Explore Allendale

Michigan

The Grand Haven Area is made up of six townships: Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Coopersville, West Olive, and Allendale. Each area has its own attractions and businesses worth exploring. This blog series will offer each area their own spotlight and include all the need-to-know information for you to make the most of your visit.

Things to Do:

Geocaching: Modern day treasure hunt! Hidden across Grand Haven and the surrounding areas, including Allendale, are over 1,000 caches (containers with small prizes) that you use your phone to help you locate. Multiple challenge levels for any group. Visit geocaching.com to get started.

Engine House No. 5: A museum on the history of fire rescue with several exhibits and tons of historical artifacts. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12-3, and under 2 years is free. Open on Saturday from 11am – 3pm or by appointment via email or Facebook.

The Meadows: An eighteen hole golf course at Grand Valley State University with public bookings available (prices vary). The course runs 7060 yards, has a course/slope rating of 74.2, and a slope rating of 133. Open Sunday to Saturday 8am – 4pm from March to November.

Trail Point Brewing Company: A microbrewery where you can enjoy dozens of drafts along with occasional live music and/or food trucks. For details on what you can find before you go, visit their Facebook page: Trail Point Brewing Company – Home. Open Monday to Thursday from 4pm – 10pm, Friday & Saturday from 1pm – 11pm, and Sunday from 1pm – 8pm.

Food & Drink:

Main St. Pub: With the traditional pub atmosphere, this is a great location to pair a burger, sandwich, or wrap with a beer on tap or specialty drink.  Open Sunday from 10am – 12am, Monday to Wednesday from 11am – 12am, & Thursday to Saturday from 11am- 1am.

Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders: A chain restaurant that offers delicious pizzas and grinders along with tons of favourite appetizers. Open Monday to Thursday from 11am – 8pm, and Friday & Saturday from 11am – 8:30pm.

Cottage Inn Pizza: A pizza joint with dozens of options for a gourmet pizza, as well as salads, subs, and wings. Open Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 11am – 9:30pm, Friday & Saturday from 11am – 11pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 9:30pm.

Murphy’s  Family Restaurant: This is a breakfast/lunch joint that serves American homestyle breakfasts, as well as burgers & sandwiches with many traditional sides. Open Monday to Friday from 6am – 2pm, and on Saturday from 6am – 1pm.

El Aztecas: A Mexican restaurant that serves traditional Mexican dishes as well as burritos, tacos, and fajitas, and offers a variety of alcohol to pair with your meal. Open Monday to Thursday from 11am – 9:30pm, Friday from 11am – 10:30pm, Saturday from 11:30am – 10:30pm, and Sunday from 11:30am – 9pm.

Grand Coney: This is a breakfast/lunch restaurant that serves traditional breakfast dishes, custom Coney dogs, burgers and sandwiches, and comfort food. Open Sunday to Saturday from 7am – 3pm.

Get the Scoop: A sweet little ice cream spot where they have  flurries, shakes, malts, sundaes and 24+ flavors of soft-serve ice cream, as well as 40+ flavors of Michigan-made Ashby’s hand-dipped ice cream.  Open all week long in the summer from 12pm – 10pm.

Parks: 

Eastmanville Bayou: This park is made up of 157 acres and over a mile of Grand River frontage, wetlands, floodplain forest, and a bayou. With the barrier free canoe and kayak launch, as well as a small boat launch, it’s a great place to follow the Grand River Heritage Water Trail. There are excellent spots for fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. It includes picnic areas, a small picnic shelter and rustic restrooms. Dogs are allowed on or off the leash. This space is open to archery deer hunting. ( More information). Open 5am – 10pm; No entry fee.

Grand River Open Space: An underdeveloped wetland with 1.25 miles of Grand River waterfront that has undergone restoration which involved planting of over 15,000 different plants. It’s a great post for fishing,  off-trail hiking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Dogs are allowed on or off the leash. This space is open to hunting per DNR Laws (More information). Open 5am – 10pm; No entry fee.

Kuits Bayou:  This hidden location is only available by boat from the Grand River. It has eighty acres and over a mile of waterfront where you can go off-trail hiking. No designated restrooms. Dogs are allowed on or off the leash. This space is open to archery deer hunting. ( More information). Open 5am – 10pm; No entry fee.

Allendale Community Park: Located behind the Township Office, this park is full of activities. They have a ballfield, basketball court, tennis court, shuffleboard, and horseshoes, along with nature areas and trails. They also have picnic tables and shelters, concessions, restrooms, and a playground.  One picnic shelter is available for reservations.

Places to stay:

Allendale KOA: This campground is merely minutes away from GVSU. The camp has activities for all ages, such as playgrounds, a volleyball court, and hay wagon rides. They offer full and partial hookup sites, tent sites, and cabins.

Sleep Inn & Suites: A budget friendly hotel only minutes away from GVSU. They offer a continental breakfast, an indoor pool & hot tub, an exercise room, jacuzzi rooms, and meeting/banquet rooms.