We get excited about lighthouse tours just like you do! Between vineyards, beach towns and festivals, enjoying a tour along the west coast of Michigan can be one of your best beach vacations ever. To help you plan your lighthouse tour, we have now compiled a list of terrific lighthouses along Lake Michigan.

While enjoying your Michigan lighthouse tour, take a drive down the West Michigan Pike. With wine and craft beer tours along serene and quiet beach towns, you’ll want to stay for more, which is why you will want to rent a Michigan Vacation Rental along the coast. Enjoy the street performers of Holland, Michigan or the sand dunes at Silver Lake. Enjoy a historical sail across Lake Michigan on the Friends Good Will Ship, telling the story of commerce in the 1800s and War of 1812. To view area rentals, click here: Saugatuck Vacation Rentals

Holland Harbor Lighthouse

Have you ever heard of St. Joseph, Michigan? A popular destination for those that live in the Chicago and surrounding area love to visit the      “Riviera of the Midwest” with the deep waters perfect for fishing and a golden sandy beach that stretches for miles with a spectacular view of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. Only 90 minutes from Chicago, you don’t want to miss this incredible town along the way. To find rentals in the area, look at our Benton Harbour area vacation rentals

The Great Lakes hold more than 6,000 sunken ships. In the springtime, Lake Michigan can be so clear that even finding shipwrecks from an airplane can be easy. The cold freshwater at the bottom is about 39 degrees year-round which is a great temperature for preserving shipwrecks and even the handful of airplane crashes. If you’re looking for excitement on your lighthouse tour, here it is!

The maritime history among all the lighthouses are a nautical nod to our nation’s past in historical events such as the Pearl Harbor attack, World War II, and the Cold War.  The Little Sable Point Lighthouse is a must see for travelers looking at Michigan lighthouses. This is the tallest along Lake Michigan and is great view from the top. A great way to admire the sunset on Lake Michigan. Another popular one is north of Grand Haven is the Grand Haven Lighthouse and Pier, festively decorated with lights along the pier. A famous and most often photographed is the majestic Ludington’s North Breakwater Light. Ranked #1 in the state, this lighthouse is also a must see on your Lake Michigan lighthouse tour. All lighthouses have a nominal fee of around 5.00 dollars to better ensure the future of these historical markers.

Summertime is great for travel to West Michigan as tours of the lighthouses are always going on. But added bonuses to this type of travel is the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights, after the night begins to fall. This rare glimpse of Mother Nature’s magnitude is highly recommended and can only be seen in certain parts of the world. The golf courses along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan are also some of the best in the country. In the fall, treat yourself to visiting some of the most haunted lighthouses. While most of them are legends, some great storytelling and history are combined to create a different kind of vibe. Be careful when planning though, most lighthouses close around the end of October.

All lighthouses can be done over a span of 2 days but be sure to include delightful lunches along the shore and check out the area’s art history and museums for a glimpse into history. Enjoying all of the western coast of Michigan can be rejuvenating and a refresher from the hectic daily schedules, so we suggest booking atleast 4-6 days to fully take in what Michigan has to offer.

For more information on Michigan Lighthouses and to see a map and events, please click through to our new lighthouse page! Michigan Lighthouse Tour