Take A Dreamy Vacation At The 9 Best Beaches In Michigan
Summer time fun has begun!
The beach has been calling my name!
Now, it is just time for me to pick the best beach to travel to.
Lonely Planet compiled a list of the perfect and best beaches here in the state. Do you agree with their list?
Belle Isle Park
If you love a little noise, you will fit right in at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.
Belle Isle is the perfect place for sunset cruising, family reunions, and more. It is about a Detroiter's right of passage.
"Belle Isle beach is a boisterously fun hangout. There are often small groups kicking back with a cooler full of beverages, and you’ll more often than not catch snippets of Motown pouring from boomboxes. If you stick around until sunset, you can savor unparalleled views of the Motor City’s skyscrapers from the beach."
Maybe just don't go on the slide...
Port Crescent State Park
If paddle sports or just relaxing is your vibe, Port Cresent is your perfect place.
"Visitors can float lazily along on inner tubes, or paddle the serene waters while spotting osprey, deer, and bald eagles. For the more adventurous, nearby Turnip Rock - a 7-mile round trip from Port Crescent - catches the sunrise streaks of vermillion and violet over Lake Huron, and there are plenty of sea caves to paddle in and out of."
Twelvemile Beach
If you are one that likes to get as far away as possible when you are looking for a perfect beachy vacation, check out none other than, Twelvemile Beach in Grand Marais.
It is the perfect spot to see the waves and get a glimpse at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Just be prepared for the drive to the U.P.
Headlands International Dark Sky Park
If you are a big fan of stargazing, this park is the perfect place for you!
Located on the straits between Lake Michigan and Huron, the International Dark Sky Park is protected from light pollution for a good reason.
When the Northern Lights are in full effect, you can see the beautiful green and amber lights in full display here.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
One of the most well-known places in Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
This is the perfect beach if you want the best scenery.
"Sleeping Bear Dunes features towering bluffs, the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world and otherworldly "ghost forests" - the sun-bleached skeletal remains of pine forests that have succumbed to the dunes' shifting landspaces."
Empire Beach
As a midway point to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire is a small-town paradise.
"Empire Beach is one of the best public places to search for Michigan's unique Petoskey stone, a fossilized coral popular among collectors."
Plus, your furry family members are allowed on a leash to walk around the park and on the beach.
Also, Cosmopolitan Magazine has included Empire Beach on its top beaches to visit in 2023. Empire Beach sits at number 6 on its list.
Beulah Beach
With close proximity to Traverse City, Beulah Beach is a well-loved beach.
Lonely Planet shared how Beulah Beach came to be.
"The quarter-mile, whisper0soft sand beach at Beulah is the result of an ill-fated attempt in the 19th century to connect the aptly named Crystal Lake to its neighbor lakes."
Silver Lake State Park
If you know anything about Silver Lake State Park, it is the perfect place for adrenaline junkies.
Silver Lake State Park allows access for cars, ATVs, motorcycles, and bikes so you can drive over 450 acres of sand dunes.
"Families can take a 40-minute "dune scooting" tour of the Lake Michigan shore."
Besides the adventure that the dunes provide, you can chill at the picnic area or swimming area, or just simply lie on the beach.
Ottawa Beach
While there is over 120 lighthouse in the entire state of Michigan, the most iconic one is the Big Red. Luckily, the Big Red is at Ottawa Beach.
Lonely Planet says that this beach is perfect for anyone who loves lighthouses.
"The beach has spectacular views as the sun dips below the horizon of Lake Michigan and paints the sky in scarlet almost identical to the lighthouse."
Do you agree with the nine best beaches in Michigan?