• SUNSET BY HEATHER CAPUTO2

    Sunset Serenades

    By MARIE HAVENGA mhavenga@grandhaventribune.com After a sun-filled day exploring the magic of the Tri-Cities, don’t forget to grab a front...

  • SUMMER TRAILS MAIN

    Hit the Trails

    By ALEX DOTY adoty@grandhaventribune.com   While Ottawa County is known for its beaches and water recreation, there are also plenty...

  • FRUIT PICKING UPICK 3

    Sweet Taste of the Season

    By Alex Doty adoty@grandhaventribune.com   Ottawa County is known as the king of blueberries, but also offers a variety of...

  • CAMPING HOTSPOTS CAMPFIRE SMORE

    Campfire Nights

    By NATE THOMPSON nthompson@grandhaventribune.com   Roasting s’mores around a roaring fire and “roughing it” for a few days in the...

AMUSEMENT PARADISE

Thrills of summer

By Krystle Wagner kwagner@grandhaventribune.com   Whether it’s zipping around rollercoaster tracks or hitting a skate park, West Michigan has options in store for all amusement seekers. For anyone looking to get a rush of adrenaline from way up high, Michigan’s Adventure is the place to go.   The Muskegon-area amusement...

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Tradition of Celebration

By Marie Havenga mhavenga@grandhaventribune.com A 1924 private picnic has parlayed into a perennial party – and you’re all invited. When Coast Guard members and their families spread blankets and opened baskets at the old Coast Guard Station (the now private residence with a boat house on the north side of...

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Best Scenic Drives

By Marie Havenga mhavenga@grandhaventribune.com If you’re not up for boating, biking or hiking, take to the streets for a scenic sampling of North Ottawa County viewscapes. The road routes below will take you through rugged duneland, past historic sites and along some of the most “wow” factor waterways in West...

GO.CAMPING

Back to Nature

By Mark Brooky mbrooky@grandhaventribune.com Northwest Ottawa County is awash with parks for residents and visitors alike to enjoy their leisure time. One of the better known is Grand Haven State Park, with its sandy beaches and wildly popular campground. New this year at the park that dates back to 1921...

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Gone Fishing

BY MATT DEYOUNG mdeyoung@grandhaventribune.com Whether you like to tackle the rolling waves of Lake Michigan while trolling the depths for king-size salmon or sitting on a quiet pond with a worm and bobber chasing bluegills, the Tri-Cities has a place perfect for you. With such an abundance and wide variety...

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Grand Water Excursion

BY MATT DEYOUNG mdeyoung@grandhaventribune.com My favorite book as a kid was Wilson Rawls’ classic, “Where the Red Fern Grows.” In that story, young Billy dreams of owning a hunting hound. His desperate desire for a dog nearly drives him mad. I had the same affliction as a boy, but it...

FAMILY

Family Fun

By Kyle Moroney kmoroney@grandhaventribune.com Families  find the Tri-Cities area to be a Michigan gem. Nestled along Lake Michigan’s shores, the area boasts many family-friendly activities no matter the time of year. Here are our top 10 activities for families to share laughs, build memories and explore the area: 1: Beaches...

LAKE-MICHIGAN-SURFING

Catch A Wave

By NATE THOMPSON nthompson@grandhaventribune.com There’s no excuse to remain inactive during the late spring and early summer in the Tri-Cities, because the area’s abundance of waterways provides several fun activities that cap a leisurely evening with the family or even complete an intense core-body workout. PADDLEBOARDING Standing up on a...

NIGHT

After Dark

Nights Heat Up By Alex Doty adoty@grandhaventribune.com While the beach draws crowds by day, the nights heat up with excitement in and around Grand Haven all season long. Top among the most popular attractions is the Grand Haven Musical Fountain, which delights crowds nightly beginning Memorial Day weekend and lasting...

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Best of the Best

By CHERYL WELCH cwelch@grandhaventribune.com Want to know where the locals go? Don’t worry – we have you covered. The best of the best is judged each year in the Tri-Cities area during the People’s Choice contest. Thousands of votes were cast for the best of everything from best beer to...