Michigan has so many options that make it one among my favourite states within the U.S.: entry to a few of the 5 Nice Lakes, miles and miles of gorgeous forests, nice (and underrated) cities, Midwestern appeal and hospitality, and distinctive spots you will not discover wherever else within the nation like Mackinac Island and the Higher Peninsula.
As an Ohioan, I have been fortunate sufficient to discover a variety of Michigan through the years. And now I am excited to share yet one more nook of the Mitten State with you: the town of Ludington!
Ludington, Michigan as a seaside getaway
This small metropolis of lower than 8,000 folks sits on Lake Michigan, close to the mouth of the Pere Marquette River in Michigan’s Mason County. And one of the best ways I can describe it’s as a Nice Lakes seaside city.
Ludington has all the trimmings of an idyllic little seaside city: it is on the water, has a big sandy seaside, and boasts a walkable downtown space full of bars, eating places, and t-shirt outlets. Ludington additionally has some enjoyable museums, distinctive locations to remain, and is close to a superb state park. Mainly, it makes for an excellent lengthy weekend getaway while you need to swap the saltwater for freshwater!
In case you’re intrigued to study extra about Ludington, learn on!
Observe: This publish is delivered to you as a part of a paid partnership with Pure Ludington. As all the time, although, my opinions are my very own and based mostly 100% alone experiences!
The right way to get to Ludington
Ludington lies on Michigan’s western facet, on the shore of Lake Michigan. For individuals who know Mitten Geography, Ludington sits simply above the knuckle of the Michigan Hand Map. (Michiganders know precisely what I am speaking about, and for individuals who do not, simply know that folks in Michigan typically use their hand like a map to indicate the place completely different locations are within the state.)
Town is greatest reached by automotive, with U.S. Route 10 main straight into downtown. Ludington is roughly 3.5 hours from Detroit, 4 hours from Chicago, and 6 hours from Cleveland, Ohio, in the event you’re driving.
Throughout the summer time months, it’s also possible to arrive in Ludington by way of the SS Badger carferry from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The SS Badger is tremendous historic (a Nationwide Historic Landmark, actually!) because the final coal-fired passenger vessel working in the US.
When to go to Ludington
Ludington is a year-round vacation spot, however there are some warm-weather points of interest which might be ideally suited to the summer time months. In my private opinion, I might say Could-September is without doubt one of the greatest occasions to go to Ludington, with August-September being best if you wish to swim in Lake Michigan.
Being positioned on the lake, Ludington typically has fairly gentle summer time climate – which is nice information for anybody like me who loves summer time actions however hates sweltering warmth.
It is a superb fall vacation spot, too, with Ludington State Park, Cartier Park, and the close by Manistee Nationwide Forest all providing up nice leaf-peeping. (In truth, a Michigan fall street journey is one among my favorites I’ve ever achieved!) On this a part of Michigan, fall colours peak often within the first half of October.
Prime 10 issues to do in Ludington
Ludington could also be a small metropolis, however there’s extra to do than you most likely assume. I really visited Ludington solo, however know that it is also a unbelievable vacation spot for {couples} and households, too – there really is one thing for everybody.
I spent 4 days leisurely exploring all that Ludington has to supply, and right here have been my favourite issues to do:
1. Hit the seaside at Stearns Park
The general public seaside at Stearns Park is a large, deep sandy seaside that is free to go to (and has plenty of free parking, too!). The seaside is nice for wading, has wheelchair-friendly accessible walkways out into the sand, and likewise is a great spot to observe the sundown because it faces west throughout Lake Michigan.
There are restrooms and concession stands at each the northern and southern ends of the seaside – and the concession stands really serve actually good meals, with The Sandbox on the southern finish of the seaside whipping up scrumptious sliders.
Stearns Park can also be subsequent to a skatepark, playground, and mini golf course, which means there’s loads to do right here for everybody.
2. Climb a lighthouse
Additionally accessible from Stearns Park Seaside is the Ludington North Breakwater Gentle. This small lighthouse sits on the finish of a protracted (as in virtually half a mile lengthy) concrete pier/breakwater that you may stroll down in good climate circumstances.
The lighthouse itself is 57 ft tall and dates again to 1924, and from Memorial Day by means of Labor Day you’ll be able to climb to the highest of it for a price. The views from the highest on a transparent day are unbelievable – however know that the “stairs” right here extra carefully resemble ladders.
(Even in the event you’re not planning to climb the lighthouse, the stroll out alongside the breakwater continues to be value it.)
3. Tour the Maritime Museum
Not removed from the North Breakwater Gentle you may discover the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, which is a wonderful museum for the entire household.
Positioned in a former U.S. Coast Guard Station overlooking Lake Michigan (the constructing is now listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations), this 3-story museum covers every part from Lake Michigan’s carferries to the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940 to Nice Lakes shipwrecks. On the second ground there’s even an interactive exhibit the place you’ll be able to strive your hand at “piloting” a carferry into port – it is tougher than it seems!
The museum is operated by the Mason County Historic Society, and you’ll simply spend 1-2 hours right here.
4. Store in downtown Ludington
Downtown Ludington consists of only a few essential streets lined with historic shopfronts and delightful Victorian seaside houses. I extremely suggest devoting no less than a pair hours to exploring the native outlets right here.
Some distinctive issues you are able to do embrace searching for classic threads at Attractive Nomad, designing your individual t-shirt at Gordys Skate Co., making your individual candle at Home & Harbor, and choosing up some candy treats at Kilwins.
5. Go to Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park – AKA Waterfront Sculpture Park – is a 5.3-acre park positioned subsequent to Ludington’s essential harbor/marina on Pere Marquette Lake. The park is residence to 9 massive bronze sculptures that depict completely different scenes and icons from Ludington’s historical past, and affords up nice views of the SS Badger when she sails in to/out of port.
This grassy park additionally has a pleasant playground, in addition to a live performance pavilion the place you’ll be able to typically catch free dwell music in the course of the summer time months. It is a great place for shore fishing, too, and through salmon season you may undoubtedly see plenty of fishing boats out in out in Pere Marquette Lake related to Lake Michigan.
6. Spend a day at Ludington State Park
I might most likely dedicate a whole weblog publish to Ludington State Park, as it is a distinctive and delightful state park. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the west, smaller Hamlin Lake to the east, and is minimize by means of by the Huge Sable River.
The state park affords nice campsites in the event you’re into that, or you’ll be able to simply go to for a day. With sooner or later, a couple of of the belongings you undoubtedly ought to do embrace:
- Swim at Ludington State Park Seaside (and go to the Arts-and-Crafts fashion historic Seaside Home constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935).
- Lease a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and go for a paddle on the calm Hamlin Lake.
- Hike the Misplaced Lake Path + Island Path loop round Lake Hamlin (about 2 miles spherical journey ranging from the Hamlin Lake Seaside parking space).
- See unimaginable dune views from the Skyline Path.
- Stroll out to the enduring Huge Sable Level Lighthouse (4-ish miles spherical journey on a flat path), which dates again to 1867. You may climb 130 steps to the watchtower room for glorious views over Lake Michigan (the tower is open for climbs from early Could by means of late October). I really walked out for sundown, which meant I missed out on climbing the lighthouse – nevertheless it was nonetheless nicely value it!
Ludington State Park expenses a day use price, which is $11 per day for anybody with out-of-state license plates. You may pay this price on the entrance sales space.
7. Hang around at Stix
Only a couple minutes down the street from the state park, I extremely suggest stopping at Stix. Stix is an entire leisure venue, providing an upscale restaurant, bowling alley, and outside beer backyard.
For me, the beer backyard was the star right here. It has its personal bar, a BBQ meals truck, tons of seating choices, hearth pits, garden video games, and outside phases for dwell music. It looks like a great place to be within the evenings throughout summer time and fall.
8. Step again in time in Historic White Pine Village
In case you’re a historical past nerd like me, then you definately will not need to skip a go to to Historic White Pine Village. This reproduction nineteenth century pioneer village is only a brief drive south of downtown Ludington, and has 30+ buildings you’ll be able to discover throughout a self-guided tour.
The village makes use of historic buildings (a lot of them unique) and genuine artifacts to showcase the realm’s historical past, which focuses on issues like farming and lumbering.
You may study every part from milking cows to maple sugaring to how a sawmill works, and go to buildings like a schoolhouse, a basic retailer, a trapper’s cabin, a health care provider’s workplace, and the unique Mason County Courthouse from 1849. There are museum-style reveals, too, in addition to an genuine quaint ice cream parlor contained in the City Corridor.
Historic White Pine Village is open from early Could by means of October, and takes no less than 1-2 hours to discover.
9. Go wine tasting
It’s possible you’ll be accustomed to a few of Michigan’s wine areas (I’ve even written about some earlier than, just like the Leelanau Peninsula), so it won’t be a shock to study that you may go wine tasting in Ludington!
I visited Pere Marquette Vineyard, discovered simply across the nook from Historic White Pine Village. This family-run vineyard was began by the Morton household as a passion after a visit to France within the Eighties, however has grown into a fairly spectacular manufacturing.
All of the wine made at Pere Marquette Vineyard is made utilizing grapes grown on their very own property. They’re identified for his or her Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Cayuga grapes, and make a variety of tasty wines that span the colour and taste gamut. For summer time, I favored their Cayuga White and Any Day Rose.
Wine tastings listed here are achieved in a comfy tasting room inside transformed stables, and so they additionally promote cheese plates and different snacks. Tastings are very cheap, too, at $10 for five tastes, or $16 for a flight of 4 wines.
Different space wineries you’ll be able to try embrace North Department Vineyard in close by Scottville, and Fox Barn Vineyard in Shelby.
10. Get out on the water
Lastly, along with the leases on Hamlin Lake that I discussed above, there are many distinctive methods to get out on the water in Ludington. One of the in style might be fishing on Lake Michigan and in its tributary rivers just like the Pere Marquette River – do you know that Ludington is the perfect place to fish for salmon in Michigan?? (Nicely, in the event you did not, now you do!)
Together with salmon, the waters round Ludington are additionally nice for fishing for brown trout and yellow perch. You may get a fishing license from the Michigan DNR and convey your individual deal with and equipment, or you’ll be able to rent a fishing constitution to take you out. There are greater than 25 native constitution captains – discover one by means of the Ludington Space Constitution Boat Affiliation.
Salmon season within the space is mostly August-October.
The place to eat in Ludington
It doesn’t matter what you are searching for in Ludington, you’ll be able to most likely discover it! A few of my favourite spots for consuming and consuming embrace:
- Pink Rooster Espresso & Neighborhood for caffeine
- Cafe 106 for diner-style breakfast and lunch
- Cluck Bucket Downtown for rooster sandwiches
- The Sandbox on the seaside for connoisseur sliders
- The ten Spot meals truck park for a fast lunch
- Jamesport Brewing Firm for native beer and meals (the pecan-crusted perch is so good)
- The Mitten Bar for native pub vibes and many craft beer choices
- Desk 14 for upscale eating
- Home of Flavors Eating places for ice cream
The place to remain in Ludington
Ludington has a number of distinctive, locally-owned lodging choices, starting from quirky motels to cozy B&Bs in historic houses. I stayed at two glorious spots, and would suggest each of them.
- Summer time’s Inn – This family-run, adults-only motel has touches that make it really feel like way more than only a motel. The rooms have been refreshed however nonetheless retain their mid-century vibes, breakfast is cooked to order every morning, and there is even a personal backyard with a koi pond for friends to get pleasure from.
- The Lamplighter Mattress & Breakfast – Positioned in a ravishing historic residence, the Lamplighter is such a soothing and welcoming place to remain. The rooms are very snug, the outside area is tremendous enjoyable, and the home-cooked breakfasts and nightly fresh-baked cookies are unimaginable!
Wherever you keep, you are certain to be charmed by Michigan’s Midwest hospitality.
Who’s able to plan a visit to Ludington now?
