Day 4 - Van Buren State Park to Holland State Park, MI - Lake Michigan - East - Short Lighthouse Tour

August 2, 2021

Day 4 - Van Buren State Park to Holland State Park, MI

Morning coffee and oatmeal while the boy slept.

Leaving the campsite at 9:30 am, we rode the pathed Van Buran Trail all the way to South Haven. The weather was perfect, not to hot and no wind.

Arriving in South Haven 10:15 am, a great view of the lake.

South Haven with lighthouse in background

We stopped at the old Lighthouse Keeper's house , 91 Michigan Avenue for a quick photo. My research said this was part of the Michigan Maritime Museum, however it looked like it had reverted to a private residence.

We then proceeded down the hill to the lighthouse and pier where we rode out to the end.

After, we found the lighthouse stamp at the Chamber of Commerce. There was another stamp at the Hartman School Building but this closed but was also available at the beach concessions stands and even though I asked at both the south and north beach stands no one there knew what I was looking for.

We then crossed drawbridge over the Black River waiting for the bridge to open after a boat passed below, and stopped in at the Michigan Maritime Museum for another stamp.

I spotted this lens at the museum but have no idea what lighthouse it came from.

Michigan Maritime Museum, Lighthouse Lens

From the museum we headed to the north side of the Black River finding Bundes Bakery and Cafe on the way where we enjoyed a sandwich and coffee.

North Beach, looking like a beautiful day for a swim.

Leaving South Haven at 12 noon, we continued on the Blue Star Highway. Just after Glenn, we turned on Lakeshore Drive once again starting to enjoy a slightly quieter road.

2 pm found us at Pier Cove Beach where we searched for lightening rocks

We can't possibly take all these home.

We took a short detour to visit the Kalamazoo Lighthouse at Saugatuck, which is a replica. The original was destroyed by a tornado in 1956.

Instead of crossing the Kalamazoo River on the main road (A2), we rode around the west side of the harbor and caught the chain ferry across the river. The short ride on the ferry is human powered with a hand crank that pulls the ferry across on a chain.

After leaving Saugatuck, we rode some trails as we followed Beeline Road but soon found the cycling easier on the road due to the trail surface.

Upon arriving in Holland we stopped at the Central Park Market to pick up groceries for the evening and next day. Taking South Shore Drive, 16th street and Central Ave, we arrived at the Holland Museum 15 minutes before the 5 pm. closing.

I quickly asked at the desk if I could go see the lens from the lighthouse and they graciously let me enter for free.

Holland seemed like as nice town and well worth a further visit during the tulip festival.

Leaving the south side of Holland to cross the Macatawa River, we made a change of route due to trail flooding. We just crossed the main road later to head west on the north side of the harbor.