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Nature and Nurture
28
items Living on the shores of Lake Michigan you experience all the best things in nature! We have fabulous parks and lakes everywhere but nothing beats the freshwater of the Great Lakes! Come and lose yourself in nature!
Sections
7
Parks
Animals
Winter Wonderland
Beaches
Adventure
Outdoor Restaurants
Parks
Michigan has the best Parks! You can’t go wrong with any park on the shores of Lake Michigan, they’re all fabulous and beautiful in their own way!
It’s almost peak fall color time. Anyone ready for a trip to one of Hollands parks for a beautiful nature experience?
Fall
My absolute FAVORITE hiking trail!! This is such a beautiful park. A slightly demanding trail with something like 880 stairs on the round trip. But don’t worry, there are plenty of benches and lookout spots with beautiful views. The reward? That...
Rosy Mound Natural Area | Ottawa County, MI
I grew up going to this park. It has everything you need in a park. Wooded hiking trails, beach, campground, nature center and did I say beach??? So many miles of exploring fun.
P. J. Hoffmaster State Park
This is a great park for camping with the family. We’ve spent a ton of time at this park while our kids were growing up. Nice trails and beach. Right on the shores of Lake Michigan!
Pioneer Park - Muskegon County ...
If you want to climb the dunes, this is the place to go. The grand daddy of all dunes. So much fun and a challenge for the brave!
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Twin Lake is a fantastic little family park. The reason I classify this as a family park is because of the water. It is very shallow and calm. No rip currents, just hours of water fun for all ages!
Twin Lake Park
Animals
West Michigan wildlife is plentiful. Always a pleasure to see animals in their natural habitat. We often take this for granted.
West Michigan if filled with beautiful cardinals. There’s a belief that every cardinal you see is a loved one visiting you from heaven. I always feel so peaceful when I see cardinals. And they really do seem to follow you and swoop close to you as...
Northern Cardinal Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
I can’t go outside without encountering a squirrel or twelve. Seriously my dogs don’t even react to squirrels anymore.
Learn about squirrels
Foxes are very common in West Michigan. As more homes are built in their natural habitat, we see more and more foxes near people. While you should never approach a fox, they are fun to observe from a distance. We once sat on our deck in our fenced...
Fox | Species, Habitat, Behavior, & Facts
Love sitting out in the evenings and watching the deer move through the nearby woods. They don’t even seem disturbed by my dogs barking at them. My dogs are small and contained on our patio so no danger to the deer and they know it. I’ve seen them...
Deer | Characteristics, Species, Types, Family, & Facts
Winter Wonderland
Michigan is fondly referred to as a winter wonderland. There are so many activities to enjoy for every level of enthusiast. Get out in the big outdoors and embrace the weather!
The winter sports complex is AMAZING!! The luge is heart pounding! The zip lines exhilarating! They have lit trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, fire pits and so so much more. There is something for everyone at this park!
Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
Skiing, snowboarding, sledding. Mulligans Hollow has it all. Fun for the entire family. Natural and man made snow!
Mulligan's Hollow Ski Bowl
Just add snow. This is a great site for winter sledding with small children. Not too crazy, just fun! I brought my kids here every winter when they were little. So many memories!
Muskegon State Park Block House
Check out snowmobiling if you love winter adventures! Do many trails and so much fun. I was raised on snowmobiles and love everything about them!
Twisting Trails Sno-Braves Snowmobile Club
Beaches
Michigan has so many great beaches! They all have different amenities but they all share one thing- freshwater! The big lake is so much like an ocean but yet so different! Forget that saltwater in your eyes! You can enjoy all the beach adventures...
This beach has everything and it’s huge! Swimming, concessions, playgrounds, boating, kiting, surfing, kite surfing, walking the pier, lighthouse, camping, picnics and so much more! I love going to this park!
Pere Marquette Charter Park
Very nice beach! Concessions available. Beach volleyball, they have tournaments and casual play. They even host the soccer in the sand tournament every year. So much fun!
Grand Haven State Park
This is a nice park with some shallows for small children to play in and enjoy Lake Michigan. The water here is very calm and mild allowing for safer water enjoyment for kids.
Duck Lake State Park
Adventure
West Michigan has all kinds of adventures for all levels of thrill seekers. What gets your blood pressure going? I’m sure we have it!
One of the few places in Michigan to enjoy playing on the dunes! Dune buggies, quads, climbing and so much adventure for every level of enthusiast.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Run in the trees! I took my daughter here for her 26th birthday. I wanted to zip line and she’s pretty athletic so I figured she would enjoy the tree obstacle courses. Found out if you want to zip line you have to complete each obstacle course bec...
TreeRunner Grand Rapids Adventure Park & Putt Forest
2 parks in 1! Great deal!! I absolutely love taking the family to MA. We have spent so many hours riding rides and waves in the wave pool. Something for all ages! Been coming here since I was a kid and love seeing it grow as an amusement park. M...
Michigan's Adventure
Outdoor Restaurants
If you’re going to experience the great outdoors you’re going to need sustenance. These restaurants are great ideas for replenishing your energy in between trips to the parks!
The absolute best beach restaurant! Good food, good drinks, live bands, beach games and SWING CHAIRS! Yes swing chairs. These are so cool! Enjoy your meal while relaxing on a swing chair.
The Deck
Pronto pup is soooo much better than a corn dog! You may have to stand in a long line but it is so worth the wait. Stock up on your pronto pups and sit on the lawn near the channel to enjoy! My advice, buy 2 more than what you think you will eat! ...
Pronto Pup | Grand Haven MI
Yes the cones are really big! Be prepared and ask for a cup!! Delicious Hudsonville ice cream. Banana splits, sundaes and shakes too!
Norm's Dairy Creme | Grand Haven MI
Adventure gear
Adventure enthusiast? You need gear. I recommend dressing appropriately for your activity. These are some of my favorites!
If you’re going to spend any time hiking trails in Michigan you’re going to need a good pair of hiking shoes. I recommend these. Sturdy, comfortable and practical. My feet can go for hours in these shoes!
Hiking Footwear | REI Co-op
No matter what type of outdoor enthusiast you are, you will want some of these long sleeved shirts in Michigan! They wick away moisture and keep you warm on cooler days.
Moisture Wicking Shirts
Spending time on the lakes most likely will involve boating! Having a good tube to tow the kids is a must. Hold on! This one’s a keeper! I like that you can fit several kids on at once with plenty of handholds!
Best Towable Tubes for Boating | Water Tubes
Visit the Columbia factory store for all of your gear! They have everything. I have coats and jackets to meet every need and the quality is fantastic. Read the description they provide for each product to make sure it fits your specific needs!
Columbia Factory Store
Whatever adventure you’re up for, Babbitt’s has you covered. Snowmobiles or quads? They’ve got it. They have all the gear too. Bought my snowmobile helmets here after purchasing a snowmobile!
Babbitt's Sports Center