52 Michigan Weekends (Spring)

52 Michigan Weekends: Great Getaways and Adventures for Every Season
by Bob Puhala
2000 (3rd edition)

This guide has short trips for every weekend of the year. In an earlier post, I selected some of its Winter Weekends recommendations. Below, I've listed some Spring outings in West Michigan.

West Michigan Spring Weekends

1. Blooming Blossoms
Benton Harbor
"If the weather cooperates, you'll see hundreds of fruit orchard acres crowded with blossoms, heralding the much-anticipated arrival of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and plums in this leading fruit-producing region."
Blossomtime Festival

2. Tulip Time
Holland
"Held in early May, Tulip Time continues to be one the Midwest's most wildly popular events, drawing nearly one million people each spring to this little town founded by Dutch immigrants more than 150 years ago."
Tulip Time Festival

3. Hey Dude
Rothbury
"The atmosphere at the ranch is casual and guests can do as much or as little as they like. Besides daily trail rides, there are barbecue cookouts, hayrides, and sing-alongs; archery and rifle ranges; tennis and volleyball courts; a heated swimming pool and an outdoor hot tub; a private lake with beach, paddleboats, rowboats, and canoes; and nightly entertainment."
Double JJ Resort

4. When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Clare
Clare Irish Festival

5. Harbor Country
New Buffalo
"The sun looked like an iridescent jewel as it winked brightly before slipping behind puffy white clouds. The clouds turned to mango pink as the sun disappeared from view, then changed to brilliant scarlet before the gold disk emerged again. Yes, sunsets here in Harbor Country, miles of sugar-sand shoreline stretching from Grand Beach to South Haven are breathtakingly beautiful."
New Buffalo: Whittaker Street boutiques, restaurants, New Buffalo Beach, golf
Grand Beach: quiet village, tree-shaded streets, magnificent sandy beaches
Union Pier: tiny hamlet, cottages, B&Bs
Harbert: Swedish bakery
Bridgman: Warren Dunes State Park, Cook Nuclear Power Plant
St Joseph: Silver beach, historic homes, pier, steep bluff overlooking Lake Michigan
South Haven: A great summer resort town, North Beach, fishing, Michigan Maritime Museum, Idler Riverboat