By Bryson Adkins
Michigan is not called ‘The Great Lake State’ for no reason, along with some pretty great lakes, leaving tons of room for great beaches. As summer is here many students here at Grand Rapids Community College are either chilling at home for the summer or grinding out some more credits for their transcripts. Just because you are still doing school during the summer doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a summer beach day. If you take an online class & have a hotspot, why not take a class on the vast amount of beaches that some of our fellow students recommend?
Grand Haven Beach
“Grand Haven is your stereotypical beach park It’s very scenic as well with a walkable downtown,“ said Demi Lopez, 21, psychology major. “I love it personally because I haven’t really ventured out to find new beaches.”
Located in Grand Haven, Michigan 1001 Harbor Dr. is about a 45-minute drive from the Grand Rapids Area. The park is right on Lake Michigan and has a half-mile shoreline with pretty sand. You can take some cool pictures with your friends over the iconic boardwalk and even take pictures of the sunset over the water. If you are looking for some good Mexican food, Righteous Cuisine has an amazing menu with plenty of good reviews.
Muskegon Beach
“It’s a lot more quiet than Grand Haven and it’s a lot less people,” said Jakob Koshel.
Also located on the west coast of Lake Michigan, Muskegon Beach offers soft sand surrounded by nature. If you’re down to partake in some art during your beach trip, you should visit the Muskegon Museum of Art. Ice cream goes together so well with a nice relaxing beach day. You should hit up Frosty Cove, they have so many different flavors you can choose from.
West End Beach
“It has very beautiful scenery,” said Stephanie Smith, 19, music and theatre major. “Very very white sand as well.”
Located in northern Michigan, 716 W Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City, MI 49684. West End Beach is a very chill and laid-back stop to just vibe. Give yourself a mini vacation away from the hustle and bustle of a college student in the city. Traverse City has an abundance of hotels and Airbnbs to choose from. Maybe this might be the place for your summer getaway!
Lake Harbor Park
“I love going there because of how secluded it is, and it’s about a 10-minute walk to the beach from the parking lot,” said Sophia Gil, 19, of the Rad Tech Program. “During the walk, you are surrounded by vibrant trees that loom over the walkway and can enjoy the sounds of nature all around you. Once you hit the sand there is a fork in the path, one way leads to the beach and the other leads to a higher ground trail, where you can set up hammocks and watch the sunset over the water. It also has these steep sand dunes you can climb if you wanna get a workout in before jumping into Lake Michigan. Another plus is the picnic tables. This beach is where I go in the summertime if I need to get away for the afternoon!”
Located in Norton Shores at 4635 Lake Harbor Rd, Norton Shores, MI 49441.
Those aren’t even half the beaches in Michigan. We have 598 total beaches here, so you have an abundance to choose from. Give yourself a well-deserved break and enjoy the scenic fresh waters. Grab some friends and have a picnic there are so many ways you can give yourself the best budget-friendly getaway.
