Stearns Beach Park is such a nice, clean, accessible beach, and there's so much to do around it…read morethat it makes for a really easy beach day. There's a paved path that takes you down pretty close to the water, with plenty of places to sit along the way, which makes the beach really accessible for just about everyone. You can also walk out onto the lighthouse, which is a fun little addition to the beach. We didn't spend quite as much time here on this trip because we were exploring some of the other areas around Ludington, but we've enjoyed coming here. I wouldn't say this is the most beautiful or dramatic beach we've been to. It's a big, open stretch of beach without a ton of natural scenery. But it definitely makes up for that with the views and everything around it. You have the harbor right next to you, and the SS Badger regularly passes by, which is really cool to watch. The water itself is beautiful, and there's something fun about being able to sit on the beach and watch the boats coming and going. Another huge plus is the location. You can easily walk into the cute little beach town for food, drinks, and shops, and there's a skate park and mini golf nearby too. You really don't have to move your car once you get here. Overall, it's a clean, convenient, family-friendly beach with great accessibility and plenty to do nearby. It may not have the dramatic scenery of some of Michigan's other beaches, but the location and atmosphere make it absolutely worth visiting when you're in Ludington!

Is parking to the beach suggest you get there early. Two pavilions with food and restrooms. They…read morehave handicap accessible mats all the way down from parking lot to the water. There is a pier to walk and a good 1/2 mile of sandy beach to walk. Have not seen any sharks and there is zero salt in the water. Win win for today!

This was my first time in Ludington. I have heard so much about it, and I was excited to finally…read moremake it here. My friend said this is his favorite westside town. I was impressed my the marina and the great beach. The beach was super busy and we found our way to the lighthouse. It's a bit of a walk so be prepared to bring comfortable shoes. We enjoyed watching the ships come into port. If you happen to be out this way, I highly suggest making a trip out to the lighthouse. Not only is it a beautiful backdrop, it's also a great place to take pictures.

A very tough…read morelighthouse The very first lighthouse in the area was established in 1871 but didn't last very long and was washed away in a huge storm a few years later. Since Ludington was becoming an extremely important harbor a new and stronger light was obviously needed. Debates about whether to put the new lighthouse on the south or north pier raged for years, and the exact kind of lighthouse was also a very contentious subject. So of course nothing got done. Finally around 1924 the present lighthouse was constructed at the end of the half mile north concrete pier. Since the area is know for very intense and powerful storms, the engineers wanted to make sure the lighthouse was strong enough to withstand anything that the howling gales of Lake Michigan could throw at it. So they went all out when they designed and built this light. The lighthouse is constructed with a steel frame in addition to steel plating added to the outside. And to increase the structural integrity of the lighthouse a strange looking prow, similar to that on a large ship, was added at the bottom to deflect the larger waves. Pretty cool looking and when viewed from a distance, almost makes the lighthouse seem like it's sailing across the horizon. The fourth order Fresnel Lens was removed and is passed around to various local maritime museums. The lighthouse can be reached by walking out to the end of the half mile pier but going out they in storms and blizzards is probably not a good idea. During the summer the lighthouse is open and for five bucks the public can climb the 53 stairs to the top. Certainly not the tallest, biggest, oldest or most important lighthouse in Michigan but with the steel plates added over the steel frame and the addition of the cool prow, this is definitely one of the very toughest and strongest lighthouses anywhere.

This is the best beach in Northern Michigan to watch the sunsets. We enjoy watching the boats in…read moreand out of the harbor, too.

The water is so shallow you can walk super far out! Not crowded! Peaceful! & Clear water! Be kind…read moreto the locals!

Much quieter and safer than other parks in Ozaukee county. Kids that go there are always polite and…read morerespectful.

Ludington State Park is HUGE, and we absolutely loved it! We paid $12 to get into the park and…read morestarted with the hike to Big Sable Lighthouse. It's about 1.8 miles each way, so just under 4 miles round trip. The trail to the lighthouse is a wide, sandy path that runs through the campground and then continues out toward the lighthouse. It's an easy path, but it is long and definitely sandy, so be prepared for that. The lighthouse area is really cute, and while we didn't care about going inside this time, they do offer tours. It was $8 per person when we were there. There are also picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy the area around the lighthouse. After our hike, we headed over to the beach, and WOW. The beach is absolutely massive and beautiful. It's sandy rather than rocky, incredibly clean, and the water was crystal clear. It was definitely brisk, but so beautiful that I didn't mind! There's a designated swimming area, volleyball nets, and really nice facilities. There are no lifeguards, though, so keep that in mind. It also looked like there were some really cool trails through the sand dunes, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to explore those on this trip. We needed to grab lunch, rest, and hit the pool before coming back later for sunset. And I am SO glad we came back. The sunset here was absolutely spectacular. Watching the sun go down over this huge, beautiful stretch of sandy beach was one of the highlights of our entire trip. This park really has everything: the lighthouse, miles of trails, huge sand dunes, a beautiful beach, swimming, volleyball, camping, and some incredible views. We only scratched the surface of what there is to explore, and I already know we'd love to come back and spend an entire day here. Definitely one of the highlights of our Ludington trip and absolutely worth the $12 admission!

I stopped in here for half a day to do some hiking and get my nature fix before moving on to my…read morenext road trip destination. The road to the entrance is full of sand dunes and beaches on Lake Michigan before turning into a wooded area at the actual park. We got to see a Bald Eagle perched upon a tree as we entered the park. The park has several RV camp sites that to me looked to be right on top of each other. They pack them in like sardines but I think that is the norm at these type of places these days. Not sure what the cost is to camp but for non-residents to come in for a day pass it was 11.00 per day. We decided to do the Lost Lake trail which is a loop across a couple islands on Hamlin Lake (yes there are bridges, you don't need to bring your snorkel). The hike was relatively void of people only passing a few along the way. I did see a hand full of people kayaking on the lake and a few more kayaks parked on the bank near the campground. The hike is 2.1 miles long and relatively flat the whole way. I wanted to do the lighthouse trail as well but there wasn't enough time. Great place to get your nature fix via kayak or foot. Not sure I would want to camp here on a weekend though unless you want Billy Bob and Mary Sue's 7 rugrats running around your site screaming.

Just a great place to moor your boat. Amenities are great and everything is clean…read more Great people also. I go every year !

From the owner: Full Service Ludington Marina Welcoming Seasonal and Transient Boaters. Facilities include a Fuel…read moreDock with 90 Octane Ethanol Free and Diesel, Pump-outs, Free Wi-Fi, Beautiful Clubhouse, Seasonal Pool, Gas grills, Fish Cleaning Station, Floating docks 30'-100'. Friendly service and walking distance to downtown Ludington Activities, Restaurants, Brewpubs, Beach, and more.

Really nice sports complex! I bring my toddler here for the playground & he loves it. Nice…read moreplayground with lots of options for all ages - big area!. CLEAN & well kept. There is a bathroom but not sure if open at all times. Walking path around entire complex is great for walking & jogging.

This is probably one of the best playgrounds up north, the only real downside is the location…read more Kalkaska is a humble and honest small town, but beyond grabbing a bite to eat there isn't much else to do in town... this is only relevant if your traveling to the area from down state. Not much touristy things to do if you plan to come to this park.... downtown is cool but there isn't really shopping... back to the park: this park is tucked behind some buildings and easy to miss if you are driving through. The structure is completely wooden and connected completely through bridges, tunnels, and monkey bars. There's a sign with rules and restrictions and beyond guardians and parents the playground is meant for 12 and under in age. I brought my sister in law and nephew after we grabbed lunch at the up north grill in town (only 5 minutes away so highly recommend for lunch) my nephew is almost 2 years old but there was still tons of interactive stuff for him to do which was unexpected based on the size of this huge castle themed park. There's about 5 different slides so age shouldn't restrict enjoying. The structure is very well built and laid out so, as adults we were for the most part able to maneuver it with our little guy. A bouncy tire contraption that reminded us of a bull was a win as well as a swing that allows an adult to swing with your baby which was SOOOO COOL. Better that just pushing because it adds safety and gives you a chance to do something enjoyable with your baby while making eye contact. Wyatt was all giggles. The park was busy when we visited but it never felt crowded because how it's designed. It's both 40 minutes from my sisters house in grayling but left enoug of an impression that she plans to take Wyatt with my brother this weekend again!

Nice park! The playground is pretty big and the walkways give a great view of the lake and boats…read more There is also a nice pavilion for concerts and space for picnics. The only downside is that the look is pretty outdated-everything is painted a weird blue/green and could use an update. The playground equipment also looks pretty old. I've noticed some trash along the walkways, so I'm not sure who cleans the park, but overall, it is a nice downtown addition and gives some nice walking paths with a view.

Good size playground for kids 10 and under. Separate area for toddlers. Seating for us lazy adults…read moreall around. Tranquil setting with walking paths. Entrance is just south of the big ship and huge Amazon building.