Saugatuck: Michigan's Art Coast - Saugatuck MI Weekend Getaway

Preview: There are two sides to Saugatuck. The city is the home of world-famous Broward Marine, where multimillion-dollar yachts are assembled for well-heeled clients around the world. It’s also home to the Saugatuck Drug Store, with a soda fountain that has served up cream sodas, phosphates, and malted milks for more than seventy years. That contrast is seen downtown, where quiet city parks coexist with sophisticated urban restaurants and where midwestern families share the picturesque streets with members of Chicago and Detroit’s gay elite. The city is nestled near the shore of Lake Michigan and defined by steep, rolling dunes to the west and lush, green orchards to the east. In 1914, the Art Institute of Chicago, less than 130 miles away, began sponsoring a summer camp at nearby Ox-Bow. Lured by the warm breezes and picturesque location, other creative types and eventually tourists soon followed, earning Saugatuck a reputation as Michigan’s “art coast.” (Ox-Bow is still open to the public from mid-June through mid-August with galleries, demonstrations, and changing exhibitions in one of the most scenic spots in the area.) Today Saugatuck is one of Michigan’s most popular resort towns. Art still has a major role and is one of the main draws. (In Saugatuck, even the public restrooms are artistic—they’re painted with scenes from Impressionist painter Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.) Art is so popular, in fact, that in summer the streets of Saugatuck become overwhelmingly crowded. If you do go in summer, try midweek. Otherwise, consider visiting during the off-season, when prices are lower and crowds are smaller. The detailed itinerary in this chapter is a driving tour that features extensive recommendations for sightseeing attractions, recreational activities, lodging, restaurants, shopping, and more.
© Copyright Khristi Sigurdson Zimmeth published by The Globe Pequot Press all rights reserved.


Duration: Two nights
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
Quick Escapes: Detroit Guide Book