Reader feedback: Saugatuck, Mich.

Have your own suggestions for visiting Saugatuck, Mich.? Share your tips with other readers.

in South Haven, Cafe Julia on Huron Street and Phoenix Street Cafe, on Phoenix. Also, near 107th and Blue Star Highway, Hawks Head restaurant.

Theres an ice cream shop a block off the main street that has the best waffle cones in the world.

We alway eat at least once at Clementines on Phoenix in South Haven with dessert at Sherman's Dairy outside town on Phoenix. In Grand Haven, Porto Bello for good Italian food and an outdoor terrace right near the marina.

Every Day Peoples Cafe in Douglas, sister town to Saugatuck.

Forget Clementines, it's greasy bar food.

nlb,

You are right on with Clementine's and Sherman's. Those are automatic everytime we're in the area. We'll have to try Porto Bello on our next visit!

can't miss with Fennville's Journeyman Cafe--highly rated by Phil Vettel---also the best GLBT campground in the country Campit Resort!

Check out the Saugatuck Brewing Company. Set to open in Mid June in their new 25,000 sq foot building. Brew your own beer! A great place to relax and enjoy conversation with friends. Terrific owner (Barry Johnson) and staff. Food, outdoor patio and beer hall. Have Barry give you a tour.

Don't miss shopping in downtown Holland

Saugatuck is beautiful, the beach is beautiful, but there's one dirty little secret: FLIES. Twice now, in September, we've visited Oval Beach and literally have been attacked by flies. They are everywhere on the beach. We ran screaming from them last year. If there's no wind, you're in trouble. We've heard from more and more people about the problem but the town doesn't seem to do anything to control them. Hundreds of them will cover your car, your clothing, your arms, legs. If you're swimming and come up for air, they land all over. It is terrible.

Wally's outstanding lake perch in Saugatuck,Butler in Saugatuck has the best burger,Swell Times in Saugatuck with Scott and Andrea has the best collectibles,and Blue Star Cafe in Douglas with Mitch,Marcie and Judy best place to get breakfast and home made Greek food

The town has a large population of gay guys and the state lovingly calls the town "suasage tuck". Gotta love Michigan

Sausagetuck is correct, please recommend something else.

I can never understand why St. Joseph is left out when talking about Southwest Michgian. Silver Beach is St. Joe is just as good and the beach in South Haven. The downtown that over looks the lake is second to none. I just think St. Joe should get a little more love.

And what is wrong with Saugatuck's Oval Beach?M-TV rated it in the top 10 of USA beaches a few years back.It only has gotten prettier.Check it out.

Brian wrote:

I can never understand why St. Joseph is left out when talking about Southwest Michgian. Silver Beach is St. Joe is just as good and the beach in South Haven. The downtown that over looks the lake is second to none. I just think St. Joe should get a little more love.

Brian (and everybody): We like St. Joe and especially like Silver Beach -- but this wasn't about "Southwest Michigan" (or about Ludington, for that matter). It just focused in Saugatuck and a couple of other nearby towns.

I suspect we'll get to St. Joseph's, Lakeside, New Buffalo, etc., sometime down the road...

This entry is for real: we bought a brand new cabin in the Kingfisher Cove cabin development just off of Blue Star Hwy & I-196 back in August. Can't say enough good about the place. Lake access, pool, great neighbors, fabulous developer who actually has integrity. This is his second cabin development in the area. He's a native western Michigander. You can rent the cabins if you wouldn't want to purchase. They're 1,700 sq ft 3 br, 2 ba, 600 sq ft screened in porch w/hot tub, high ceilings, everything is made of cedar (GREAT smells!), beds to sleep 8, plus loft, cable tv, washer/dryer. They are fabulous! www.loghomevillages.com Plus, there's a brand new paved path that you can ride your bike on to get to downtown Saugatuck.

Since we've been going up: Blue Moon is a great restaurant on Blue Star Hwy in Douglas. Alittle pricier, but the story of it being haunted is really cool and the artwork inside is worth the visit. There's a terrific mexican restaurant in downtown Fennville: Su Casa. We love the pottery barn (it's in a real barn!) in Fennville/Douglas where you can paint pottery, make jewelry, do mosaics, and make glasswork plus purchase cute garden accessories. The couple who own it are from Naperville & retired there a couple of years ago.

Crane's Orchard in Fennville has the most adorable restaurant where you can buy tons of homemade breads & goodies. The restaurant is great; lots of really cool antiques to look at in multiple rooms while you're eating. Great place to go in the fall for apples & they have a big corn maze.

Shopping in downtown Holland is a blast. The Holland beach is better for those who don't like to climb sand hills (like at Oval Beach in Saugatuck) as it's on the same level as the parking lot & large. Good bathroom/changing facilities & little food place. Warning about Holland: Holland's famous shoe factory isn't a shoe factory anymore. It was bought out a number of years ago & is just an "antique mall" now. A mere shadow of its former self; be forewarned so that you aren't disappointed.

We have a number of favorite places in downtown Saugatuck. I'll just tell you about two. The American Spoon is on Butler St. & they have fabulous canned goods. But their best feature: home-made gellato to die for! On Culver St. just off of Butler is Del Sol. They have all sorts of cool shirts, swim suits, jewelery, sunglasses, nail polish, and other stuff that changes color in the sun! It's one color inside & then when you are in the sun it changes color. Very fun store!

Enjoy your visit if you go to the area! We have fallen in love!

I'm a huge fan of this area. I'm a New Yorker, but I worked in Holland as an actor a few years back. I highly recommend the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, which is on the campus of Hope College in Holland. The quality of the productions is surprisingly above average for a summer stock theatre. Check it out!

we love Everyday People Cafe in Douglas. Yes, it's been mentioned, but mention it again. The City of Douglas [right next to Saugatuck] is getting very hot.

Saugatuck is a great place to vacation. To name a few places. . .Butler's Restaurant, Coral Gables, the Drug Store with the soda fountain, Mount Bald Head, and Opal Beach. There is so much to see and do. If you go to Holland, vist Craig's Kruzers, it's a blast. Don't buy ice cream at the little stand by Dutch Village though because the crabby lady will not give you any water ehen you are thirsty. She will only sell you bottled water.