Well, summer is the time for
the three of us, Sandra Campbell, Sharon Hegwood and Linda Sparkman, to
pack our ol’ bags and hit the road to explore, photograph and enjoy some
picturesque cities along Michigan’s west coast. We were excited for our
adventure to begin and we found a wonderful resort in the town of
Saugatuck to escape the fast-paced daily pressures of America’s work-a-day
world. No one rushes here. Just breathing the clean, fresh air along
Lake Michigan makes you slow down, relax and stop to smell the roses.
Located
about 185 miles from the Metro-Detroit area, Saugatuck is a small harbor
community filled with natural scenic beauty. Sand dunes to the west and
verdant orchards to the east provide a unique setting for this charming
town. It is here that the Kalamazoo River empties into Lake Michigan.
The Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Guide and Directory provides us with this
interesting tidbit: “Saugatuck’s Oval Beach has been rated by Conde
Naste’s Traveler Magazine as one of the 25 best shorelines in the
world. MTV has ranked the Oval as one of the top five beaches in
the country.”
Saugatuck was
first settled in the mid 1800’s as a lumber community. Many of the trees
in this area were used to help rebuild Chicago after it burned to the
ground in 1871. Its reputation as a resort town started in the early
1900’s when many people from Chicago came to Saugatuck to vacation and
rest.
In 1910 the
Summer School of Painting was started in Ox-Bow Lagoon and today it is
affiliated with the Art Institute of Chicago and has become a Mecca for
artists everywhere. Saugatuck is located in the heart of what is
nationally known as The Art Coast of Michigan.
When
visiting here be sure to stop at the Chamber of Commerce and pick up the
“Art Gallery Guide” which locates more than 25 art galleries in the area.
“The Artist Trail” brochure features several working artists’ studios
nearby which highlight various art mediums including sculpture, forged
copper and glass, hand-thrown stoneware, and porcelain pottery. Some of
the best artists in Michigan find their creativity heightened by their
scenic surroundings.
If you are
naturally drawn to the blue waters of the Great Lakes, there are many ways
to enjoy your stay in Saugatuck. Take a 1 ½ hour cruise on The Star of
Saugatuck, an authentic sternwheeler paddleboat and learn the history
of the area while catching glimpses of blue heron, Canadian geese, and
wild turkey along the shore. Charter boats are available for those
fishermen who love to catch perch, salmon, pike and trout. You can also
rent kayaks, pontoons, and seadoos from the many marinas along the shore.
For those of you
who love to watch the waves, but prefer to stay on dry land, Saugatuck has
three 18-hole championship golf courses in the area, one of which was
designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. Or, you may prefer to hike to
the top of the Mt. Baldhead sand dune. The 283-step climb will provide
you with a breathtaking view of the harbor. For those of us not so
athletic, we can enjoy a rollicking ride in a dune buggy across the
gigantic sand hills. If you enjoy hunting wild game, you can contact the
Top Gun Hunt Club for an exciting adventure.
Lake Michigan provides refreshing cool breezes in the lazy days of
summer. We found our stroll along the boardwalk in the cool of the
evening to be quite pleasant. Birds chirping, squirrels scampering and
the fragrance of flowers in full bloom made our view of the harbor quite
memorable.
Saugatuck
has many small boutiques located throughout this artsy community. There
are plenty of benches to stop and rest along the be-flowered sidewalks.
One whole corner lot in town is devoted to a spectacular rose garden. The
delicate beauty, kaleidoscope of colors and rich fragrance made this a
favorite spot to stop and smell the roses.
Be sure to
stop by the Dockside Marketplace and locate the International Home whose
collection of Small World Rhythm clocks is truly mesmerizing. Other shops
in town include the Tiki Hut, Uncharted Courses where you’ll find nautical
discoveries, and the Wild Ideas Gallery featuring woodcarvings by local
artists.
Since
Saugatuck is a good three-hour drive from the Detroit area, you might want
to make arrangements for a stay in the Bed & Breakfast Capital of the
Midwest. The Chicago Sun Times voted the Rosemont Inn
Resort as “one of the Midwest’s Top 10 romantic retreats.” Whether you
prefer the casual elegance of the Bayside Inn on Water Street or the
Hidden Garden Cottage, a luxurious hideaway for two, there is sure to be
pleasing accommodations for even the fussiest traveler.
The
culinary arts are well represented in Saugatuck as well. Whatever your
taste, you have a wide variety of choices. Elegant dining is available at
the Belvedere Inn, a renovated mansion. Marro’s is a 30-year favorite of
the locals known for their specialty Italian cuisine. Crane’s Pie Pantry
specializes in children’s menus and famous fresh pies, homemade with fruit
provided by nearby orchards. And don’t forget to stop by the Saugatuck
Drug Co. for their 81-year specialty of the house: an old-fashioned
hand-creamed soda. A perfect way to end the day.
Although our
short time in Saugatuck was well spent, the ThreeOlBags decided we needed
to return for a weekend writer’s retreat. Now, wouldn’t that be
fun? With so much to see and do here, we might not get much writing
done, but we would go home with our creative juices flowing. Maybe we’ll
see you there!
