7 Coolest Towns in the Great Lakes for a Summer Vacation
Summer on the Great Lakes feels like the ocean without the salt. Sandy beaches, lighthouses, and resort towns line every shore. Ashland sits on Lake Superior with Wisconsin’s mural scene downtown. Michigan City sits at the gateway to the Indiana Dunes National Park. Port Clinton in Ohio claims the Walleye Capital title and a yearly fish drop on New Year’s Eve. These seven small towns make the case for trading saltwater for freshwater this summer.
Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a historic port town on Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior, with a role in the First World War and a present-day claim as the “Historic Mural Capital of Wisconsin.” A coastal stroll from Maslowski Beach Artesian Well on the western flank to Bayview Park on the right, with a stop right in the middle at Deep Water Grille, paints a pretty good picture. Don’t miss the world’s largest bass sculpture and the Ashland Historical Museum while the eight-block Main Street District winds along the murals on the National Register of Historic Places.
Beyond town, Ashland balances scenic art with natural scenery. How about a dose of cascades through Copper Falls State Park, just half an hour from downtown, or a day trip to the Apostle Islands? From Pattison State Park to Amnicon Falls State Park, Wisconsin’s Northwoods invite a choice between waterside recreation in the Great Lakes harbor and the Ashland Rail Trail. Fit in both on a single trip and reward yourself with a drink at the Neighbourly Bar.
Cheboygan, Michigan
At the entrance of the Cheboygan River into Lake Huron, Cheboygan is a cool town for every type of boater to explore Northern Michigan. The Inland Waterway, a network of three rivers, four lakes, and 42 miles of inland waters, offers an itinerary that can outlast any vacation. The Black Mountain Recreation Area alone is good for fishing, hiking (30 miles), horseback riding, and off-roading (60 miles) without ever leaving since there is also camping, so just bring provisions.
Open year-round, Cheboygan State Park is known for summertime lodging and modern camping, with trails overlooking Lake Huron and the coastal landscape. Crowning the state park, Cheboygan Point Light is a decommissioned lighthouse from 1851. The best part about visiting is that Cheboygan supports an immersive trip on a small budget. Use the cash you save on gas for a road trip down the Huron Shores Heritage Route, also known as US-23, for 200 miles of lake views.
Michigan City, Indiana
Once a thriving lumber port, this small Great Lakes town now puts visitors next to ocean-like Lake Michigan from its southern shores. Washington Park, home to two historic lighthouses, offers sweeping views of the city’s lakefront, with the 1858 Old Lighthouse standing as one of the older lights on the southern Lake Michigan shore. No trip to Michigan City is complete without a tour of the Barker Mansion, a museum housed in an English-style manor from 1857.
Part of the Uptown Arts District, the art and decor in the former home of a railroad industrialist showcase early-20th-century design. Michigan City is also a direct gateway into the 15,000 acres of Indiana Dunes National Park, with 16 miles of trails. Three of those trails make up the Dune Challenge, including a daring 1.5 miles over the three tallest dunes. The park’s mix of woodlands, rivers, bogs, and wetlands hosts over 350 bird species.
Port Clinton, Ohio
The hidden north coast of Lake Erie has plenty to offer, with one of its highlights along Port Clinton’s coastline. The town comes with a double dose of discoveries, from the Ohio mainland to Put-in-Bay just off on South Bass Island, home to Benson Ford Shiphouse and Oak Point State Park. Port Clinton features sandy beaches, with the Port Clinton Lighthouse overlooking both the lake and the Portage River to the west, plus a historic downtown shopping district. With places like Otto & Urban Greenhouse-Flower, start at Ala Carte Café and end at McCarthy’s Restaurant & Pub for dinner.
Port Clinton calls itself the “Walleye Capital of the World” and runs a beloved tradition where crowds gather on the eve of December 31 for the Walleye Drop. A 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglass walleye rings in the New Year. From miles of coastline with beaches to island ferries and weekend festivals, the intimate Listening Room books touring musicians for a fun friends’ or date night. The Liberty Aviation Museum and African Safari Wildlife Park are family attractions, while a day trip to Put-in-Bay opens up the Butterfly House, a nature preserve, and the popular Perry’s Cave Family Fun Centre.
Port Huron, Michigan
It is easy to guess which lake this town graces the banks of, but Port Huron is also where two rivers meet and one lighthouse looks out over sunrises along its beaches. Port Huron’s relationship with the water is hard not to join. The town calls itself the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, with unique places to explore including the Huron Lightship and the Great Lakes Maritime Centre.
Having guided mariners between Lake Huron and the St. Clair River for nearly two centuries, Fort Gratiot Light Station is Michigan’s oldest lighthouse. On the southern shore of Lake Huron near the northern mouth of the St. Clair River, it offers seasonal and holiday tours, while the surrounding park and beach are open year-round. Culture fans get free admission to three museums: the Thomas Edison Depot Museum, the Huron Lightship, and the Carnegie Center. The active set walks the Blue Water River Walk and the Thomas Edison Parkway Boardwalk.
South Haven, Michigan
With over a century of resort experience behind it, South Haven offers lodging for every group, taste, and budget along the shores of Lake Michigan. Waterfront opportunities for fun and recreation are abundant, drawing in a steady summer crowd. South Haven frames adventures along about a dozen beaches that are good for lounging in the breeze and the sunshine.
Whether you’re taking a walk along the sand or finding shade in the trees of the Casco Township Nature Preserve, the town’s name fits the experience. Home to the Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven also offers an up-close view of the operational, historic South Haven Lighthouse at the end of the South Pier on a sunset stroll. The active can hike the nearby sand dunes for a challenge or seek out solitude at the nautical overlooks. Lakeside cafés, coffee shops, and B&Bs serve up plenty for kids and adults alike, from java to a snack at a nearby bakery to a visit to a wine-tasting room.
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph balances low crowds with seven beaches that make it one of Michigan’s best beach towns. The comforts and conveniences make it good for families and beach lovers, with stretches of soft sand right up to sunset. Part of thousands of acres of state parkland, visitors get easy access to modern and rustic campsites, bathrooms, hot showers, hiking trails, and sand dunes. This small town is also home to three lighthouses worth a closer look: St. Joseph North Pierhead Outer Lighthouse, the Inner Lighthouse, and the St. Joseph River and South Pier lighthouse.
From Lions Park Beach to Silver Beach County Park and Tiscornia Park, playgrounds and picnic areas, including a covered pavilion, bike racks, and volleyball nets, are all open for public use on the sandy shores. Home to five marinas and unique shops, St. Joseph supports walks past Victorian homes from the past, art structures, and manicured gardens behind picket fences. The town caters to families with kid-friendly attractions like the Curious Kids’ Museum, while the iconic Silver Beach Carousel at Silver Beach County Park features chariots that kids enjoyed back in the early 20th century.
A Summer to Remember in the Great Lakes
Like inland seas, the Great Lakes give visitors a break from city life with sandy beaches and coastal landscapes, while these small towns play host with their own attractions. St. Joseph offers modern and rustic campsites for trips into thousands of acres of state parkland on a summer vacation worth remembering. Port Clinton is a two-in-one destination with sandy beaches and the Port Clinton Lighthouse over the Portage River, plus a historic downtown shopping district and a quick trip out to Put-in-Bay for the Butterfly House and Perry’s Cave Family Fun Centre.
