Pere Marquette offers exceptional access to beautiful Lake Michigan, one the world's natural…read moretreasures. There is ample paid parking. Weekend day rates are $15. There is a snack stand, offering ice cream, nachos, and other treats, as well as beach equipment rentals. The sand is soft and visitors will enjoy spreading out on the expansive beach. The water is clear and features a sandy bottom. Just north of the snack stand is The Deck, the preeminent dining establishment in this area of Muskegon. The establishment features al fresco dining and stunning views of Lake Michigan. There are swings and other fun view points. If you're in Mitten, Pere Marquette is worth the drive. You simply cannot beat Lake Michigan's splendor.

August came along and Nate and I still hadn't been to the lakeshore, so we hopped in the car and…read moredrove to Pere Marquette Park beach on a cloudy Sunday recently. The beach was completely empty when we arrived around 11 am and stayed pretty quiet the whole time. Parking at the beach is $20, which I thought was incredibly expensive, but it's good for the whole day. I'm used to parking for free at state parks since I have a recreation pass. It was a bit windy, but not chilly - although the water was freezing. I personally enjoy an overcast day at the beach, so we packed a picnic and some chairs and just sat and read for a bit. The beach is large, with lots of room to spread out. There's a nice smaller playground, a snack bar with ice cream and hot food, a little store for beach essentials like sunscreen, and super clean bathrooms. The restroom I used was a huge, single stall room with a bench- really nice for changing and probably great if you have little kids. I was impressed by how clean the bathroom was. We walked to the pier and checked out the lighthouse, which was a nice little walk. The Deck is right on the beach and is a great spot for live music, drinks, and food. I'd be curious to see this beach in the peak season - I'm sure it probably gets pretty busy.

Absolutely stunning. This park is another reminder of why we need to invest time, energy, and funds…read moreinto our natural resources. I could spend all day here wandering the trails and walking the beach. I plan to reserve a campsite in their beautiful campground sometime this summer.

Definitely worth the drive to see lake Michigan and the Sand dunes. There is a beautiful boardwalks…read morenext to the visitor center that you can take directly to the dunes. It's a wooden walkway, with a ton of shade from the trees, that takes you through the forest directly to the dunes. The visitor center was closed for remodel when we were there so we could not go inside to enjoy the displays on this trip so I am looking forward to the upgrades.

Absolute MUST stop if you have pups and are in the area. This was arguably the highlight of our…read moretrip. Brought our two teens, our 5mo puppy and our 7yo senior dog. Our senior one is not very energetic and was never much of a retriever. WELL, he LOVED retrieving the ball & competing with the pup. BEST PART: they both learned how to swim here!!! Oh how I wish we had something like this near our home!

Wow what a hidden Gem. Hidden away between Muskegon and Whitehall. You pull into a nice ordinary…read morepark. Then there is a nice boardwalk path that leads to a beach area along side a Duck Lake. A very nice view in itself. Then the boardwalk travels on, then goes under a bridge and next to a sand dune, then Bam! The lake and path funnel into Lake Michigan and the path onto an amazing beach. I had no idea this beautiful public beach was here. The views are outstanding and the sand is pristine. We took the dog, yes on a leash, for a walk of the beach and had a great time. Overall an easy 5 star review. Would I return? Absolutely! A must stop.

We've come to this dog park multiple times and enjoy it! It's pretty wide and long so there's…read moreplenty of space. Dogs can be off leash. There's stairs to get down to the beach. We love it!

Awesome dog beach!!! 10/10! There is a small water pool in the pier where timid pups can enjoy…read morewater introduction in a safe space. My 8yo senior "pup" was anxious even when I walked along the water part of the beach but enjoyed this safe space. Very nice, clean and uncrowded place (we went between 8-9am on a Monday and only saw a handful of other dogs during the half hour we were there).

Hackley Park is a great park year round. During the summer months they have live music on the…read morestage. Every Friday during the summer they also have a free event called Parties in the Park with food trucks, live music, etc. It is one of my favorite summer traditions. In the winter the park turns into a magical display of Christmas lights! It is worth visiting if you are in the area or passing through! There are great photo ops too. Hackley Park is so historical and special to Muskegon. A great place to have a picnic and a great place to take in some Christmas cheer!

This park is really nice. It's set up with a stage where they can hold large outside events. There…read moreis lots of shade with the nice old trees. Since we have been here, there have been at least 3 events. It gives you that small town feel, with modern amenities. Muskegon has done a great job revitalizing their downtown area.

Muskegon State Park is a great destination for the outdoorsy crowd. Whether you are laying on the…read morebeach, trekking the woods, or hiking scenic dunes there's something for everyone. There are trails for both novices and those looking for more of a challenge. I took my shot with the Dune Ridge Trail. It was full of hilly sand dunes paired with great lake views. If you enjoy hiking in forests, beaches, and dunes then you'll love Muskegon State Park!

Really like this beach because it's out of the way and not many people think to come here. I love…read morethat you can pull up directly to the beach drop your tailgate to grill and chill. Last year they had a pavilion with restrooms and this year they are Porta John's in pavilion has been knocked down. Hopefully they are going to rebuild.