfine@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.

What's Cabela's?? We love the state park there for beach walking. Grand Haven isn't really a town that has a lot of tourist type stuff, just lots of beach. Holland has been suggested and they do have some wonderful gardens etc.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 28, 2002.

Hi Diane,

Next time I e-mail you I'll tell you about Cabela's (outdoors store - clothing, supplies, etc.)and where it is - have to hunt up the catalog first. We went during the grand opening and it's really something to see.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

You should definately try to stop at the Blueberry store in South Haven (Which shouldn't be much out of your way). It is sponsered by the blueberry growers association and has anything you can imagine made from blueberries (ever try blueberry spaghetti sauce?). Haven't been there in a couple of years but my wife is a blueberry fanatic and we generally make an annual stop there while visiting frineds in the area.

-- Mike (mhammer@ix.netcom.com), March 30, 2002.

Cabela's is in Dundee - total opposite side of the state. :(

Yeahhhhh, it's still a little early for all the touristy stuff & festivals & all that to be starting, just yet. We're still trying to grapple our way out of winter. Just a week ago, we had about 2' of snow on the ground & today, it was 50 degrees w/ robins & red-winged blackbirds flitting about & the frogs in the lake down the road singing their little hearts out. "Welcome to Michigan! If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute!", as the old folks like to say.

Grand Haven. Hm. . . . Well, if I'm thinking of the right "Haven", there's a nice alternative spirituality store there. I can't remember the name of it, though, but it's worth looking up. The woman who owns it is very interesting & the shop is like something out of a fairy tale. That's all I remember about Grand Haven. (Seems like there's a Big Boy there, that has a good breakfast buffet, if my memory serves me right, heh.)

The entire west coast of MI is GORgeous. Just go north or south on 31 & you can't lose. You will find scads of things to do. Saugatuck's always nice (south - very trendy & touristy) & if you go north, Ludington is where all the hunter/fisherman like to go. It has a nice State Park, Traverse City is always full of things to do, & Petoskey's GORgeous. Take the long way to Traverse City on 22 & tour the Leelanau peninsula. You won't regret it! If you're a big eater, be sure to go cough up the $17.95 it takes to eat at the Mongolian BBQ in Traverse City. YUM! &, if you have kids, they'll enjoy themselves b/c the cooks put on quite a show. If you're into second-hand shopping, Traverse City Goodwill is always GREAT! THere's a fabulous restaurant in Petoskey called . . . um . . . Village Park Grille or City Park Grille or . . . something like that. You can't miss it - it's on one of the 4 streets in the "downtown" area. They have GREAT food, a large microbrewed beer selection & all kinds of gourmet-ish stuff on their menu to try to choose from. If you get to Petoskey, you might as well continue on to Mackinaw City, so you can take a picture of The Bridge & buy some fudge.

Okay, that's about all I can think off off the top of my head. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself, whatever you find to do! There are some people in or near Holland who own a commercial goat dairy who are very much into an all-natural life & homeschooling & homesteading & stuff like that. Maybe you could look them up if you go to Holland. I think the name of it is Dairy Visions or something like that.

Have fun! Sarah/south-central MI

-- Sarah Sanders (chilechile@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.