Technically, summer has the most days of any season, but it never quite feels like that. The bright, toasty months pass by in a flash, which is why planning ahead is so important. Or at the very least, we suggest having some ideas on-hand for when you have that urge to get out and do something summery.
Of course, we love the beach, and that’s a start, but there’s so much more to do in West Michigan summers, both indoors and out. Here are some of our top picks for the season.
GO ON A WALK
One of the great joys of summer is the freedom to explore nature without worry of ice, snow or frostbite. There are stunning hiking trails all around West Michigan, and now’s a great time to pick one you’ve never visited and check it out. Who knows what fauna and flora you’ll experience! Here are just a few of our favorites:
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Blandford Nature Center/The Highlands: Large nature preserve home to a variety of rescued animals.
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Aman Park: Web of woodland trails tucked away off Lake Michigan Drive, filled with a unique ecosystem of blooming flowers and dead trees.
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Pickerel Lake: Nature preserve centered around a lake in Rockford.
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Seidman Park: More than 400 acres of quiet woods, fields and wetlands in Ada.
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Reeds Lake Loop: A 4-mile trail around Reeds Lake in EGR, weaving through the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Millennium Park: More than 1,400 acres of rolling terrain, six miles of frontage on the Grand River, nearly 18 miles of trails, and even a beach!
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Grand Ravines: Not just a dog park, but miles of lovely trails through the woods and along Grand River.
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Al Sabo Land Preserve: For the adventurous, a sprawling preserve with trails that are well-maintained but not well-marked.
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Kleinstuck Preserve: Managed by WMU, this unique 48-acre ecosystem includes upland forest, swamp forest, shrub-carr and marshland.
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Kal-Haven Trail: A 34-mile long, linear, multi-use trail that links Kalamazoo to South Haven. Especially great for biking!
KAYAK/CANOE/TUBE
Michigan is a freshwater playground, filled with lovely rivers of all shapes and sizes, perfect for kayaking (great if you want to be more active), tubing (ideal for kicking back and relaxing), and canoeing (perfect for getting in fights with a loved one). A few suggestions:
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AAA Canoe: An easygoing, woodland river that rarely gets deep.
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Happy Mohawk: The White River bends and winds through a secluded forest, perfect for kayaking.
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Plainwell Kayak: Take your pick between the Kalamazoo River and the lake at Allegan Riverfront Park.
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Wisner Rents: The wide, deep, mild Muskegon River seems to be designed for tubing. Just kick back and let the water take you away.
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U-Rent-Em Canoe Livery: The Thornapple River in Hastings is great for kayaking, canoeing and tubing.
U-PICK FRUIT
You’ll never get fresher fruit than plucking it right off the tree and popping it in your mouth, and there’s something truly magical about waking up early to beat the sun’s heat and heading out to a farm or orchard for just that. Growing up in West Michigan, many of us have memories of steadily harvesting a bucketful of berries to be enjoyed in jams, baked goods and by the handful. Plus, because you’re doing the work, it’s more affordable than the grocery store! Check out places like Ed Dunneback & Girls, DeLange’s, Visser Farms, Grange Fruit Farm, Krupp Farms, and more.
TREERUNNER GRAND RAPIDS ADVENTURE PARK
2121 Celebration Dr. NE, Grand Rapids
treerunnerparks.com/grandrapids
Tucked behind the Celebration Cinema North parking lot, you’ll find a vast complex among the wooded surroundings. With dozens of obstacles and ziplines to traverse, TreeRunner features a variety of trails, heights and difficulty levels. There’s a brief training before you get started, and you’re harnessed the entire time, making it suitable for beginners and beyond.
DISCOVER THE UPPER PENINSULA
The natural wonders of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula never disappoint. Families traveling with campers often choose to explore spots like Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks. Hiking, biking, kayaking, and panoramic views make this an unforgettable summer adventure.
TRY A NEW BEACH
Ready for some new lakeside scenery? Lucky for you, the coast of Lake Michigan is full of an endless variety of beaches, whether you want to brave the stairs at Laketown Beach for a more secluded experience, or visit Grand Haven for the kind of beach you see in movies—filled to the brim with people making sandcastles, playing volleyball, cranking tunes and chowing down on boardwalk snacks. Then there’s the Kruse Park Dog Beach for the furry friends, the lengthy Oval Beach giving you access to Saugatuck, the dunes of P.J. Hoffmaster, the luscious scenery of Rosy Mound, and much more!
GILMORE CAR MUSEUM
6865 W. Hickory Road, Hickory Corners
gilmorecarmuseum.org
Car lovers, history buffs, and families looking for an easy summer day trip will find plenty to explore at the Gilmore Car Museum. Spread across a picturesque campus of historic barns and manicured green space, the museum showcases more than a century of automotive innovation, from gleaming brass-era classics to sleek muscle cars and nostalgic vintage rides. Summer is an especially lively time to visit, with weekend car shows, ride-in events, and seasonal programs that bring the grounds to life.
MUSKEGON LUGE ADVENTURE SPORTS PARK
462 N Scenic Dr., Muskegon
msports.org
Given its previous name of Winter Sports Complex, you might not yet realize this park is open year-round! Beyond the famous luge (the only track of its kind in North America to run through summer), there’s also ziplining, rock climbing, archery, and Trail Quest, a treasure hunt-style game. Get a season pass so you can go back again and again, or they also have package deals and individual tickets.
JOHN BALL ZOO
1300 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
jbzoo.org
Lions, tigers, and … red pandas? John Ball Zoo is a classic, but there’s always something fresh to check out, whether it’s pygmy hippos, the new otter habitat, warthogs and lemurs joining the family, or guided tours and behind-the-scenes experiences. Make sure to look into special zoo adventures like riding camels, taking the zipline, doing the ropes course and getting close with a sloth.
CANNONSBURG SKI AREA
6800 Cannonsburg Rd. NE, Belmont
cannonsburg.com
Just about every skier and snowboarder in West Michigan got their start at Cannonsburg, and people still congregate there every winter for downhill fun. In the summer, everything changes: The Sweet Spot opens up, offering ice cream, Dole Whips, microbrews, and Taco Tuesdays all summer. It’s perfect for refueling after a lovely trek on Cannonsburg’s many hilly trails. Bike, walk, run—whatever you like!
HIT THE GREENS
If you’ve never tried golfing before, now’s the season to give it a swing. Head to a public course for 18 holes, or consider getting your practice in at a spot like Gimme’s Par & Grill in downtown Grand Rapids. Here, you can hone your technique without having to run around gathering all your balls, thanks to their cutting-edge simulators, alongside beer and a burger. Or if you want to start even smaller, check out Big Mini Putt Club for indoor mini-golf in a bar setting.
ENJOY A WHITECAPS GAME
milb.com/west-michigan
A summer evening at an LMCU Ballpark Whitecaps game offers more than baseball. Visitors can enjoy hot dogs, seasonal food creations, cold beer, and between-inning games and sing-alongs that add to the experience. A home run is a bonus, but the ballpark fun is worth the visit on its own.
CRUISE THE RIVER IN A RETRO BOAT
retroboatrentals.com
Set sail in style aboard a vintage 1950s-era motorboat with Retro Boat Rentals. Their fleet includes colorful, retro-styled boats perfect for two to four people, as well as pontoon, donut, and Duffy boats for groups. Guests can cruise along the Kalamazoo River, bring a pup along for the ride, and enjoy food and drinks on the patio at The Old Boat House after docking.
CATCH A DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE DRIVE-IN
celebrationcinema.com/cinemas/Getty-Drive-In
The Getty Drive-In in Muskegon is a throwback favorite for movie-goers. Gates open at 8 p.m., with films starting at dusk. Visitors can grab snacks from the concession stand or order food online for car-side delivery. It’s wise to purchase tickets ahead of time to secure a spot during peak season.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS MOVIES IN THE PARK
eastgrmi.gov
Join for FREE family-friendly entertainment on the shores of Reeds Lake. Movies are shown on an inflatable screen at dusk. Come early for the best seat and bring your lawn chair or blanket. This year’s lineup has the live-action How to Train Your Dragon on June 12, Superman (2025) on July 24, Inside Out 2 on Aug. 21, and Remember the Titans on Sep. 19.
PRE-PARTY IN THE PIAZZA
Studio Park
123 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
studioparkgr.com
At Studio Park, they’ll be hosting free hangouts on the piazza (that neat little green space in front of the theater) every Friday, Saturday, and on Acrisure Amphitheater show nights, from 4-9 p.m. Come through for an outdoor bar, music and yard games, along with the local businesses like Leo’s Coney Island, Elsa’s for ice cream, and the Arts Marketplace.
FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS SUMMER CONCERTS
1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
meijergardens.org
The annual Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts series brings musicians from around the world to the beautiful outdoor amphitheater of Frederik Meijer Gardens, surrounded by views of gardens and sculpture.
O.A.R., May 27
The Wallflowers, June 7
Sierra Ferrell, June 8
An Evening with Wilco, June 12
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, June 15
Acoustic Evening with Trey Anastasio, June 17
Tash Sultana, June 19
Pink Martini All-Stars, June 22
Larkin Poe + The Record Company, June 24
Little Feat, June 28
CIRCLE THEATRE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
1703 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids
circletheatre.org
In addition to their mainstage plays and musicals, Circle Theatre hosts a concert series every summer made up of talented local singers and musicians performing an evening of hits built around a theme.
A Family Affair, June 22 & August 17
Play That Funky Music, June 15 & August 10
Turn It On Again: The Music of Genesis, May 26 & July 20
Deja vu: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, May 18 & July 13
KENTWOOD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
4900 Breton SE, Grand Rapids
kentwood.us
Grab a blanket or chair and join the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall for their Summer Concert Series! Concerts take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. and feature a variety of rotating food trucks every week. Concertgoers are also welcome to bring their own beer or wine. Here’s the lineup:
Westside Soul Surfers, June 11
Hurricane Reggae Band, June 18
Kyle Brown & The Human Condition, June 25
Tommy B Band, July 9
In Full Swing, July 16
The Soul Syndicate, July 23
Mexicuba, July 30
On the Fly, August 6
Asamu Johnson and the Associates of the Blues, August 13
Pretty Kool, August 20
Courtesy of Revue Staff.
This article originally appeared in Revue West Michigan, a Serendipity Media publication.
Photo by Nic Sagodic, courtesy of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
