Holland
Holland has three public beaches: Holland State Park at 2215 Ottawa Beach Rd., Tunnel Park at 66 N. Lakeshore Dr., and Laketown Beach, west off 64th Street on 142nd Avenue. The 157-foot Mount Pisgah sand dune, just east of Holland State Park in neighboring Park Township, affords a panoramic view of Holland via a boardwalk and stair system; Lake Michigan, Big Red and Lake Macatawa can be seen. Park in the lot near Black Lake Avenue and Ottawa Beach Road.
liveslow/iStockphoto.com
There is no shortage of recreational opportunities. You can go biking, hiking, fishing, golfing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding; the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has brochures about bike paths, fishing and winter activities. Boat launches for Lake Macatawa are at Dunton Park; Kollen Park; and on Ottawa Beach Road near Anchorage Marina, on the northwest section of the lake.
On Friday evenings in summer (6:30-8:30, early June through late August), free concerts are held in Kollen Park.
Dole08/iStockphoto.com
Tulip Time Festival, held for one week in early May, features tulip lanes covering 6 miles and numerous activities, including Dutch dancing, arts and crafts exhibits, parades, children's events, concerts, fireworks and more.
Visitor Centers
Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 78 E. 8th St. Holland, MI 49423. Phone:(616)394-0000 or (800)506-1299
Self-guiding Tours
The visitor guides available at the convention and visitors bureau contain self-guiding routes mapping out several of the historic downtown buildings as well as the public art locations.
Shopping
There are several art galleries downtown, and the many boutiques sell a wide assortment of merchandise, including apparel, books, cards, gift items, home furnishings and jewelry. From mid-May to mid-December a farmers market offers fresh finds Wed. and Sat. 8-3. Winter shopping is simple thanks to the town's snowmelt system, which keeps downtown streets and sidewalks snow-free during the winter.