The Summer of Yesteryear
Do you want to travel with your family in nice accomodations, but make it low-key? I’ve got a spot for you! Sweet simplicity wins in this special Midwestern location. This treasure has been part of our family vacation schedule for 13 years now! It has everything you need for long-lasting family memories: evening fires by the beach, group crafting barns, kitschy and also upscale shopping, Lake Michigan and water activities, sunset watching, and a nod to simpler times. If you crave some SERIOUS relaxation with your family, as well as plenty to do for everyone, check out Saugatuck, Michigan. Let me break it down for you.
Our view from the cabins-that’s Lake Michigan!
My son says that going to Michigan is his “favorite day of the year because it kicks off the summer!” And it truly does for us because we leave the Friday after school gets out and stay through Memorial Day weekend. We typically stay 4 nights, but in our huge group we have all lengths of stays (2-7 days). It’s just about 3.5 hours from Mahomet, IL and this short distance makes it the perfect extended weekend trip for our family.
Hiking down the stairs with Mia
Thinking about Michigan is such a sweet trip down memory lane for me! Our kids have been every year of their lives, so we’ve done this trip with ALLLLLL the baby gear, naptime schedules, and tons of help. It’s fun to look back through those memories and say, “Wow, that was exhausting!” as we sip wine on the deck and let our kids go up and down the stairs to the beach BY THEMSELVES! We’ve come a long way! Guys, during one summer to Michigan, our kids were 6 months, 21 months, and 3 and we walked down the street of Holland (a nearby shopping town we love) pushing all of those babies in 3 strollers! I treasure this picture of them because it gives me all the feels. I also have fond memories of strapping little Mia to Chris and carrying Owen, while we held Zoe’s hand and walked down 1 million steps to the lake just so we could say, “this is too cold” and walk right back up again! The things we do for our kids! But also, these trips were for our sanity. Every summer we get to be surrounded by Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and Cousins who love our kids just as much as we do and help take some of the pressure off as Mom and Dad. It’s a win win for everyone! But I digress!
One of the things we love most about this trip, other than the family time, are the cabins we rent every summer. Jeff and Mike, the owners, bought these 1950’s cabins and fixed them up to be cozy and modern, with landscaping that could be in magazines! The outdoor space is really what shines and it creates an additional living space for the family. The kids like to walk through the paths and explore, while the adults sit in the sun during the day with a good book (my fave!!) or stay up late talking around the fire pit in the evening. Almost all of the cabins have a view of Lake Michigan just across the street and a walk down some steps (1 million if you’re carrying children). Each family rents their own cabin, but they are all located steps from each other so we can hop around to cabins and visit frequently. There are several sizes available to rent, so you can truly customize your lodging to what your family needs. We don’t always stay in the same size cabin from year to year, because even within our family unit our needs change.
Saugatuck and her sister town Douglas are art towns full of gorgeous shops, artwork, restaurants, and dogs! Dogs are EVERYWHERE in Saugatuck and we just love it! We still haven’t brought our pups because truth be told we need a break from them, LOL. But we LOVE seeing other people’s dogs enjoying Michigan. And someday we will bring them! Just not yet :)
Another fun family tradition that no one loves to organize more than my mom is our delegation of family meals. Dining out with a large group can be stressful and expensive, so for our dinner meals we always stay home. Families take turns cooking for everyone and it’s both a lovely break from cooking AND you get to eat things you don’t typically have. It’s fun to go to each other’s cabins and be the guests. Plus the cabins have beautiful kitchens and plenty of space to spread out, so staying home is fun!
Our family loves traditions, so our jaunt to Michigan always includes the following activities:
This adorable family business is an institution in Saugatuck. You can paint pottery, design a mosaic, create a necklace, or even fuse glass for a garden ornament! It wouldn’t be a trip to Michigan without it.
Here are my parents crafting together <3
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Mike and Jeff’s cabins are so special! Here my husband and I are on the deck that overlooks Lake Michigan. You won’t be disappointed in these special accommodations!
We love having lunch at this adorable restaurant and pie pantry. They serve cold apple cider and have pie flights!! What could be better than a flight of fresh fruit pies?? Not much, that’s what.
My husband and nephew playing at Cranes = total joy!
Downtown Saugatuck:
Downtown Saugatuck is our family’s personal favorite area to shop because there is a little something for everyone, including bicycle rentals, ice cream, fudge, amazing restaurants, a used bookshop, a little park, and so much more. It’s not huge though, which makes it the perfect afternoon activity with your kids.
We are suckers for a good cold pressed juice and you can find them downtown, along with this adorable wall for photos!
Shopping in Holland:
Holland is just a short drive from Saugatuck and has even more shopping, with a bit more upscale stores. Make sure to check out the adorable Apothecary for incredible gifts!
How All American is this photo of my niece enjoying ice cream in Holland?!
This isn’t something we do every year, mostly because our kids have been small until recently, but the Fenn Valley Vineyard is so sweet and beautiful and ONLY $10 for a tour!!! You just can’t beat it.
I hope this article is helpful in planning your next sweet summer (or fall or spring or winter!) getaway to Saugatuck, Michigan! And if you go, tell Mike and Jeff hi from the Harlans!
XO,
Katie