{short description of image}1st Traveler's Choice...

Destination

Saugatuck, Michigan

Saugatuck's historic City Hall is festooned
for Memorial Day Weekend
photo: Saugatuck CVB

{short description of image}Bed & Breakfast
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Vacation Rentals
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Dude & Guest Ranches
Work a real cattle ranch or relax on a farm... fun for the whole family!

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Getaways
Great Destinations - Special places/special people.

Internet Cookbook
Over 4,000 recipes from Innkeepers, Chefs and Culinary Professionals.
Go Fish!
Don't let the big one get away, innkeepers know where to catch the best fish.

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Kids Welcome!

Pet Friendly Inns
Places where your pet is welcomed too!

Restaurant Guide
Restaurants recommended by innkeepers and proprietors.

photo of fireworks at Saugatuck Harbor, Michigan What do suffragette Susan B. Anthony, puppeteer Burr Tillstrom, aviator Amelia Earhart, adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, poet Carl Sandburg, pianist Jan Paderewski, and Bozo the Clown have in common? They all spent time in and around the Saugatuck-Douglas area. This charming resort community has always been a haven for creative people.
On the surface, these little towns seem like all the other resorts dotting the shores of Lake Michigan. There are lovely bed & breakfasts, a wide variety of restaurants, and lots of specialty shops but an undercurrent of creativity give Saugatuck and Douglas a special feel to anyone who spends more that a few hours here.
Snuggled amid towering sand dunes and tucked around unspoiled beaches, Hunt's Highlights of Michigan calls Saugatuck, "...one of the state's jewels, a town blessed with a combination of natural and man-made beauty." Visitors and summer residents began coming in the 1890's and as Saugatuck-Douglas approaches a new century, people are still discovering a vibrant and unique community.
Saugatuck is first and foremost a water town. Located along the Kalamazoo River with Lake Kalamazoo serving as a natural harbor, numerous marinas and charter services line the shores. Perch fishing is some of the best in the world and there are always sail boats, yachts, racing boats and pontoon boats moving up and down the river and out onto Lake Michigan. Enjoy a paddle wheel boat ride on the Star of Saugatuck and explore the scenic waterways. There are also dinner cruises available on the City of Douglas or you can be your own captain and rent a pontoon boat or jet ski.
Saugatuck Harbor on Lake MichiganTwo unique and charming aspects of the area's water history can be found in the Chain Ferry and Keewatin Museum. The chain ferry is propelled by hand-cranking it along a chain that stretches across the Kalamazoo River. There's been a ferry at this crossing since 1838 and it's the last to survive on the Great Lakes. The Keewatin is the last of the big steam-powered ships that cruised the Great Lakes. Now a maritime museum, it's great fun to explore.The surrounding sand dunes and beaches are "naturals" for hours of exploring. You might begin by climbing the 282 steps to the top of Mount Baldhead. This giant sand dune was a sacred spot for area Indian tribes who used to sacrifice a white dog at the top each spring to rid themselves of evil winter spirits. Later "Baldy" received a toupee of trees to stop it from naturally moving eastward into the river. Today, you're rewarded with a spectacular view of the area from the observation deck on top.
Saugatuck, MichiganOxbow summer school and numerous art galleries confirm Saugatuck and Douglas' reputation as a Midwest art center. Oxbow is the summer artist's colony and school for the arts that was founded bin 1910 and now operates in association with the Art Institute of Chicago. Artists from all over the world are drawn to this natural setting to teach and learn. There are over 20 galleries, many of which are working studios where you can observe artists creating in every medium imaginable.Cultural activities continue with the Chamber Music Series during July and August. Enjoy an evening with Elaine Richey and other staff members from the North Carolina School of the Arts as they perform superb chamber music. While in residence, Saugatuck for the finest in summer stock theater, open June through September.

Saugatuck-Douglas has often been called the Bed & Breakfast Capital of the Midwest, with over 38 in the area. Some of the area's finest inns form Saugatuck Select Inns. This summer, Clearbrook Golf Club and Saugatuck Select Inns have teamed up a special golf package for those who wish to reserve lodging and advance tee time. Among the seven inns, guests can choose a country setting, downtown or waterfront in Saugatuck, or near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Summer, Winter, Spring or Fall, Saugatuck offers you leisure, adventure, and culture...all in a magnificent setting.

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