living local along the lakeshore
2025 Date Ideas Along The Lakeshore
If you know us, you know we love lakeshore communities and we also love connecting all of you lovely people to those communities. We know home is where the heart is, but we’re bit on sharing the love in the community you live in as well. We have composed a list of things we would recommend for a great date night with your loved one in each of the lakeshore communities we serve along Lake Michigan.
Whether you’re going out in the morning, afternoon, night or making your whole day a fun date, we’ve got something for all of the above!
New buffalo
MORNING
-Get coffee from Issa Vibe Cafe
-Do the New Buffalo Walking Tour (which starts at New Buffalo Beach and there is a sign at the beach that will direct your tour!)
-Shop the boutiques downtown New Buffalo
AFTERNOON
-Get lunch at The Stray Dog
-Go wine tasting at Warner Vineyard’s Tasting Room
-Relax and enjoy New Buffalo Beach
-Get massages or relax in the hot tub at Foundation Mind and Body Spa (indoor option)
EVENING
-Dinner at Brewsters
-Hike Warren Dunes State Park during golden hour (and maybe see a Lake MI sunset!)
-Get a drink to end your night at Greenbush Brewing Co in Sawyer
St Joseph
MORNING
-Get coffee from Forte Coffee
-Visit the Krasl Arts Center and take a class!
-Walk the beach at Tiscornia Park
AFTERNOON
-Get lunch and a beer flight at Silver Harbor Brewing Company
-Shop and walk the downtown of St Joseph (and visit the farmers market if it is going on!)
EVENING
-Dinner at Silver Beach Pizza
-Go axe throwing at Lumberjax: Urban Axe Throwing
South Haven
MORNING
-Get breakfast at Cafe Julia
-Visit the Michigan Maritime Museum
-Shop the many boutiques in Downtown South Haven
AFTERNOON
-Go to Admiral Jack’s for lunch
-Spend time at South Beach
EVENING
-Dinner at Clementine’s
-Go on a two-hour private sailboat tour with Sailing South Haven
-End your night with a cocktail at Taste
Saugatuck
MORNING
-Get coffee from Outside Coffee Co and shop at Woosah and Calico Vintage
-Walk the beach at Oval Beach
AFTERNOON
-Go on a dune ride with Saugatuck Dune Rides
-Get lunch at Pennyroyal Cafe and Provisions
-Visit the wineries in the greater Saugatuck area (MI Wine Co, Modales Wines, and Fenn Valley Vineyards)
EVENING
-Walk at Mt. Baldhead Park
-Dinner at The BARge
-Walk through downtown Saugatuck and stop into some of the shops
Holland
MORNING
-Get coffee and a waffle from The 205 Coffee Bar
-Walk through the shops in Downtown Holland
-Stop at the Holland Farmers Market
AFTERNOON
-Get lunch (and maybe a margarita) at Taco + Bar
-Catch a movie at Sperry’s Moviehouse
-Head over to Holland State Park and walk up Mt.Pisgah
EVENING
-Get dinner at Boatwerks or Big Lake Brewing
-Enjoy bowling or axe throwing at BAM! Entertainment Center in Holland
Grand haven
MORNING
-Get coffee from Side Bar Artisan Coffee
-Stop at the Grand Haven Farmers Market
-Shop some of the downtown boutiques
AFTERNOON
-Get the ever-famous Pronto Pup for lunch from Pronto Pups
-Walk the Grand Haven boardwalk or hike at Rosy Mound Natural Area
EVENING
-Get dinner at Noto’s
-Enjoy a sunset at Grand Haven State Park Beach
-Watch the Grand Haven Musical Fountain
Muskegon
MORNING
-Get coffee from Overgrown Coffee
-Get breakfast at Brunch House
-Go to the Muskegon Farmers Market
AFTERNOON
-Walk the trails at Hoffmaster State Park
-Shop at Polka Dot Paisley and Clove and Crown Boutique
-Get a sweet treat or coffee from Aldea Coffee
-Duckpin bowling at Socibowl (indoor option)
EVENING
-Go to happy hour at Liquid Assets Bar
-Get dinner at Capone’s (indoor option) or The Deck (outdoors and seasonal)
-See a Lumberjack’s Hockey Game (winter/spring) or watch a show at the Frauenthal Center
Whitehall/montague
MORNING
-Get coffee from Busy Bee Coffee
-Stop by the Montague Artisan Market Village
-Go to the Montague Farmers Market
-Walk Duck Lake State Park
AFTERNOON
-Get lunch at Colby’s Cafe
-Have fun riding the roller coasters at Michigan’s Adventure!
EVENING
-Get drinks at Sawyer’s Brewing Co and Fetch Brewing for a brewery tour
-Get dinner at Hanson Hill Riverfront Grill
-End your night with a fun activity like an escape room (at The Colby Escape Room), a lighthouse tour (of The White River Light Station) or a kayak ride in the summer months (look into Happy Mohawk for this one!)
Pentwater
MORNING
-Get coffee and breakfast from Green Isaac’s Coffee and Tea
-Go shopping through the boutiques and stroll the Downtown corridor – (she will love this!)
AFTERNOON
-Spend the afternoon at Charles Mears State Park OR take a dune ride not far away at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes (Mac Wood’s Dune Rides)
-Get a small bite for lunch at Cottage Garden Cafe
EVENING
-Go for a bike ride along Pentwater Pathways
-Get dinner at The Brown Bear
-End your night with drinks at The Antler
Ludington
MORNING
-Get coffee from Red Rooster Coffee and Community
-Go through the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
-Tour the Little Sable Point Lighthouse
AFTERNOON
-Get ice cream for lunch or an afternoon snack at House of Flavors!
-Go golfing with a Lake Michigan view at Lincoln Hills Golf Club
EVENING
-Go to Pere Marquette Winery for wine tasting
-Get a nice dinner at STIX
-See a beach sunset at Ludington State Park Beach
Tag us in your date adventures! (@thelocal.lakeshore)
We hope this date guide gives you lots of ideas for celebrating your love in new and fun ways in beautiful places!
And as always, if you’re looking for a place to connect with a realtor and find your dream home along the lakeshore, we would love to chat about what that process looks like!
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