Windmill Island

We left this morning after breakfast and Doug's phone calls from work for Oval Beach on Lake Michigan.  Last year when we were in Saugatuck the owners of the bed and breakfast we were staying at did not recommend this beach.  They talked us into another one that was further north and a long walk through the woods to get to.  They liked it better as it was free to park.  Everything I read on the area, however, rated Oval Beach as one of the best on the Lake.  After our morning visit we totally agreed.  It was easy to get to and parking was near the beach leaving a lot more time for walking along the water.  It did cost $8 to park, but the pass was for all day and we planned to come back after our morning stroll.  It's always challenging to walk on the sand, but we really enjoyed it.

After the beach we headed to Holland, Michigan.  They have several breweries that Doug likes.  Before we were seated we founded an awesome Mad Hatter ale shirt for Brett.  The lunch was delicious.  We ordered two different appetizers to share.  We could have gotten by with just one, but enjoyed trying both.  We walked up and down the area shops after lunch.  We didn't buy anything, but it was fun looking around.

Once we got back to our van I asked Doug to go with me to Windmill Island.  It was one of my favorites from last year and I really wanted to go again.  I am so glad that we did.  It is such a beautiful area with an original Dutch windmill.  We saw the Dutch girls dance and toured the windmill.  I don't like heights, but the view was awesome.  In the Spring they have fields of tulips, but this time of the year is beautiful with flowers as well.

We stopped back at Holland to try another brewery.  I have eaten a lot of hummus on this trip.  My favorite is still the one at our first stop in Grand Rapids, Founder's Brewery.  We stopped back at Park House Inn before heading to Saugatuck and Oval Beach.  We spent the evening walking along the beach and watching the sunset.  I have never watched a sunset on the beach before and this was breath taking.  There were a lot of people there with the same idea.  It almost felt like fireworks.  We waited quite awhile for it and it was over in just a few minutes.  Well worth the wait, however, and the perfect end to a wonderful day!