Holland and Saugatuck

private home on Saugatuck channel

Holland lighthouse on channel

At a dutch village in Holland

typical downtown shops

Sunday, August 28th.  Another beautiful morning.  We took off for Holland, located about 20 minutes south of the campground.  This is an old Dutch town, settled in the early 1800s on Lake Macatawa.  It's a good sized lake that is now full of marina's and touristy stuff.  There's a channel that connects the lake to Lake Michigan.  The Holland state park is located adjacent to the channel and the Lake Michigan waterfront.  Again, a nice beach and walkways along the channel...lots of boat traffic.

Just north of the state park is downtown Holland.  A very nice town.  Lots of great architecture, a pedestrian friendly downtown shopping area and nice street furniture and statues in pocket parks.  An old timer that knew about Holland told me that the local power company in a civic gesture installed a piping system in the downtown streets.  In the winter during snow season they pump steam thru the downtown and it keeps all the streets  clear of snow.

Our next stop was in Saugatuck just south of Holland.  When we were in college, Di and I remember it to be retreat for college students during spring and summer seasons.  Now it is a major tourist attraction.  A very nice old shopping area with lots of restaurants, galleries and marinas.  Yes, this town too is connected to Lake Michigan by a channel.  The only thing this town lacks is parking.  On-street parallel parking is consumed for blocks around.  But it was a beautiful day and really pleasant strolling around.

Buster on squirrel lookout duty