Holland, Michigan

Holland State Park is well known for its enormous sandy beach on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. Popular among locals and tourists alike, the beach is perfect for any beach activity you like, from sunbathing and volleyball to building sandcastles, surfing, or just relaxing. Holland State Park has two large campgrounds, a number of picnic tables, grills, and fire pits.

Holland State Park Beach also has beach volleyball courts and a small beach house. If you like to fish, the walkway and pier along the harbor channel are the best spots for it. You can also enjoy watching the passing sailboats, waiting for the sunset, or taking photos of the Big Red lighthouse. There is a concession stand if the kids get hungry from all the activities. Holland State Park Beach is one of the best things to do in Holland, Michigan.

2215 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland, MI 49424, 616-399-9390

After visiting the Windmill Island Gardens and seeing the 251-year-old windmill De Zwaan, you might think you somehow got transported to the Netherlands. In fact, it is the only real, working Dutch windmill in the States that was transported from the Netherlands to Holland in 1964. Today, it is the centerpiece of a magnificent garden on Windmill Island, which becomes a magical place in May when more than 100,000 tulips bloom in all the colors of rainbow.

The 36-acre island in the Macatawa River is a popular tourist destination, and besides the windmill, it also contains a colorful old-fashioned carousel that kids love. If you are wondering what to do in Holland, this is a great place to visit. Stroll about the island, where there is always something blooming and, during the summer, you can enjoy kids dancing traditional Dutch dances in wooden clogs.

1 Lincoln Ave, Holland, MI 49423, 616-355-1030

Watching your kids trying on Dutch wooden shoes is an excellent photo opportunity. Actually, your entire visit to the Nelis' Dutch Village will consist of one fun activity after another, all worthy of being caught by your camera. This 10-acres of “authentic” Dutch village of the 1800’s with its curious architecture is a delight for grownups and kids alike.

Walk through the historic streets following your guides dressed in colorful Dutch costume, listen to the 25-bell traditional Dutch carillon, enjoy the powerful sounds of the street organ, visit the wooden shoes factory, take a spin with the dancers clomping around in their wooden shoes, let the kids play with live animals in the petting zoo, or let them fly on the Zweefmolen – a fun Dutch Swing Ride.

12350 James St, Holland, MI 49424, 616-396-1475

If you are a photographer, don't miss:

Mount Pisgah is a soaring dune off of Holland State Park. At its highest point, the dune is 157 feet above Lake Michigan, giving visitors breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Macatawa, the marinas, Lake Michigan, and the iconic Big Red lighthouse.

The dune is accessible via the Mount Pisgah Dune Boardwalk or stairs and is a favorite of kids and adults alike; families can be seen climbing, rolling, and tumbling on its sandy face. Additional on-site amenities include picnic shelters, beach volleyball courts, and restrooms.

Ottawa Beach Rd and Third Ave, Park Twp, MI 49423, 616-738-4810

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

There is no better way to understand and appreciate the rich history and culture of Holland than at the Holland Museum. Since 1915, the museum has housed a fascinating collection of artifacts that exhibit the early Dutch settlement and its development into the thriving, diverse city that is Holland.

From the arrival of the Dutch to the devastating fire of 1871 and the growth that continues today, the museum is bursting with artifacts that tell a story far beyond what the eye sees in the flourishing town. Preserving and displaying history, the museum allows visitors to see and enjoy shipwrecks, art, toys, and other gifts from around the world that exhibit Dutch culture.

31 West 10th Street, Holland, MI 49423, 616-796-3329

In 1950, Vern Veldheer took 100 red tulips and 300 white tulips and started a hobby farm. Today, the Veldheer Tulip Garden is Holland’s only tulip farm and perennial garden and has over five million tulips planted. Guests can walk through the beautiful garden and enjoy its floral beauty, and they can also purchase bulbs and bouquets to take with them and make their homes and gardens just as breathtaking.

Perennials and flowers are brought in from around the world – and not only tulips! The Veldheer Tulip Garden, though the name may suggest otherwise, also has over 50,000 daffodils, 20,000 crocus, and 10,000 hyacinths; the end result is a parade of stunning floral color.

12755 Quincy St, Holland, MI 49424, 616-399-1900

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

Kollen Park & Heinz Waterfront Walkway is a beautiful recreational park on the shore of Lake Macatawa located less than a mile from downtown Holland. The park has a boat launch ramp, a roofed picnic shelter with tables, and a playground for children. On a nice day, many visitors can be seen fishing off the boardwalk and enjoying themselves.

Two special landmarks include the Quertaro Fountain and the Immigrants Statue; Quertaro, Mexico, Holland’s sister city, gave the Quertaro Fountain as a gift, while the Immigrants Statue was a gift from the people of Drenthe in the Netherlands. Paved park paths connect to the Heinz Waterfront Boardwalk along the Lake Macatawa shore.

240 Kollen Park Drive, Holland 49423, 616-928-2450

Tunnel Park is just that – a park with a tunnel that goes through a dune! The unique tunnel is a fun place to play and enjoy the day for children and adults alike.

The 22-acre park also has a children’s playground, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, a dune climb, and a dune stairway that leads to the top, giving visitors an amazing view of Lake Michigan. It is a great place for sunbathing, swimming, or for just enjoying a fun day of sun, swim, and sand.

66 Lakeshore Drive, Holland, MI 49424, 616-738-4810

Art lovers visiting Holland will enjoy the De Pree Gallery in the Hope College Department of Art & Art History. The gallery showcases exhibitions from internationally recognized artists as well as current student work. Visiting artists are often featured at the gallery, and workshops, critiques, and lectures are regularly held.

For those staying in Holland for an extended amount of time, the Department of Art and Art History has many courses and programs in studio, art education, and art history, and they mentor their students using everything from antique tools and materials to technologies from the 21st century. Visitors of all ages can appreciate the arts at the Hope College Department of Art and Art History.

275 Columbia Avenue, Holland, MI 49423-3654, 616-395-7500

Enjoy a memorable cruise aboard the Holland Princess – a relatively new vacation attraction in Holland! The 65’ Victorian style paddle-wheel riverboat will take you on an exciting excursion on Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.

The boat tour cruises past the Holland Harbor Light, more famously known as the Big Red Lighthouse, other historic landmarks, and picturesque lake homes, showing visitors a side of Holland that can’t be seen from anywhere else.

Visitors can enjoy a lovely lunch or dinner as they take in the scenery, converse with other visitors, or sing a song on the karaoke system. Kids have an opportunity to blow the boat whistle and pick treasure from the Captain’s treasure chest. The Holland Princess cruise is an entertaining way to experience Holland for the whole family.

290 Howard Ave. (Dunton Park) Holland, MI 49424, 616-393-7799