Ludington is called a calming seashore city as it’s dwelling to twenty-eight miles of sandy seashores, sand dunes, and the water of Lake Michigan. Past the shores of Lake Michigan, there are a ton of issues to do in Ludington!
We simply returned from a four-night journey to Ludington with the youngsters on a enjoyable little summer time highway journey trip. We took the S.S. Badger automobile ferry over. That approach, we might have our personal automobile with us. We stayed within the cutest little cabin on Hamlin Lake at Interest Crest Resort.
When planning our journey to Ludington, we put collectively an enormous listing of all of the issues to do in Ludington Michigan we needed to do and the perfect eating places we needed to eat at. We lined a ton of floor in 4 days in Ludington, and our children had a blast.
Ludington has a deep-rooted maritime connection and is the best place to be taught concerning the area’s maritime historical past at places just like the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum or Sandcastles Kids’s Museum. Ludington has a historic significance of transport alongside the Nice Lakes that started with its roots as a lumber city, and thus one can find many historic buildings.
The downtown space of Ludington gives a small-town really feel and trendy facilities with tree-lined streets, and superb eating places, together with among the finest breakfast choices in Ludington. Stroll and browse the distinctive retailers or try an area pageant, akin to stay music and artisan occasions that run all through the hotter months of Might by means of September.
Ludington additionally gives pure landscapes that make it the best location for outside actions as it’s in shut proximity to each Lake Michigan, Hamlin Lake, and different inland rivers and lakes. Out of doors fanatics can take pleasure in mountain climbing, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, tenting, and even bird-watching.
There is no such thing as a scarcity of cool issues to do in Ludington because it gives distinctive boutiques and eating places, outside recreation, historic places, and a pleasant group vibe, making it the best place to go to!
Planning your Journey – FAQ Ludington Michigan
How do I get to Ludington?
In case you are touring from Wisconsin, the preferred and simplest way is to take the automobile ferry to Ludington. You can even simply drive to Ludington. The drive time varies primarily based on site visitors, however it’s about 4 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Detroit, and 6 hours from Milwaukee.
How lengthy is the ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington?
First setting sail in 1953, the BADGER automobile ferry is the final coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the US, connecting Ludington Michigan, with Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The BADGER is a 4-hour ferry journey throughout Lake Michigan to Manitowoc and is a part of the historic maritime custom.
Whereas onboard the BADGER, there are many issues to do, together with purchasing within the “boatique,” watching a flick within the movie show, lounging inside and outdoors on the deck, strolling alongside the deck, taking part in board video games or the well-known Badger Bingo, having fun with the toddler play space, having fun with stay music, and visiting its small museum.
To maintain the youngsters entertained, there’s a scavenger hunt, recreation room, movie show, and even a child’s port play space. We additionally opted to get a non-public stateroom. That approach, we had someplace to set our baggage. It was additionally good to have our personal non-public rest room and a spot the place we might shut the door and have the youngsters keep in a single place.
The ferry is seasonal and runs from mid-Might to mid-October. It leaves town of Ludington each morning at 9 am EST, arriving in Manitowoc at 12 pm CST, and turns proper again round and leaves Manitowoc at 2 pm CST arriving again in Ludington at 7 pm EST.
*NOTE – Michigan is on Japanese time, and Wisconsin is on Central time zone*
The place is Ludington?
Ludington is positioned in West Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline and is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to in Michigan throughout the summer time. Ludington is the largest metropolis in Mason County and is understood for being a harbor city on Lake Michigan.
What’s Ludington recognized for?
Ludington is understood for being a lovely seashore city positioned alongside Lake Michigan, in addition to having unbelievable pure magnificence with lakes and rivers, woods, and sand dunes. Considered one of its greatest attracts is Ludington State Park, the place guests can discover the pure great thing about the area by means of mountain climbing, tenting, and water sports activities.
Based in 1873, Ludington is also a historic city established due to its plentiful timber for lumber plus an accessible waterway for transport, contributing to a powerful maritime historical past that features the S.S. Badger carferry service that initially transported rail vehicles. The remaining automobile ferry is now used as a passenger ferry service.
When is the perfect time to go to Ludington?
The summer time months have essentially the most vibrant ambiance in Ludington. Nevertheless, it may be loved all yr lengthy, relying in your exercise, climate, and crowd-level preferences.
Right here’s a breakdown of the totally different seasons in Ludington:
- Summer season (June to August): When the climate is heat and sunny, you may anticipate the height vacationer season as in style sights grow to be crowded and the world feels busy. Vacationers come to benefit from the seashores, swimming, boating, outside actions, and festivals.
- Fall (September to November): Because the leaves change colour and the climate turns into cooler, there are fewer crowds, making it a really perfect location for a trip. Ludington State Park is gorgeous within the fall, providing tenting, mountain climbing, biking, and fishing.
- Winter (December to February): Ludington experiences chilly winters with occasional snowfall and fewer vacationers, so you may anticipate some sights to be closed or have restricted hours. Lodging are extra reasonably priced as nicely. In style winter actions embody snowshoeing, cross-country snowboarding, and ice fishing. The state park even gives lantern-lit snowshoeing occasions and grooms a few of its trails for cross-country snowboarding.
- Spring (March to Might): Spring in Ludington is a quieter time with fewer vacationers and cooler climate that brings the blooming of nature and the return of birds to the world, making it superb for mountain climbing, birdwatching, and wildflower recognizing.
What number of days do you must do all the perfect issues to do in Ludington, Michigan?
We’d advocate planning to spend 3-4 days in Ludington. You’ll have sufficient time which you can really discover and revel in all that it has to supply.
We advise spending at some point downtown, at some point on the seashore exploring the miles of shoreline, after which 1-2 days exploring Ludington State Park and having fun with the close by outside actions. Or you can take a half-day facet journey to neighboring Oceana County to see Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
The place to remain in Ludington?
Interest Crest Resort is the proper spot to behave as a house base when you journey and discover. We stayed at Interest Crest Resort, positioned in Ludington. We selected to remain at a cottage, and we actually favored that it was conveniently positioned on the shores of Hamlin Lake so we might relaxation, loosen up, hang around on the sandy seashore space, and revel in water sports activities, akin to a water trampoline proper on website.
Every cabin is provided with a picnic desk and chairs, in addition to a gasoline grill and fireplace pit. There are many eating places and grocery shops close by when you’d wish to eat out or have a pleasant meal on the cabin.
You may simply spend your entire day again on the resort. You possibly can go fishing, boating, and swimming, and there are leases for kayaks, paddleboards, and even pontoon boats. Youngsters of all ages (and adults, too) will benefit from the sandy seashore, massive grassy space, and playground. You probably have your personal boat, they provide boat slip leases.
Ludington State Park’s jap border is steps away from Interest Crest Resort, and it is just a 5-minute drive to benefit from the 5,300 acres of land to discover. It’s a couple of 10-minute drive to downtown Ludington.
Along with Interest Crest, when taking a look at the place to remain in Ludington, there’s a wide range of lodging choices. From family-owned cabins and native Ludington lodges to nationwide resort chains, there’s something for everybody’s price range and journey fashion.
What are the perfect eating places in Ludington?
We’ve a complete put up on the perfect eating places in Ludington right here and the perfect breakfasts in Ludington right here. However to sum it up, listed here are a few of our go-to eating places in Ludington, Michigan:
Finest Issues to Do in Ludington Michigan
Being a seashore city on the shoreline of Michigan, a lot of the issues to do in Ludington contain the water ultimately or one other. We’ve rounded up all the perfect issues to do in Ludington, Michigan, that will help you plan your subsequent summer time journey or weekend getaway at this summer time hotspot.
1. Discover Ludington State Park
Ludington State Park wins the title of finest Michigan State Park because it has such a big number of actions to take pleasure in as you benefit from the stunning pure setting of the forest in addition to the seashore alongside Hamlin Lake.
The park has a wide range of totally different terrains and distinctive options, together with islands, boardwalks, bridges, rivers, and even sand dunes which you can traverse.
In case you are searching for extra rustic lodging, then you definately would possibly contemplate tenting at Ludington State Park, because the park has three trendy campgrounds (Beachwood, Pines, and Cedar) and one hike-in website (Jack Pine), all named after bushes. The park has a wide range of website sorts and places, from rustic to electrical, and a few cabins, relying in your pursuits and desires. It may be troublesome to get a reservation. Websites grow to be obtainable to order six months previous to your keep date, so mark your calendar and speak to Michigan DNR Reservations as quickly as your date is on the market to guide.
Ludington State Park has greater than 25 miles of mountain climbing alongside ten main trails working by means of the park, all labeled by colours. The shorter trails embody Coast Guard Path, Lighthouse Path, Sable River Path, Misplaced Lake Path, and Skyline Path. These trails can all be accomplished in round 2 hours.
In case you are searching for an extended hike, then chances are you’ll contemplate the Ridge Path, South Ski Trails, and Logging Path, that are longer hikes and take within the 3-4 hour vary. Additionally, many hikes may be mixed for longer routes. You probably have time, one of the crucial scenic views is at Hamlin Dam and alongside the Sable River. Alongside most of the trails, you’re going to get to view the distinctive sand dunes and even climb a sand dune on the Skyline Path.
Should you take pleasure in water sports activities, cease on the Hamlin Lake Watercraft Rental to lease canoes, single and tandem kayaks, paddle boats, row boats, or stand-up paddleboards. These renting water tools can benefit from the marked four-mile Canoe Path alongside the jap shore of Hamlin Lake, which is dwelling to many wildlife and waterfowl. This may take 2-3 hours, relying in your paddling skills and tempo (and observe there are at the very least three portages, so intermediate paddling abilities are really helpful). If you are out within the water, chances are you’ll take pleasure in fishing because the Lake has an abundance of walleye, perch, northern pike, bass, and bluegill fish.
If watersports aren’t of curiosity, then chances are you’ll take pleasure in lounging on the sandy seashore, swimming in Hamlin Lake, or stopping on the Seashore Home on the Lake Michigan seashore for ice cream. There’s a massive and absolutely accessible playground for the youngsters, positioned conveniently to Hamlin Seashore.
Lastly, Ludington State Park has a terrific paved biking path alongside the park highway for guests to take pleasure in.
2. Hike to Massive Sable Level Lighthouse
Try the historic Massive Sable Level Lighthouse, which stands at 122 toes tall in Ludington State Park since 1867 and is without doubt one of the oldest repeatedly working lighthouses in Michigan. Get pleasure from a sandy hike of 1.8 miles lengthy to succeed in this fabulous construction. Nevertheless, be ready. This hike doesn’t have loads of shady spots, so it would be best to pack a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
The Lighthouse path takes about 2-3 hours to finish if strolling. Nevertheless, you may attain the ultimate vacation spot slightly quicker if you’re driving a motorcycle with fats tires.
When you attain the lighthouse, you may try the reward store that was the lighthouse keepers’ quarters, discover close by sand dunes, or climb a 130-step spiral staircase to take pleasure in scenic views of the Michigan shoreline and passing freighters.
We didn’t make it to the Massive Sable Lighthouse. In case you are touring with small youngsters, observe that the path isn’t appropriate for a stroller. We determined with two small youngsters and a 3.6-mile hike, our time was higher spent exploring different sights.
Nevertheless, the nonprofit that manages the lighthouse gives Bus Days as soon as a month, June by means of September, to drive folks out to the lighthouse and again for a small charge.
3. Take the S.S. Badger Ferry Throughout Lake Michigan
Loosen up on the historic steamship automobile ferry that connects Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on this 4-hour journey throughout Lake Michigan. Click on right here to test charges and schedule.
Onboard actions embody purchasing within the “boatique,” watching a flick within the movie show, lounging inside and outdoors on the deck, strolling alongside the deck, taking part in board video games or the well-known Badger Bingo, having fun with the toddler play space, having fun with stay music, and visiting its small museum. To maintain the youngsters entertained, there’s a scavenger hunt, recreation room, movie show, and even a child’s port play space.
4. Loosen up at Stearns Park Seashore
Stearns Park Seashore is positioned on the western fringe of Ludington, the place it meets Lake Michigan and gives 2,500 toes of shoreline, and is Ludington’s greatest seashore.
The seashore has a number of actions for households to take pleasure in, together with picnic areas, playgrounds, a volleyball court docket, and concession stands to buy snacks.
Right here you may take pleasure in swimming within the clear waters of Lake Michigan, taking part in within the sand, or strolling alongside the seashore. Households can take pleasure in a view of the North Breakwater Lighthouse or take pleasure in recreation actions close by. Recreation actions embody Skate Park Plaza, shuffleboard courts, a playground on the sandy seashore, and Ludington Space Jaycees Mini Golf Course.
This Ludington seashore is wheelchair accessible because it has three ramps that lead from the free parking zone to the water.
5. Play at Sandcastles Kids’s Museum
Our youngsters LOVED Sandcastles Kids’s Museum. We spent over three hours right here, and our children would have stayed all day if we allowed them to. That is the perfect kids’s museum we’ve ever been to.
It’s actually nice for 1-4-year-olds. Most youngsters’s museums are for older kids, however Sandcastles has many areas and actions for smaller toddlers.
Households can create, discover and uncover at this hands-on museum that may preserve the youngsters entertained for hours. The Sandcastles Kids’s Museum is good for kids aged 2-10 and is a good exercise for a wet day, and is without doubt one of the finest methods to burn off some power.
The museum gives 4 full ranges of family-friendly hands-on actions akin to:
- S.S. Badger Playship – my youngsters beloved the ship. Right here kids can play within the wheelhouse, use the telescope, blow the whistle, and slide down from the highest of the ship.
- The nursery – kids can role-play with infants and fake to be a health care provider, nurse, or mother or father as they maintain child dolls utilizing real-life gadgets akin to child heaters, bassinets, and child scales
- Home of Flavors & Hungry Howies Pizza Parlor – Right here, kids can serve up some tasty desserts or bake a pizza.
- Bubbles Galore – kids can play with a wide range of bubble wands.
- Calming Nook – a quiet place to relaxation and loosen up, providing sensory actions
- Climbing Wall – kids can take a look at their energy and steadiness on this indoor climbing function
- Creation Station – unfastened elements that kids can create and design with and let their creativeness run wild
- Grandpa’s Barn – permits kids to be taught extra about agriculture by taking part in with the walk-in barn, corn conveyor, tractor, and Buttercup – a life-sized milking cow.
6. Climb to the High of Ludington North Breakwater Gentle
Climb to the highest of this iconic point of interest on the Lake Michigan shoreline, and benefit from the comparatively straightforward mile-long spherical journey stroll alongside the breakwall in your option to the Ludington North Breakwater Gentle.
This in style attraction in Ludington is the proper place to benefit from the close by picturesque settings, watch the BADGER cruise in Lake Michigan or a terrific place to easily sit and benefit from the sundown from the highest deck of the lighthouse. From high to backside, the climb is roughly 53 steps.
The realm across the lighthouse is a good spot to go fishing, and the close by seashore gives a terrific spot for swimming or having lunch within the picnic space on the seashore. The lighthouse incorporates a porthole on every of its three decks, and every stage has distinctive artifacts and photos for guests to view and be taught extra concerning the historical past of the lighthouse on their option to the lantern rooms.
Lighthouse tour climbs can be found throughout the excessive season, sometimes from the tip of Might till early September.
You probably have small youngsters, I counsel placing them within the stroller. We had each of our children in our Zoe double journey stroller, and I felt extra comfy figuring out they have been strapped in.
7. Seize a Pint at a Native Microbrewery
In case you are a beer lover like us, you’ll be happy to seek out a number of microbreweries right here in Ludington. Right here you may take pleasure in a great meal and domestically crafted beers. We’re all the time on the hunt for the perfect beer when touring and making an attempt distinctive native craft beers.
Listed below are just a few microbreweries in Ludington which you can go to:
- Jamesport Brewing Firm: Sip in your beer when you take pleasure in views of the Ludington harbor and the S.S. Badger ferry service. This family-friendly informal atmosphere is pet pleasant and has a terrific patio. Jamesport Brewing Co. is a good spot to go for lunch.
- Ludington Bay Brewing Firm: Fastidiously crafts beers on the shores of Michigan, together with S.S. Badger Blue in honor of the automobile ferry. The beer is brewed proper downtown in Ludington utilizing native substances, additionally pet-friendly on its patio.
- Ravenous Artist Brewing: In the course of the nation, in a barn, one can find some tremendous distinctive and attractive beers. Adam beloved their IPA beers, and I actually loved their sours. The proprietor is superior and actually obsessed with his beer. He was nice to speak too and study how the brewery has developed and his beers. Observe there isn’t a meals served right here, and so they aren’t open day-after-day, so test their hours upfront.
8. Seize Ice Cream at Home of Flavors
Celebrating 75 years of operation in 2023, Home of Flavors as soon as held the Guinness World File for the Longest Ice Cream Dessert. A 3rd-generation family-owned enterprise, it manufactures over 25 million gallons of ice cream a yr. Serving over 40 distinctive flavors of ice lotions, sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, it makes the proper place to seize a candy deal with!
This 1950’s themed diner serves every thing from sandwiches, salads, soups, and burgers along with their tasty desserts. Click on right here to see what ice cream flavors they’ve obtainable. It’s a tremendous in style spot on sizzling summer time days!
There may be extra than simply ice cream on the Home of Flavors restaurant. They’ve a full menu and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
9. Discover Downtown Ludington
In case you are a foodie and revel in native eating places, then it would be best to try downtown Ludington. Providing a wide range of eating places, cafes, and nice eating institutions serving every thing, together with American, Mexican, and Italian.
Downtown Ludington is dwelling to many historic buildings, such because the Mason County Courthouse, Ludington Space Middle for the Arts, Mason County District Library, and the Ludington Masonic Temple. Legacy Plaza, within the coronary heart of downtown, has picnic tables, a gasoline hearth, a lined pavilion for farmer and artisan markets, and a stage for stay music. Rotary Park gives a quiet spot to relaxation with a fountain, benches, and inexperienced house.
Ludington Avenue is a picturesque road to take a stroll and window store the retailers and boutiques that promote clothes, dwelling decor, and items. One other excellent place to cease is the Mitten Bar serving solely Michigan-made beer and wine, additionally positioned proper on Ludington Avenue.
10. Get Sandy on Mac Wooden’s Sand Dune Tour
Climb to the highest of sand dunes and catch some superb views of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake on a Mac Wooden’s Dune Experience. This thrilling tour is a should for all ages. Our three-year-old son beloved it!
Since 1930, Mac Wooden’s has been providing dune rides with a four-passenger dune scooter. You possibly can catch a glimpse of what the 1934 Ford Scooter appears like of their museum store. At present the journey is slightly totally different in a 20-person four-wheel drive car.
Excursions are 40 minutes lengthy and run all through the day from mid-Might by means of the tip of September. They don’t take reservations or promote tickets upfront. You simply present up and buy your ticket for the following leaving tour. We solely needed to wait about 5 minutes.
11. Go to a Vineyard in Ludington
Who doesn’t love a pleasant glass of wine? Guests can be taught extra about genuine artisan wine-making by studying extra concerning the wine methods used and having fun with some samples within the sampling rooms that spotlight native wines.
There are a number of wineries positioned within the Ludington space together with:
- Pere Marquette Vineyard: Get pleasure from a wine pattern within the outdated equestrian tack room become a sampling room.
- North Department Vineyard: Get pleasure from handcrafted wines which are fermented and bottled on-site and may be paired with a charcuterie board. They provide a wide range of grape and fruit wines made with native substances.
- Fox Barn Vineyard: They develop wines made with produce immediately from the orchard, and the restored vintage barn and patio supply a calming atmosphere to take pleasure in wine on the tasting bar along with a barn-bites meals board. They’ve each wine and cider which you can buy and take with you.
12. Go Fishing in Ludington
Ludington is a well-liked vacation spot for fishing in each Lake Michigan and close by rivers and waters akin to Hamlin Lake.
Anglers seeking to fish in Lake Michigan can fish from the pier, shoreline, breakwalls, or rent a constitution boat to go on a deep-sea fishing expertise. Lake Michigan is in style for fishing a wide range of fish species, together with trout, walleye, salmon, and perch.
There are various skilled skilled charters that may present tools and data on the perfect spots to fish. Ludington is called being the perfect port to catch salmon in all of Michigan.
The Pere Marquette River is a good location to go paddling and fish for trout or salmon, or steelhead within the spring. The water is low sufficient which you can wade within the shoreline to fish. Hamlin Lake permits anglers to fish from small boats akin to canoes and kayaks or from the shoreline. Hamlin Lake gives fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, panfish, and walleye.
13. Pet the Animals at Lewis Journey Farm & Zoo
In case you are touring with youngsters, a go to to Lewis Journey Farm & Zoo is a should. It was a favourite spot for our children. You possibly can simply spend a complete morning or afternoon right here.
The Lewis Journey Farm and Zoo is the proper place to spend the day with the household, as there’s a lot to do on the farm. Our youngsters beloved the large slide (it was certainly one of their favourite issues), driving the Bumpalong Barrel prepare, driving the carousel, the large enjoyable leaping pillow, pedal carts, low ropes course, crawly spider internet, and a lot extra!
Youngsters can take pleasure in all of the video games on the farm, together with skeeball, balltown, cornhole, and rubber duck races. If you wish to pet some furry pals, then you definately’ve come to the correct place. You possibly can benefit from the petting zoo or go to Bunnyville to be taught extra concerning the cattle and look at them.
We didn’t eat right here, however the farm has 4 totally different meals venues to strive together with Grilled Cheese, Burgers, Hen Sandwiches, and Mac & Cheese. We did, nonetheless, seize a recent dessert from the bakery, the place they serve recent pies, donuts, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, a number of cookies, and extra!
It’s a good way to spend the morning. Anticipate to spend 3-4 hours right here or longer you probably have the time. In case you are hungry for lunch or want some ice cream, head to County Dairy, which is barely a two-minute drive away. They’ve a full lunch menu and actually good ice cream too.
14. Tour Amber Elk Ranch
Stand up shut with Elk on the Amber Elk Ranch, which supplies guided excursions and permits guests to study elk conservation and different wildlife. Guests will be taught all about elk habitat, elk conduct, and their position within the ecosystem on this 130-acre farm.
The ranch is dwelling to a few hundred elk and is positioned simply outdoors of Ludington. Don’t overlook to strive the Elk Burger whenever you go to the ranch!
15. Go to the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum gives guests an interesting journey into the maritime historical past of Ludington, Michigan, offering a wealth of data to its company.
Positioned within the former U.S. Coast Guard Station and now listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, this family-friendly, state-of-the-art museum overlooking the channel to Lake Michigan has everlasting and altering displays that supply uncommon glimpses into the previous with genuine artifacts, historic images, and the voices of people that performed key roles in maritime industries that formed the area.
Guests will be taught concerning the maritime heritage of Ludington by means of the three ranges of the museum by viewing images, fashions, interactive displays, and artifacts that educate company concerning the significance of fishing, lighthouses, boating, and transport on the Nice Lakes.
A favourite exhibit, particularly for teenagers, is the interactive pilothouse of the Pere Marquette 22 automobile ferry within the Nineteen Thirties, the place guests can take management of the helm and navigate into and out of the harbor as nicely throughout Lake Michigan.
16. Eat, Drink, and Bowl at STIX
STIX is a world-class leisure facility and restaurant that may be a staple in Ludington. Get pleasure from an grownup beverage at both the second-floor patio or the Biergarten, which incorporates a patio in addition to a terrific house to take pleasure in garden video games like cornhole and tic tac toe.
Should you occur to have a wet day, they’ve an excellent enjoyable bowling alley. The brand-new bowling alley options state-of-the-art bowling expertise to supply company the perfect expertise doable.
17. Experience Horses at Stony Lake Stables
Previously often called Rainbow Ranch, Stony Lake Stables is a family-friendly ranch that brings a little bit of the outdated west again to Michigan by providing path rides alongside the shady paths within the stunning countryside of Western Michigan.
Stony Lake Stables is dwelling to miles of scenic trails that may take you thru a wide range of terrain, together with rolling hills, deep ravines, agricultural fields, swamps, and rivers. Guests can take pleasure in both a 1-hour or 1.5-hour path journey possibility.
18. Take a Stroll by means of Waterfront Sculpture Park
Waterfront Sculpture Park is the proper place to let youngsters run wild on the playground, watch the sundown, or stroll and discover the sculptures all through the park. The park options 9 sculptures within the five-acre park, and every sculpture tells a narrative concerning the historical past of Ludington.
The sculptures within the park are a part of the one-of-a-kind Sculpture Path positioned all through Ludington. You’ll find different sculptures alongside the route, together with at Mason County District Library, Mason County Fairgrounds, Ludington State Park, Maritime Heritage Park, Stearns Park, and the Lake Michigan shoreline walkway.
Waterfront Park additionally options an amphitheater, a municipal marina, and scenic walkways which are the proper place to benefit from the sundown from a close-by bench.
19. Go to Up North Farm Market & Petting Barn (Free)
A enjoyable free in style exercise for the youngsters is all the time a plus for us, and when there’s beer and cider on faucet, even higher! Whereas mother and father benefit from the alcohol and meals, youngsters will benefit from the petting barn, the place they’ll work together up shut with cattle akin to llamas, pigs, horses, sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, and extra.
Assist native farmers as you should buy farm recent produce from the market or cease by the North Farm Market Bar and revel in one of many eight totally different beers and ciders on faucet or the wine picks.
The Up North Farm Market additionally runs a number of seasonal occasions, akin to pumpkin choosing and hayrides within the fall. There may be additionally a enjoyable youngsters play space to maintain the youngsters entertained even longer.
20. Cool off at Copeyon Park Splash Pad & Playground
On a sizzling summer time day, Copeyon Park is the best location to chill down within the enjoyable water options discovered on the splash pad. The park has a shaded pavilion and picnic tables, that are the proper location to take pleasure in a picnic lunch.
We actually favored this playground for our children’ present ages. The playground isn’t huge, there weren’t loads of open areas they may fall from, and once we have been there at sundown, it was simply us there.
21. Get Ice Cream at Nation Dairy Farm Retailer
Nation Dairy has been producing milk since 1983 and, since 2004, has been serving a wide range of ice cream treats, together with over 29 totally different ice cream flavors.
There may be additionally a full menu on the Nation Dairy Farm Retailer. We stopped in for lunch and ice cream. The burgers are REALLY good! Within the farm retailer, you should buy cheese, milk, meat, jams, and extra. Should you can’t make it to the farm retailer, cease by a grocery retailer in Ludington, as many shops carry Nation Dairy merchandise.
When you cease for ice cream, you too can take a farm tour and be taught extra concerning the cows and different animals on the farm. There may be additionally a playground for the youngsters.
22. Step again in time at Historic White Pine Village
Study extra about what Ludington was like throughout the late Nineteenth-early twentieth century pioneer instances as you tour and discover the historic buildings. Historic White Pine Village options over 30 historic buildings, together with the unique 1849 Mason County Courthouse, steam locomotive, and dealing sawmill.
The buildings and artifacts educate guests concerning the agricultural and wealthy lumbering historical past of the area. Company can stroll by means of the buildings and step again in time to know the previous!
Ludington is a busy vacation spot throughout the summer time months because it gives a calming seashore atmosphere, a historic waterfront, tons of enjoyable sights in Ludington, and plenty of outside recreation alternatives close by.
Ludington is a good place to take pleasure in a three-day lengthy weekend getaway as it’s straightforward to journey to from inside Michigan in addition to Wisconsin, because of the BADGER automobile ferry service that operates recurrently throughout the summer time months.
We hope we enable you to plan your Ludington trip!
