Take a spin: The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Cook Carousel Pavilion, housing the 1928 Spillman Carousel, is scheduled to reopen later this summer or in the early fall. Upgrades to the pavilion structure were made to detach it from the museum’s main facility, allowing for accessible trail connections along the downtown riverfront. New ramps added inside and outside of the pavilion will create universal access around and into the carousel area. A new chariot feature will allow individuals with mobility devices to ride the carousel. grpm.org
Golf Honors: The Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor was named the 2024 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association. It’s a delightful and challenging layout showcasing Lake Michigan views as it weaves through dunes, woodlands, and wetlands along the Paw Paw River. Golf Digest magazine calls it one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. harborshoresresort.com
Overnight Success: Douglas’ Forest Inn (the former Sherwood Forest B&B) is now open, thanks to renovators and owners Eric and Tracy Lanning, lifelong West Michiganders. “Our love of exploring and experiencing inspired us to create a special place for like-minded travelers,” Eric says. In addition to traveling, the couple has an affinity for renovating historic homes. “We were captivated by the original gracious design (1904) and the prospect of breathing new life into it,” he adds. Over the winter of 2023-2024, the Lannings conducted extensive renovations to the many spaces in both the main house and the cottage, as well as the entire grounds. “I do all of the cooking (daily made-from-scratch full breakfasts), and Tracy and I handle the day-to-day operations,” Eric says. “We absolutely loved our first several months of innkeeping and can’t wait to see what this year brings.” forestinnsaugatuck.com
Park It: The scenic Blue Star Memorial and Red Arrow highways form a scenic route along the Lake Michigan shore, twisting and turning through ancient dunes and beneath towering trees from Saugatuck to the Indiana border. You’ll find plenty of perfect picnic spots along the way. One of those is Coloma’s dog-friendly (leashed) Hagar Park/Beach, which features paved parking, a small beach, picnic tables, grills, and a playground. A boardwalk and stairs leading to the beach make exploring extra fun. swmichigan.org
What’s Old Is New: Antiques on the Bluff in St. Joseph features more than 50 antiques vendors and takes place on the first Sunday of the month, rain or shine, from May through October. Something old can be new for shoppers, who can browse among hundreds of vintage treasures at Lake Bluff Park overlooking Lake Michigan. Admission is free! stjoetoday.com
Cyclists’ Delight: The multiuse, 34-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park, connecting downtown South Haven and Lake Michigan with Kalamazoo, rolls along a rural landscape and through several old railroad towns near wetlands and the Black River, and even passes a ghost town. Heading east, there’s a 387-foot elevation change. Two old train depots, in Bloomingdale (a railroad/local history museum) and South Haven, serve as trailside visitors centers. Kal-Haven is a Michigan Heritage Trail with 31 exhibit panels along the route. kalhaven.org
