Unpopular Opinion: Michigan’s Great Lakes Don’t Have True Beaches

Many would consider these fighting words: The Great Lakes aren't true beach getaway destinations.

That opinion isn't mine, mind you, rather a posting on Reddit's popular Unpopular Opinion subreddit. It reads:

👇🏼BELOW: The Only Destination For These Highways are Michigan State Parks👇🏼

Living in the Midwest, people will tell you “We’re taking a vacation to the beach,” when they’re spending a week at the lake. I find it annoying and stupid. “Beach” should be reserved for the Atlantic, Pacific, or Gulf only. Sure, there might be a sandy spot on the lakeshore, but that’s not a beach. You’re lucky if there’s a 50 foot strip of sand between the wooded edges of the lake. I get it, the ocean is far away, but stop kidding yourself about what you’re doing.

Many were quick, of course, to defend the lakes and Michigan in particular. Perhaps West Michigan even more in particular. Being that West Michigan sits on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan (not something we generally think about) the wave action over thousands of years have created sandy beaches and towering dunes.

Other lakes? There may be a point about a lack of beach.

READ MORE: Strange But True, Michigan Is Just 687 Feet from Minnesota in Lake Superior

Or perhaps, it's the narrowness of the beach. There are many portions of shoreline outside of West Michigan where the shore is incredibly narrow and while there may be beaches, they may not be same sprawling shores as found along Michigan's Lake Michigan coast.

Anyone who has ever seen them knows the Great Lakes are truly vast inland seas and certainly worth of the concept of beach getaways. And if you do doubt that - visit New Buffalo, St Joe, South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland or Grand Haven on any given summer weekend.