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Enjoy a Day in Saugatuck Michigan

On a recent day trip, my family and I visited the lovely little art town of Saugatuck Michigan! Located on Michigan’s southwest coast right on Lake Michigan, Saugatuck is known for its art community, great shopping, nice beaches and is one of the best LBGTQ friendly towns around. We hadn’t been to Saugatuck in a while and we were pleasantly surprised with how much it had to offer. We love traveling locally and this little town is just an hour away from our home- can’t wait to go back again! There is something for everyone- shopping, great Saugatuck restaurants, wine tasting, Michigan microbrews, great Saugatuck art galleries and so much more! Check out my experience and recommendations below 🙂

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used, which means if you purchase via my link I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products I use and love!

For the Foodies

Grow Cafe & Bistro

Grow is located just across from Coghlin park and is known for its amazing all-day brunch options. They have yummy Avocado Toast and one of my favorites Smoked Whitefish dip. Grow also has a Family-Style Mexican Feast which includes Build Your Own Tacos for 2 or 4 with protein options such as Pulled Chicken, Braised Beef, Pork Carnitas, and side options of Chipotle Cream and Salsa Verde. It also comes with lots of housemade corn Tortilla Chips served with Pico de Gallo and Avacado Smash.

American Spoon

Located right downtown Saugatuck, American Spoon has a lovely selection of Jams, Preserves, Maple Syrup, Salsa’s, and even drink mixes! They use all Michigan grown produce and try to source all their ingredients locally. My favorite is their Blueberry Spoon Fruit. 🙂

Spice Merchants: Spices Teas and Gifts

This little shop is worth a stop on your trip to Saugatuck. Spice Merchants have a variety of teas, spices, and gifts. My favorite thing about this store is their loose leaf tea. You can buy many different flavors in different sizes- so yummy! 🙂

The Mermaid

The Mermaid has some amazing seafood, great views of the water, and some yummy drink options. Make sure to try their Mussels and their Lumiere cocktail which has coppercraft gin, elderflower liqueur, green chartreuse, lime, and bitters. If you are looking to splurge on dinner and some great seafood- this is the place! The mermaid is one of my favorite Saugatuck Restaurants. 🙂

For the Coffee Lovers

For my coffee lovers make sure to stop by Uncommon Grounds. They have a great menu and lots of outdoor seating. Plus they are located in the main part of downtown Saugatuck. While on our visit we got a Caramel Cold Brew and a Double Expresso- both were really good!

For the Wine, Beer and Spirits Drinkers

We did a little self-guided beer and wine tour while in town for the day. Saugatuck is located close to the Fennville Wine Region so there are lots of amazing wines to taste. Plus, Michigan knows how to make a good craft beer so we couldn’t miss the chance to try a few. My list below includes some Saugatuck wineries, Michigan microbreweries, and local distilleries.

The Mitten Brewing Co.

This place is so cool! We stopped The Mitten Brewing Co. on our day trip and tried a Michigan beer flight and GIANT pretzel- it was so good. They also have a Pizza Flight that is to die for. 🙂 They have great outdoor seating and is kid and dog friendly. Even though The Mitten Brewing Co is ‘technically’ a brewery I would say it’s one of my favorite Saugatuck Restaurants!

Crane Winery Tasting Bar

Just across from Wicks Park, Crane Winery has a lovely little tasting room. Here you can taste some of their Michigan made wines and hard ciders. Their Apple Cherry Hard Cider was my favorite! If you feel like a short drive south of town, head to their main winery- Crane Pie and Pastry Winery and Restaurant. Here they have even more wine selections, winery tours, and a full restaurant. You can’t miss their Pie Flights- so amazing. 🙂

Fenn Valley Winery

Fenn Valley Winery also has a nice tasting room right downtown Saugatuck. Here you can enjoy wine by the glass or a tasting of 5 wines for $5. Their main winery is also located just southwest of the city. You can book your Fenn Valley Winery tour here.

New Holland Brewing Tasting Room

New Holland Breweries Tasting Room offers drinks by the glass or small tastes of their handcrafted spirits. You can also purchase bottles and cans to-go. They even have pre-made beach cooler sets ready to pick up! We tried the Beer Barrel Bourbon, Clockwork Orange Liqueur and enjoyed a full glass of their Lake Life Lemonade. 🙂

Coppercraft Distillery

Make sure to check out Coppercraft Distillery and their selection of award-winning premium spirits. They have a quaint tasting room where you can try the good stuff or enjoy a seat at your very own barrel in their outdoor seating area.

Saugatuck Brewing Company

Located just south of town, is Saugatuck Brewing Company. They specialize in Michigan micro-brews with fun names like Maggie’s Irish Ale, Oak Wizard, Impaled It, and Cotton Mouth Quencher. They also offer a food menu full of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and an excellent Sunday Brunch.

For the Art Lovers

Traditionally, Saugatuck is an artist refuse complete with artists communities, retreats, art schools, and of course, tons of great art galleries. For more on the history of the arts in Saugatuck click here. Most of these are located right downtown Saugatuck and are all within walking distance of each other. Check out some of my favorite art galleries below:

• Armstrong De Graaf International Fine Art
• Good Goods
• Amazwi Contemporary Art
• James Brandess Studios & Gallery
• Koorey Creations
• Jeff Blandford Gallery
• The Laffing Glass

For the Beach and Park Lovers

While visiting we stopped by Coghlin park to stretch our legs and sit for a bit. It has a nice view of the water and a statue that our daughter, Mila, really enjoyed. Later we stopped at Wicks Park (near the Mermaid). On the weekend, they have live music and you can easily find a place to sprawl out in the grass. Check out a full list of the Saugatuck Parks- here.

The beach is also a great place to relax between drinking, eating and shopping. Check out some great beaches in Saugatuck below:

• Oval Beach
• Douglas Beach Park
• Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Michigan has some amazing beaches throughout the state- read more HERE!

For the Shopping Lover

Saugatuck has some of the best shopping on Michigan’s West Coast. Everything from art galleries, wine shops, clothing, local food products, unique items, home decor and so much more! There is something for everyone so make sure to take the time to wander the streets and enjoy some great shopping in downtown Saugatuck!

For the Sweets Lover

Downtown Saugatuck is full of yummy places to satisfy your sweet tooth. Including smoothies, chocolates, frozen yogurt, hard-serve homemade ice cream, and my favorite Gelato! Here are some of my favorite places to get some Saugatuck Sweets:

• Peach Wave Frozen Yogurt
• Kilwins Chocolates
• Boardwalk Deli and Ice Cream
• Charlie’s Round The Corner Ice Cream
• The Sweet Shop

Other Saugatuck Restaurants

There are soo many places to eat and drink until your hearts content in Saugatuck. Here are just a few of my favorite Saugatuck Restaurants:

• Coral Gables– A fun place to dance!
• The Butler– Try their famous Butler Burger!
• Scooters Cafe & Pizzeria– You can’t go wrong with Pizza 🙂
• Wallys’ Bar and Grill– A fun place to drink and eat with great people watching.
• The Southerner– Great for breakfast!
• Pumpernickels– Good live music and a classic Saugatuck Resteraunt

Other Things to Do in Saugatuck

Go Golfing

• The Ravines Golf Club
• Clearbrook Golf Club

Go Boating

• Take a traditional paddlewheel ride on The Star of Saugatuck
• Rent a Boat from Retro Boats

Places to Stay Saugatuck

There are so many great options for places to stay in Saugatuck. The area really specialize in local Bed and Breakfast places and little boutique hotels. Here are some of my favorite Saugatuck Hotels and BnBs:

• Lake Shore Resort
• Wickwood Inn
• Starlite Resort
• Bayside Inn
• Maplewood Hotel
• Sherwood Forest Bed and Breakfast
• Bella Vita Rentals
• The Inn of Saugatuck

If you are looking for the best LBGTQ experience make sure to book your stay at the Dune’s Resort- MidWest’s premier LBGTQ Resort.

Check out some of my other Michigan blog posts-HERE!

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About the Author

Sara Moore

Travel Blogger at WanderMoore | Website | + posts

Hi my name is Sara and I am the creator of WanderMoore! 🙂 I started WanderMoore in early 2020 after leaving a full-time job in the Communications/Marketing field to stay home and raise my kiddos, Mila and Liam. I wanted something fun to work on in my free time and WanderMoore has become one of my biggest passions! Thank you for reading my post! I can't wait to share more of my travel adventures with you 🙂

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