Explore Spring Lake

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  Spring Lake, 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.

Spring Lake Farmers Market: A market that provides local farmers and small businesses an opportunity to to sell their locally grown or made goods and produce to the community. Located at Harvest Bible Chapel Parking Lot. Open from June to October from 9am – 2pm on Thursdays.

Craig’s Cruisers: Family Fun Center with go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, arcade games, and more! Located off of Pontaluna Rd. in Spring Lake, and open from 11am to 10pm all week long. Prices vary based on attractions.

Lake Shore Kayak Rental: A small business located beside a bayou that connects to a slow moving waterway and a perfect launch spot. They offer kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards, as well as paddling advice. Open Sunday to Friday from 10am – 6pm, and on Saturday from 10am – 9pm during the warmer months.

Harbor Trolley: This trolley stops at various locations as it travels around downtown Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg all week long. It runs from 11am to 10pm, and fares range from $1.50 to free.

Tri-Cities Connector Path: This bike path connects between Spring Lake, Grand Haven, and Ferrysburg and will take you from William Ferry Park to the Grand Haven channel drawbridge.

Food & Drink:

The Village Baker: This bakery, gift shop, and restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with their freshly baked goods, pizzas, salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, pasta, burgers, fish dishes, and many traditional breakfast options. Open Tuesday to Thursday & Saturday from 7am – 8pm, Friday from 7am – 9pm, Saturday from 8am – 2:30pm, and is closed Monday.

Arboreal Inn: A classy restaurant that serves fine wine and craft beers with pasta, steaks, seafood, salads, and a variety of appetizers. Open Monday to Thursday from 5pm – 9pm, Friday & Saturday from 5pm – 10pm, and is closed Sunday.

TED’s:  They serve burgers, pasta, and sandwiches, as well as offering gluten-free and vegetarian options. Open Monday to Thursday from 11am – 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am – 11pm, and Sundays from 12pm – 9pm.

Burger Theory: Attached to Holiday Inn, this restaurant serves custom burgers and woodfire pizzas, and has a full bar with craft beers and fine wines. They also serve breakfast from 6:30am – 11am on Monday to Thursday, and from 7:00am – 11am on Friday to Sunday. Open for lunch and dinner on Sunday to Thursday from 11am – 10pm and Friday & Saturday from 11am – 11pm.

Idle Hour Restaurant: They serve breakfast all day, as well as burgers, sandwiches, wraps and soups. Open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 7am – 2pm, Thursdays and Fridays are open additionally from 4:30pm – 7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 7am – 1pm.

Stan’s Bar: A small home town bar that offers draft beers, mixed drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, and a variety of appetizers. Open Monday & Tuesday from 11am – 10pm, Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 12am, and Sunday from 1pm – 8pm.

Marco’s Pizza: A pizza chain restaurant that offers custom pizzas, Italian style pizzas, subs, and salads. Open Monday to Thursday from 11am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday from 11am – 11pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 10pm.

Old Boy’s Brewhouse Inc.: A brewery and restaurant that serves handcrafted ales, mixed drinks, and fine wines,  along with their pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, fish baskets, burgers and a variety of appetizers. Open Thursday from 4pm – 8pm, Friday & Saturday from 12pm – 9pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm; They’re closed Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday.

Two Tony’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: A classy Italian restaurant that offers pasta, wood fired pizzas, culinary classics from around the world, salads, fine wine, draft beer, and other mixed drinks. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 4pm – 8pm, Friday & Saturday from 4pm – 9pm, and is closed on Sunday & Monday.

The Front Porch: An ice cream shop that serves homemade hard serve ice cream, sundaes, flurries, smoothies, slushies, shakes, and malts. Each day they pick a random name, and if you share that name, you can get a free ice cream! Open Sunday to Saturday from 11am – 10pm from April to September.

A La Mode: An ice cream shop that offers soft serve ice cream in chocolate, vanilla, twist, flavor bursts, or a custom flavor, or scoops of hard ice cream. They also have sundaes, shakes, floats, flurries, hot dogs, sides, and simple beverages. Open Monday to Friday from 11am – 10pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 12pm – 10pm from March to September.

Parks: 

Central Park: Connected to the Lakeside Trail this park has biking trails, tennis courts, a picnic shelter, a playground, and baseball fields. Dogs are welcome on leash, and in the off-leash dog park area. Open from dawn to dusk; No entry fee.

Lakeside Beach: A small beach area that includes restrooms, a life guard, shelters with picnic tables, and a deck with benches that offer spectacular views of Spring Lake. Opens at dawn and closes at 11pm; No entry fee.

Water Tower Park: A 3 acre park that has basketball courts, a tennis court, a soccer field, and picnic tables. Open from 7am to 9:30pm from April 1 to October 31, and 8am to 7:30pm from November 1 to March 31; No entry fee.

Mill Point Park: This park has biking paths, picnic areas, grills, a playground, restrooms, and a self-service boat launch. Dogs are welcome on leash. Open dawn to dusk; No entry fee; There is a fee for boat launching.

Whistle Stop Park: A small community park that has a picnic area, a picnic shelter, grills, and a playground. Open from dawn to dusk; No entry fee.

Rycenga Recreational Park: This park has 40 acres that includes soccer fields, baseball and softball fields, covered picnic areas, playgrounds, nature trails, and is located in the Spring Lake 12-mile community bike path. Open 7am to 9:30pm from  April 1 to October 31, and 8am to 7:30pm from November 1 to March 31; No entry fee.

Places to stay:

Holiday Inn: Rooms are equipped with a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. They do not offer continental breakfast, but the attached restaurant, Burger Theory, serves breakfast. They have an indoor and an outdoor pool, as well as a hot tub, and are located 1.5 miles from the beach. Daily rates start at $210.